Therapy Apprentice Support Worker

Job summary

Overview

This apprenticeship at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is an exciting opportunity to learn new skills within an acute healthcare environment and become part of the Therapy Support Team.

This apprenticeship is suitable for anyone with a desire to learn and develop skills with a view to beginning a career in Therapy based occupations such as Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy and gain a Senior Healthcare Support Worker - Allied Health Profession/Therapy Support (Level 3) apprenticeship.

Throughout the apprenticeship journey you will:

be supported in the workplace by a mentor

have a minimum of 6 hours per week 'off-the-job training' to develop your learning

be in regular contact with the Training Provider and the Apprenticeships and Careers Team

have access to a virtual learning platform

attend workshops where you will have the opportunity to discuss and share

The Apprentice Therapy Support Worker is required to uphold confidentiality at all times, be expected to be professional, treat everyone with kindness and respect, and have the confidence to communicate with members of the public and staff at all levels.

Main duties of the job

Job purpose

The Apprentice will be expected to complete the elements of the apprenticeship within the 24 months' timeframe. The apprenticeship includes:

To complete a Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship while working as an Apprentice Therapy Support Worker within an acute healthcare environment.

The successful applicant will be enrolled to the Advanced (Level 3) Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Allied Health Profession - Therapy Support) Standard with our Training Provider and will receive Induction and training appropriate to the activities he or she will undertake, and following this induction period will develop the capability and knowledge to use the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and client-centred way, to promote independence and facilitate safe discharge.

During their apprenticeship the apprentice will learn how to, and become confident in, implementing delegated treatment plans and facilitating rehabilitation within agreed limitations through exercise, physical modalities and the use of occupation.

About us

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates and access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme.

The Therapy service provides Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy to inpatients and outpatients at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals.

We are an integrated therapy service providing patient centred care. Working closely with other allied health and nursing professionals our mission is to 'enable people to maximise their potential to live well'.The Therapy service also has a dedicated R&D team who strive to encourage staff to build upon their research, leadership and career development skills, embracing the four pillars of practice. They offer support with research projects, participating in research trials and offer opportunities to become principal investigators. They facilitate a therapy preceptorship program for new therapy graduates to support the transition from student to qualified professional and are principally involved in facilitating peer supervision sessions for other staff groups and action learning sessions for students. They are available to provide advice and support to all therapy staff throughout their career journey.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job purpose

The Apprentice will be expected to complete the elements of the apprenticeship within the 24 months timeframe. The apprenticeship includes:

To complete a Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship while working as an Apprentice Therapy Support Worker within an acute healthcare environment.

The successful applicant will be enrolled to the Advanced (Level 3) Senior Healthcare Support Worker (Allied Health Profession Therapy Support) Standard with our Training Provider and will receive Induction and training appropriate to the activities he or she will undertake, and following this induction period will develop the capability and knowledge to use the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and client-centred way, to promote independence and facilitate safe discharge.

During their apprenticeship the apprentice will learn how to, and become confident in, implementing delegated treatment plans and facilitating rehabilitation within agreed limitations through exercise, physical modalities and the use of occupation.

The apprentice will be required to:

Assess and manage delegated patients with non-complex mobility and occupational difficulties, reporting back to the registered practitioner as necessary

Support the teams with administration, clerical and housekeeping duties

At all times ensuring a high standard of care is delivered to patients, carers and visitors and a kind, caring and professional attitude whilst considering dignity, privacy, cultural and religious needs is maintained

The Apprentice will also be expected to complete the following elements of the apprenticeship within a 24-month timeframe. The standard includes:

Level 3 Diploma (competency element demonstration of practical skills, techniques and/or knowledge required to perform job role)

Functional Skills if required

Apprenticeship standard

Learning Journal and Reflective accounts

End Point Assessment

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to terminate employment if the training requirements as detailed above are not achieved.

Dimensions

No management or budget responsibilities

Will have regular formal supervision (supervisor / mentor, assessor)

Is not always directly supervised on a day-to-day basis, but has access (in person or by telephone) to a registered practitioner at all times

Knowledge, Skills and Experience or Aptitude Required

Educated to GCSE Grade D(3) in English and Maths, or equivalent ( Functional Skills Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy)

Please see person specification for other knowledge, skills and experience required

Key Result Areas

To develop the skills to work as an integral member of the therapy team using the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and client-centred way. The apprentice will progress to implementing assessments and treatment plans to promote independencethrough the use of occupation, exercise and physical modalities, taking into consideration a persons affect and cognition.

To learn how to, and then implement and progress delegated treatment programmes using clinical reasoning skills to include the teaching of patients on functional exercise, the issuing and fitting of equipment and the practice of activities of daily living. It will also include assessing patients in the safe use of mobility aids, such as safety on the stairs and personal care.

To learn how to, and then assess patients with non-complex mobility and occupational difficulties. To instruct and motivate patients in accordance with the therapy plan, in order to achieve goals set by the registered practitioner, monitoring the patients condition at all times.

To undertake specific unaccompanied work and organise own caseload comprising of patients with predictable and unpredictable conditions. To monitor and report back to the registered practitioner and/or other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), regarding progress and changes in the patients condition or deviation in the expected care pathway, to ensure safety, the achievement of agreed goals and planning safe discharge. This may include representing the therapists at MDT meetings and ward handovers.

To use verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers. This may include motivation, empowerment and education and will include patients/carers who may or may not have barriers to communication through cognitive or physical impairment dysphasia, deafness, blindness and depression.

To prepare the clinical area and the patient, for delivery of safe and effective treatments in a clean environment securing drips, drains, wounds and catheters and maintain treatment and storage areas to ensure compliance with Health and Safety and Infection Control standards. To monitor and maintain stock levels of equipment and consumables to ensure smooth service delivery.

To attend all mandatory components of the apprenticeship including:

Apprentice induction

GHNHSFT mandatory training

Apprenticeship Workshops

Ward / Department based vocational assessments

Competencies as determined by the line manager as relevant to the work area / department

Progress review meetings

To prepare for and participate in annual appraisal and development review meeting.

To undertake administrative tasks to support the therapy team and ensure the ongoing care and rehabilitation of the patient. To include making accurate and legible entries in the therapy and multidisciplinary patient records. To contribute to measuring the treatment outcomes and audit activity related to the service.

To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in thecare of GHNHSFT and to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Experinece and Skills

Essential

Educated to GCSE Grade D(3) in English and Maths, or equivalent ( Functional Skills Level 1 Literacy and Numeracy) GCSE or equivalent in a Science or Health and Social care based subject Good communication skills and interpersonal skills both verbal and non-verbal An aptitude to treat people with kindness, compassion and with dignity and respect Work on own initiative, independently and as part of a team Demonstrate a level of physical fitness appropriate for the task Produce accurate and legible documentation of treatments Manage appropriately in difficult emotional environments eg upset patients/relatives and difficult physical environments eg bodily fluids

Desirable

Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Word and e-mail programmes and the ability to input data accurately Knowledge of care

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