Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
We have an exciting opportunity for a Therapy Assistant to join our team. Directed and supervised by Qualified Therapists, you will be working with patients on the wards in a busy acute hospital.
This role involves working hands-on with patients during their hospital admission to improve their mobility and self-care routine (i.e., washing & dressing). Many patients are frail, elderly, or recovering from surgery or illness, and initially need full physical assistance with all basic care tasks. Our aim is to improve their mobility and independence with their activities of daily living to support them in returning home with minimal equipment and care support. There are also administrative tasks, equipment cleaning, and record keeping.
This is a physically demanding job that requires good communication and interpersonal skills in addition to basic computer skills. You are required to write directly into the medical notes, so a good standard of written work is essential. It is a busy but friendly working environment, so you will need to be resilient, flexible, and organized. You will be required to work one weekend a month and some public holidays as part of a rostered service.
Ideally, you will have previous experience of working in a therapy, hospital, or care environment; however, no professional qualifications are required, and appropriate instruction and support will be provided.
Main duties of the job
1. To assist the qualified therapists in delivering an excellent Occupational and Physiotherapy service to patients in the acute hospital setting.
2. To follow treatment plans set by the Qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapist. These may be in one-to-one sessions with a patient or in ward-based groups.
3. To undertake general departmental duties such as cleaning, collation of statistical information, and ordering bank stock equipment.
4. To undertake clerical and household tasks as necessary to maintain the smooth running of the department.
About us
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people. We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate, and build careers.
From facilities through to consultant specialists, we want to be the best. To achieve this, we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important, but so is outlook - if you are dynamic, forward-thinking, and enthusiastic, we want you to join us.
We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress.
Job responsibilities
For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include:
* To assist the qualified therapists in delivering an excellent service to patients in a variety of settings.
* To contribute to the treatment of patients both individually and in groups, undertaking therapeutic work and supervising patients in activities relating to their treatment as directed by Qualified Therapists.
* To undertake general departmental duties such as cleaning, collation of statistical information, and ordering equipment.
* To undertake clerical and household tasks as necessary to maintain the smooth running of the department.
* To organise and prioritise own delegated workload, under supervision of qualified staff, using effective time management skills responding flexibly to changing priorities.
* To be able to progress patient treatment within established protocols and guidelines.
* To assess patients' progress, taking account of their environment, and adjust own clinical interventions accordingly and report back to the Therapist.
* To participate in and follow the Therapists' treatment plan. To complete delegated interventions in the appropriate setting once trained to do so.
* To liaise with the qualified staff member as necessary regarding patients' therapeutic interventions, highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from the treatment programmes.
* To be skilled in the safe use of a broad range of equipment and therapeutic skills once trained.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience of working with people in a customer care service or similar environment.
* Experience of working in a care or rehabilitation environment.
Qualifications
* Good level of literacy - demonstrated through minimal mistakes on application form.
* Completion of a Therapy or Health Care NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Salary: £24,071 a year Per Annum Pro Rata for Part Time
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