Therapy Assistant

Therapy Assistant - Acute Medicine

West Middlesex University Hospital

There is an exciting opportunity for a permanent Band 3 Therapy Assistant to join our Therapy Service at West Middlesex University Hospital.

You will be working across our Acute Medicine Therapy Service which consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy Assistants covering medical wards as well as the Emergency Department and Acute Medical Unit. We provide therapy to adults who are in hospital as a result of an acute illness, assisting them to regain mobility and independence with day to day tasks.

You will require some background and experience in a health care setting as this post requires you to work in a busy hospital environment with patients, families and other professionals. Previous experience of moving and handling and/or working with Physiotherapists / Occupational Therapists is also essential.

The job description provides details on the clinical, administrative and communication requirements and responsibilities of this post. However, the key role will be to support the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to deliver therapeutic care to the patients following admission to hospital.

You will also be responsible for
- Delegated administration duties for individuals and the clinical team in which you are working
- Liaison and communication with therapists and other professionals
- Dealing sensitively with patients and their families
- Maintaining treatment areas and equipment
- Maintaining accurate documentation and written feedback of therapy sessions.

About the Trust

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East. We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that arePROUD to Carefor nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children’s, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.

We’re one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We’re also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff says they’re engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment. Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as ‘Good’ in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of ‘Good’. We’ve also been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating for ‘use of resources’ by an NHS Improvement inspection.

Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate. We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.
Clinical
- To carry out the appropriate procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the therapist with the appropriate level of competency. It is the joint responsibility of the therapy assistant and the supervisor to ensure the assistant is competent and confident in carrying out the required intervention and duties. These may involve mobilising and transferring patients, assisting with functional tasks, cognitive rehabilitation programmes set out by a therapist, undertaking home visits, assisting with groups, carrying and installing equipment and supervising exercise programmes.
- To provide patients and carers with direction and guidance on a range of rehabilitation activities as directed by the physiotherapist or occupational therapist. This may incorporate encouraging patients and carers to actively become involved in regaining and maintaining their independence.
- To carry out access or joint home visits with patients, supervising and assisting patients with treatment programmes as directed by the therapists.
- To support therapists in specific treatment programmes which may involve regular manual handling of patients who may have considerable physical disability. The post holder will be expected to kneel, sit on heels, move inert adult limbs and support patients whilst mobilising. They may also be expected to transfer patients; push wheelchairs, use hoist, measure and cut sticks, and carry/install equipment i.e. bath seats, frames and commodes on a daily basis.
- Setting up equipment for use by therapists during treatment sessions or for use in the home environment to assist patient’s independence.
- To provide advice on the safe use of equipment to patients and those appropriate.
- To participate in the maintenance, cleaning and recharging of therapy equipment.
- To participate in maintenance of treatment areas in accordance with the health and safety policy and departmental procedures.
- To cover for ab