Therapy Assistant

We are offering an exciting opportunity to join the Therapy team at the Horton hospital in the role as Therapy Assistant. This role will allow you to provide and plan programmes of therapeutic activity for patients primarily in the Acute General Medical and trauma setting. This will include implementing and evaluating basic therapy assessments and interventions and ensuring that the best interests of the patients are being met at all times.

There will be opportunities for working with senior colleagues and other members of the multi-disciplinary team to support in providing an efficient and effective pathway of care for patients from admission through to discharge.

The role will also involve the support in the management of equipment stock levels and delivery to enable the team to manage discharges effectively and without delay. You will have support from senior colleagues through regular supervision and continued professional development to further expand skills and knowledge will be encouraged.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to work as a Therapy Assistant within the integrated therapy service at the Horton hospital. Providing and planning programmes of therapeutic activity for patients primarily in the Acute General Medical and trauma setting.

This will include implementing and evaluating basic therapy assessments and interventions whilst maintaining records and ensuring equipment stocks are replenished with support of senior staff. The post holder will be expected to work as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team and senior support will ensure they receive regular continued professional development and opportunities to further expand skills and knowledge.

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
- To have an understanding of patient consent to carry out assessment/treatment, and to ensure that where possible valid consent is gained according to Trust policy.
- To provide patient centred assessments and interventions with support from senior colleagues whilst respecting patient choice and dignity.
- To assess patients’ mobility and functional abilities and discuss findings with senior therapist.
- Supporting senior therapists in providing training, education and advice to patients and carers on managing and adapting their social and physical environments.
- Provide and implement goals and treatment plans for patients and regularly update these with guidance from senior therapists.
- Ensure documentation is accurate and completed in a timely manner in line with trust policy.
- Liaise effectively with other members of the multidisciplinary team, patients and carers. This may include referral to other agencies or localities when a patient’s care is being transferred.
- To provide appropriate equipment to patients whilst as an inpatient to assist with safe rehabilitation and issuing applicable equipment on discharge ensuring ongoing referrals as appropriate.
- Ensure equipment stocks are managed to enable provision of essential equipment to patients.
- Establishes and maintains effective and professional communication with various individuals and groups in a range of situations and environments.
- Obtains and presents information in an accessible manner and raises communication barrier concerns with seniors.
- To be able to motivate and persuade patients, carers and other staff through effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Records all necessary information in line with established standards and ensures practice of using the Data Protection Act in accordance with local policies and Therapy specifications.
- To participate in regular meetings with the Therapies service.
- To ensure appropriate liaison with other agencies throughout the patient care pathway, including post discharge where appropriate with senior support.
- To positively promote the Therapy service.
- Use supervision and performance development plans to promote clinical and personal effectiveness and competence of self.
- Participate in the OUH Trust appraisal process to identify, with the support of the senior Therapist, own educational needs and create a personal development plan.
- Participate and assist in the in-service training programme offered by OUH and the therapies team.
- Demonstrates a commitment d