Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Prepare for and develop individual/group activities to meet defined intervention needs. Monitor patients and promptly alert a qualified practitioner when there are unexpected changes. Demonstrate problem solving, and contribute to the solution, working with colleagues. Make basic judgements on patients response to prescribed treatment, and report findings to a qualified practitioner.

Plan and prioritise own visits to delegated patients, and ensure these are documented in personal work diary. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients co-operation in their treatment/care/management plan.

Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework. Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy.

Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with colleagues, patients, carers and other health care professionals. Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important, e.g. taking blood sugars, venepuncture, supervising transfers, passive exercises. Be responsible for ensuring equipment is used safely, following appropriate training, and that it is maintained appropriately.

Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems. Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner. Work with qualified practitioners with group work/clinics as required. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent, and gain consent as appropriate following department policy.

Share responsibility for maintaining store cupboards, pool cars, cleaning specialist equipment and general house keeping tasks. Share responsibility for indirect patient contact tasks, such as, answering telephones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies. Demonstrate basic IT and standard keyboard skills Professional The post holder will: To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and participation in staff meetings, training sessions, courses and reflective practice.

To demonstrate an ability to communicate with patients/carers with complex needs, using clear and effective verbal/non-verbal communication. To gather and collate information to enable co-ordinator to plan interventions/liaison with others. To provide direct feedback to professionals as appropriate, and in a clear and concise way. To contribute to accurate and timely patient records, including data collection.

To communicate and share information with DNs, GPs and SWs as necessary. Be able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives with communication difficulties i.e. deafness, blindness, learning difficulties. To provide feedback to co-ordinator in a clear and concise way.

**Organisational The post holder will**: Undertake mandatory training as required. Participate in a Personal Development Review process. Undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.

Follow Trust policies, and local procedures. Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy. Contribute to clinical audit as required. Complete the staff survey as required.

Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required Research & Development May be required to undertake surveys or audits, as necessary to own work; may occasionally participate in R&D, clinical trials or equipment testing Safeguarding Clause Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Rigorous recruitment checks are carried out and where applicable to the role successful applicants will be required to undertake a criminal records check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Infection Control Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust staff are responsible for protecting themselves and others against infection risks. All staff regardless of whether clinical or not are expected to comply with current infec