Therapy Assistant

**Administrative**: Support therapists in daily admin processes associated with clinical areas i.e. Printing daily handover sheets, completing TIARA, updating SeeEHR, checking STRATA and ECLIPSE, ordering equipment, making onward clinical referrals etc.. Ensure the loan equipment procedure and documentation are completed as required by Departmental policy. Take action to ensure defective equipment is withdrawn from service, and report the defects to the Therapy Manager.

Provide and maintain accurate patient statistics, departmental records / reports as required. Support Team Leads with admin associated service development eg. Audit, data collection, service development. Support service with general housekeeping, stores and office tidiness and the appropriate use of resources within the Therapy Departments.

Trace and file into medical notes utilising the IPMs. Provide clerical and administrative support to the Therapists and the Department, as required. Clinical Explain to patients, relatives and those with whom they come into contact with the role of the therapist in the team. Obtain informed consent from the patient, and work within the current legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent, prior to commencing any intervention.

Through conversation with the patient, patients relatives / next of kin obtain information regarding their social circumstances, difficulties encountered with aspects of Activities of Daily Living and their work and leisure and make follow-up calls, as directed by the Therapist. Implement individual intervention sessions, as instructed by the Therapist - this may include: Washing, dressing, kitchen, bathing, mobility assessments Teaching and supervising of simple exercise programmes. Support with patient education. To maintain confidentiality at all times in relation to patients and their treatment.

Prepare clinical area and tidy up after use, including the disposal of soiled linen and the cleaning of equipment. Issue and instruct patients and relatives in the safe use of prescribed Therapy equipment and issue aids accordingly. Support with the transfer of equipment around the Hospital site to support assessment and discharge. Deliver and fit simple equipment in a patients home as prescribed by Therapist.

Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools including the use of persuasion, motivation and explanation to communicate effectively with patients. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g. patients with dysphasia, those who may be depressed, deaf, those with cognitive deficits or who may be unable to accept their diagnosis/prognosis. Observe general behaviour, cognitive function, general functional ability and response of the patient to feedback to Therapist.

Advise the Therapist on patients performance or response to intervention, and advise other members of the multi-disciplinary team, where appropriate. Support Band 4 APs as additional staff member for follow up visits/equipment deliveries, ensuring the Health & safety of the patient and other people present, this may include arranging transport, liaising with relatives, and coordinating with all relevant agencies/parties. Work as a member of the Therapy and Multi-disciplinary Team, sharing patient information, and providing progress reports on individual patient needs, ensuring a better and higher standard of patient care. Attend hand over / White board meetings as the therapy representative, as delegated by the Therapist.

Provide accurate reports on individual patients treated in the Medical Notes, in a timely manner. Make referrals to other agencies, as directed by Therapists. Issue and advise patients on resources for discharge eg. Falls alarms, hot meal providers etc.

Adopt a flexible approach in providing cover for staff of the same or lesser grade who are absent, as delegated by Team Leaders or the Head of Clinical Professions. A Therapy Helper must not: Initiate or modify treatment regimes for patients Give advice on professional aspects of patient care. All queries must be addressed to the practitioner or qualified therapist concerned. Organisational Attend / complete mandatory training sessions.

Attend in-service training as appropriate. Abide by the relevant Professional Bodies Code of Conduct for Assistants. Comply with trust and departmental policies and procedures. Be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and abide by policies including the prompt recording and documentations of incidents and accidents.

Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and personal Development Programme as an appraisee to meet set knowledge and competencies. Participate in the staff supervision scheme and be responsible for actively contributing to their supervision and continued professional development. Any other duties which may be considered appropriate by the qualified staff or the therapy manager. Undertake as directed the collection of da