Recreational Assistant

Ensuring all patients in the Spinal Centre have access to a timetable of wide-ranging and meaningful activities, ensuring that patients interests and needs are met whilst allowing for varying levels of physical and metal ability.

Arranging and facilitating activities and social opportunities within and outside the Spinal Centre, for all inpatients, either in groups or for individuals following paralysis due to spinal cord injury (SCI). Organising recreational activities for evenings and weekends, that support the patients rehabilitation goals and personal interests.

Following discussion with and guidance from Line Manager, Therapy Team and the Psychology team, organise activities and social opportunities with individuals and patient groups, liaising closely with the Multidisciplinary Team.

You will be able to devise engaging and enjoyable activities, demonstrating a lot of patience, a positive attitude and be comfortable working with people of all ages.

Ensure activities conducted within and outside the center align to patient identified goals.

To organise and plan a range of activities including sport and opportunities to engage in recreation to meet the needs of groups and individual patients both within the usual working day, during the evening and at weekends.
- To continually seek feedback from patients and their families on what types of activities and experiences they would like to take part in, and feedback to the MDT weekly.
- Maintaining accurate records of activity for each patient
- To encourage patients to investigate recreational opportunities in their local area
- In discussion with the Therapy teams and Psychology team plan and prepare to take patients, groups or individuals on trips out of the Spinal Centre such as Springs Restaurant and Horatio’s Garden and local city and other external venues when approved by the DMT.
- To encourage patient participation in the process of organising activities where appropriate
- To work with the Therapists to identify activities that support the patients Rehab Goals and the functional capabilities of those with limited mobility with a spinal cord injury
- Recognise and respond promptly to emergencies, e.g. Blocked urinary catheter, Autonomic Dysreflexia
- Safely perform and assist patients to eat and drink whilst carrying out recreational activities, including meal time helping the patients dining room and Springs Restaurant.
- To safely provide and assist patients in protecting their skin and pressure ulcer prevention
- The post holder will use the equipment including the Spinal vehicles safely to support and maintain the activities.
- Able to follow instructions, policies and procedures

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is an innovative hospital with a proud heritage and over 250 years of experience behind us. Here we’re driven to deliver an outstanding experience for everyone and have been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment we continue to provide for our patients and also our staff.

We are an acute Trust, rated “Good” by the CQC, with a track record of high performance providing regional and super regional specialist services such as: Burns, Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery, Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Wessex Rehabilitation, Spires Cleft Centre and the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. We have about 470 beds and employ over 4000 staff.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. We think working here is pretty rewarding. You can access a range of NHS discounts, receive a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme. On-site benefits include car parking (fee applies), leisure centre, day nursery and holiday play scheme.

Please see attached Job description and person specification for full details of roles and responsibilities.