Associate Practitioner

Are you a skilled associate practitioner with excellent interpersonal skills and sound clinical assessment skills?

Do you have the confidence to work alone, putting the patient at the heart of what you do; and get involved within a multi-disciplinary team?

Are you enthusiastic, have excellent communication skills and the ability to work flexibly to provide high quality holistic care ?

If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you

This is an opportunity for an experienced associate practitioner (AP) with a varied physical rehabilitation background, to join this well-established multi-disciplinary team. This team provides short-term (around six weeks) intermediate care in a patient's own home, with the focus on returning patients to their maximum potential of independence.

To be an active member of the clinical team, providing and assisting team members to deliver rehabilitation intervention to patients referred to the team.

To carry out rehabilitation activities, including day-to-day assessment, administering/ordering of mobility aids and equipment and the supervision/instruction of patient’s activities relating to their treatment programme.

To work primarily with Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.

To treat patients according to protocol, assessing patient progress and, within set parameters, set by the Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist, make relevant alterations to existing treatment or move a patient’s treatment onto a different stage.

Support admin staff.

Main aims of the role - To work as a highly skilled practitioner without the direct supervision or presence of a professionally qualified member of the team.

So what else?

This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.

We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.

We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.

You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Previous applicants need not apply

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement which will not mean sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.

The small print

Informal visits can be arranged on request.

We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.

MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

Communication and relationship skills

To be able to communicate effectively, using appropriate methods, both verbal and non-verbal to patients who may have barriers to understanding (eg: blind, deaf, or English not first language)

Using empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills to encourage patients, families and carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence and well-being

Internal - Members of hospital and community-based colleagues; administrative, support and data staff

**External - Patients, relatives and carers**: general practitioners; consultants; external and voluntary agencies; other NHS staff

Knowledge, training and experience

Good general education (to GCSE or equivalent) NVQ 3 or equivilent

Substantial experience working as an assistant with people who have had a sudden change in health and social care needs or with those who have a long-term condition

Experience of taking and leading group work

Experience of documenting and evidence learning

Good knowledge of commonly encountered orthopaedic, neurological and musculo-skeletal conditions

Understanding of basic principles of holistic health and social care assessment being competent in functional assessment

Able to demonstrate a holistic approach to patient management

Ability to work as part of a team

Awareness of limitations, personal strengths and areas of development

Flexible, reliable and organised

Good written and verbal communication skills and IT skills

Ability to work on own initiative and to manage own caseload

Ability to travel to dispersed sites in the community in a timely manner

Analytical and judgement skills

To assess and review patients with their consent, informed or complied consent

**To undertake highly skilled support work - eg**: initial interviews and reporting findings to the therapists

To assess patient’s progress within the parameters set by the therapists. This requires a range of practical skills and a