Therapy Assistant

CLINICAL To provide a service in the Special School team either independently or in conjunction with qualified therapists and Therapy Assistant practitioners. To assist a qualified therapist in the physical and functional assessment and treatment of children from nursery to secondary school age. Following instructions from a qualified member of staff to independently execute a treatment programme with a child or group of children using a variety of treatment techniques e.g. exercise and postural management and using a range of assistive technology equipment. To be responsible for decision making during treatment following agreed protocols or guidelines from qualified staff. To recognise when a child needs re-assessing and / or treatment programmes need changing and communicate with qualified staff accordingly. To posses a basic understanding of illness and disability, safety issues, treatment techniques and the ability to analyse the effectiveness of treatment / intervention and the skill to refer back to a qualified therapist. To acknowledge any limitations in competence when accepting assigned duties from qualified staff. To prepare for and assist qualified professionals in a variety of clinics e.g. wheelchair and orthotic clinics. To assist a qualified therapist in the sourcing, assessment and ordering of therapeutic equipment. To be responsible for the transport and issue of small pieces of therapy equipment using own car, and to be able to demonstrate proof of insurance for this purpose. To be involved in maintaining equipment including basic safety checks and arranging for modifications and repairs. To be responsible for receiving and passing on information within the multi-disciplinary team. This includes the handling of confidential and occasionally sensitive information. To communicate effectively with children and families. This includes significant explanation of tasks requiring persuasion and encouragement which is appropriate to the age and understanding of the child. It may also require overcoming barriers to communication e.g. children with alternative means of communication or very limited communication or families whose first language is not English. To communicate effectively with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to aid clinical decision making. PROFESSIONAL To undertake risk assessments on a daily basis, for example; work space, equipment, patients and self, using judgement skills to make the necessary adjustments in line with health and safety regulations. To accurately document and report basic data related to clinical observation, patient activity and equipment supplied. To comply with the Heath and Safety at work regulations and all other health, safety and security standards in accordance with Trust policies. To respect confidential information obtained during the course of duties undertaken. To be responsible for and maintain own continuing professional development. To participate in the departmental appraisal scheme and maintain a personal development plan/portfolio. To attend and participate in the Trust mandatory training plus departmental in-service training. To adhere to departmental and Trust policies and procedures. To research new technologies available e.g. computer software. ORGANISATIONAL To manage own workload and priorities as delegated by the qualified staff. Keep the work area tidy, clean the therapy equipment regularly and ensure that no damaged or faulty equipment is used. To contribute to the development, implementation and promotion of departmental and Trust policies and procedures. To ensure effective use of time, resources, and organisational skills to promote an organised and efficient working environment. To undertake appropriate administrative and housekeeping duties to promote good practice and efficient organisation of the department. Inclusive Recruitment & Selection We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change. We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net Trust Values The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values: Compassion leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect Accountability striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility Respect value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion Excellence delivering a high-quality standard of care