Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant

Salary £22,819 FTE

Hours 30 hours - actual salary £18,255

Responsible to Head of Patient and Family Support Team

Accountable to Deputy Director of Clinical Services
- Overgate Hospice is an independent charity with a mission to ensure that patients and those close to them live with the best possible quality of life. This is enabled by provision of the highest standard of compassionate and evidence-based specialist palliative and end of life care for adults in Calderdale who have active, progressive life limiting illness._

**General Statement**
- based assessments

There is an expectation for post holders to be flexible in order to provide cover to other clinical areas where there is an increase in service demand

**Job Summary**

The development of the Therapy Assistant role is to primarily support the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist and as required, support other clinical areas of the hospice

The Therapy Assistant will report to the Physiotherapist but will undertake additional skills, competencies, and training across the following areas of expertise:
Competencies within occupational therapy and physiotherapy

Complementary therapies

**Clinical Responsibilities**

The Therapist will be responsible for assessing individual patients and then delegating the duties required to the therapy assistant, who has been deemed competent to deliver enhanced skills in the above areas of extended competency

To assist the therapist with on-going treatment of patients and perform the designated activities as delegated by the supervising therapist. Activities may include carrying out passive movements, supervising exercise programmes, washing and dressing, domestic tasks, transfers, exercises, mobility practice, and cognitive retraining exercises

To be able to safely use a range of equipment e.g., hoist, standing frame and mobility aids

To carry out demonstrations and practice techniques with patients and carers to ensure safe and effective use of equipment and mobility aids

To teach and assist with exercises/treatments for individual clients once assessed and designed by qualified therapist

To assist the therapists in the planning of activities or programmes

Ability to work with mínimal or no immediate supervision of a qualified therapist

To assist the occupational therapists on home assessments, including the use of equipment required by patients, under direct / indirect supervision of a therapist

To manage and maintain equipment stock levels including walking aids in the Hospice with support from qualified staff

To report defects in equipment in a timely manner

To prepare and clean equipment used by the team

To report any untoward changes in the patient’s health status immediately to the relevant qualified health professional

To manage clinical risk within a caseload at all times including observing patients in all situations applicable to therapy, ensuring safety and security at all times

To liaise with patients and carers who are often distressed, to obtain specific information under the direct or indirect supervision of their therapist

To have an understanding and be able to provide empathy in discussions around end of life and emotionally distressing issues with patients and their carers’

To regularly report back to the relevant therapist on patients’ clinical management program and progress seeking advice and guidance when necessary

To gain valid informed consent prior to any intervention. To work within a legal framework, under the supervision of a therapist, for those patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment

To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in line with legal requirements and Overgate guidelines

The Therapy Assistant, once they have completed all areas of extended competency, will be expected to work independently, without direct supervision, but will seek support and guidance as necessary from the registered professionals

The Therapy Assistant is accountable to the registered professionals and will adhere at all times to defined pathways of care, competency frameworks, standard operating procedures (SOP’s) and protocols

The Therapy Assistant will be expected to work within the Hospices standards of care and compassion whilst ensuring patient needs are met

The Therapy Assistant will contribute to service development and be responsible for self-development and demonstrate skills in specific focused aspects of service delivery

As a key member of the therapy team in the Inpatient Unit (IPU) ensure patients, families and carers are educated and empowered at all points of the rehabilitation pathway and the benefits are explained

To work autonomously as agreed by a registered practitioner and to be responsible and accountable within their scope of practice

To work as a member of the existing MDT team within rehabilitation services in IPU and Day Hospice

**Minimum Qualifications / Experience Required**

Minimum ent