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SalaryWest Middlesex University Hospital
There is an exciting opportunity for a Band 3 Therapy Assistant to join our Therapy Service at West Middlesex University Hospital.
You will be working in the Orthopaedic Therapy Team which consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy Assistants. We provide therapy to adults who are in hospital as a result of an injury or recent surgery assisting them to regain mobility and independence with day to day tasks. You will work with a varied mix of patients including older patients.
You will require some background and experience in a health care setting as this post requires you to work in a busy hospital environment with patients, families and other professionals.
The position is part time up to 18 hours and 45 minutes. The working pattern can be discussed further if you are successful at interview, however the post holder will be required to work on a Friday
This advert may close earlier than the closing date if sufficient applications are received.
The job description provides details on the clinical, administrative and communication requirements and responsibilities of this post. However, the key role will be to support the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to deliver therapeutic care to the patients following admission to hospital.
You will also be responsible for -
- Delegated administration duties for individuals and the clinical team in which you are working
- Liaison and communication with therapists and other professionals
- Dealing sensitively with patients and their families
- Maintaining treatment areas and equipment
- Maintaining accurate documentation and written feedback of therapy sessions.
We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children’s, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We’re one of the safest and best performing Trusts in the country. We’re also one of the top trusts to work for – our staff say they’re engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as ‘Good’ in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of ‘Good’. We’ve also been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating for ‘use of resources’ by an NHS Improvement inspection..
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing around £10 million a year in our estate. We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.
Clinical• To carry out the appropriate procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the therapist with the appropriate level of competency. It is the joint responsibility of the Therapy Assistant and the supervisor to ensure the assistant is competent and confident in carrying out the required intervention and duties. These may involve mobilising and transferring patients, assisting with functional tasks, cognitive rehabilitation programmes set out by a therapist, undertaking home visits, assisting with groups, carrying and installing equipment and supervising exercise programmes.
- To provide patients and carers with direction and guidance on a range of rehabilitation activities as directed by the physiotherapist or occupational therapist. This may incorporate encouraging patients and carers to actively become involved in regaining and maintaining their independence.
- To carry out access or joint home visits with patients, supervising and assisting patients with treatment programmes as directed by the therapists.
- To support therapists in specific treatment programmes which may involve regular manual handling of patients who may have considerable physical disability. The post holder will be expected to kneel, sit on heels, move inert adult limbs and support patients whilst mobilising. They may also be expected to transfer patients; push wheelchairs, use hoist, measure and cut sticks, and carry/install equipment i.e. bath seats, frames and commodes on a daily basis.
- Setting up equipment for use by therapists during treatment sessions or for use in the home environment to assist patient’s independence.
- To provide advice on the safe use of equipment to patients and those appropriate.
- To participate in the maintenance, cleaning and recharging of therapy equipment.
- To participate in maintenance of treatment areas in accordance with the health and safety policy and departmental procedures.
- To cover for absent staff e.g. Therapy Assistants who work in another area, or support a physiotherapist/ occupational therapist who have staff shortages in their section if the need arises.
- To comply with the Trust policy on confidentiality, maintaining strict confidentiality regarding any information pertaining patients and their families.
- To attend and actively participate in-service training as required.
- To attend staff and assistant meetings and actively participate in-service training as required.
- To travel between sites and patients’ homes as required using own, hospital or public transport and to take responsibility for the safety of patients and equipment whilst on these visits.
- To keep regular and up to date records written or electronically data and assist the therapists as necessary with departmental statistics.
- Maintain appropriate levels of stock within the therapy team.
- Arranging transport for patients.
- Directing patients to appropriate locations within the Trust.
- Booking GRIP interpreters by fax, phone or online.
- To be able to use good communication skills with patients of all age groups and carers including those with communication difficulties.
- Dealing with patients/ relative’s queries both in person and on the telephone courteously and efficiently.
- To liaise with the occupational therapist /physiotherapist regarding patient care and report to the supervising therapist any change in the patient’s condition.
- To communicate with other members of the multidisciplinary team, carers, external agencies and those related to the patients care. To use effective communication with patients or relatives who have barriers of understanding or communicating. e.g. visually impaired, cognitive impairment, hearing or speech disability and to be aware of any device e.g. hearing aids which may hinder communication.
- To deal sensitively with patients and carers who have a high level of anxiety or aggression due to for example, pain, fear or failed expectations.
- To work on a daily basis with patients/carers/relatives who have a high level of emotional stress due to awareness of diagnosis or poor prognosis.
- The post holder is expected to concentrate frequently on a daily basis during sessions and ensure effective communication with those who have impaired understanding or communication difficulties. There may be unpleasant exposure to verbal or physical aggression.
- To actively participate in the trust’s performance appraisal and to have supervision with an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to review own performance and identify training and development needs.
- May be exposed to confined working conditions within patients homes or within hospital environment.
- There may be daily exposure to unpleasant working conditions for example, body fluids including urine, faeces and sputum and hazardous substances such as contaminated body fluids and chemotherapy. There may also be contact with patients who have highly infectious conditions e.g. multi resistant Tuberculosis.
- To work in an environment where the work pattern may be disrupted by frequent demands from staff, patients, students, relatives and telephone calls.
- To comply with the trust manual handling policy at all times.
