Enablement Assistant Practitioner

To contribute to the assessment, planning and review of, and to independently implement enablement programmes with a variety of clients. Tasks may include (but are not limited to) teaching prescribed exercise programs, practicing transfers and mobility, assisting and promoting independence in personal care tasks, eating and drinking, kitchen practice, undertaking access visits to feedback environmental information to therapists, assessment for and provision of equipment to assist with daily activities and documenting interventions accurately in notes following trust guidelines To work as part of a flexible multidisciplinary team and undertake tasks delegated by the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists in the acute setting To promote an enablement approach to patient care in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team To participate in and support service development projects and audits To participate in 7 day rotas as required To accept patients delegated by a therapist or identified under a protocol, and carry as own patient caseload. Treat patients according to set treatment/enablement protocols, monitoring patient progression, making alterations to patient enablement programmes as required. Work unsupervised reporting back patient progress and informing the therapist of any unexpected variation/concerns.

This post holder will be expected to participate in seven day working patterns. Assist the therapist in the enablement of patients using a range of therapeutic techniques. To manage the enablement of patients as delegated by the therapist, working without direct supervision; assessing patient progress, reporting back to the therapist and assisting with discharge planning. Treat patients individually or in a group without direct supervision or presence of a therapist.

To undertake highly skilled support work e.g. initial interviews and functional screening. To assist and supervise the therapist or other health care professional, with the moving and handling of complex, high risk patients in preparation for and during treatment sessions according to patients risk assessments. Instruct patients and carers, providing direction and guidance on the treatment/enablement programme and progress, and guidance in health promotion.

Encourage patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills. Use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate enablement programmes to patients who may have barriers to understanding or communicating, e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, or who do not have English as a first language.

Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings as the therapy representative as delegated by the therapist. Participate in clinical decision making process at multi-disciplinary meetings. Make accurate records of patient contacts undertaken and keep monthly statistics as required in line with Trust and service standards. To document in MDT records all treatment undertaken, patient progress and treatment/enablement plans.

To liaise with the therapist as necessary regarding patient care, highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from enablement programmes you deliver. To liaise with multi-disciplinary colleagues to gather and share individual patient information to promote care and discharge planning, and to feedback to the therapists information gathered. To attend and actively participate in in-service training as required. To attend mandatory training according to trust schedules.

To induct newly appointed members of the therapy team into the hospital environment, systems, processes and routines. To assess for, measure, issue from stock and teach the safe use of appliances and aids to patients, e.g. mobility aids and ADL equipment. To work within risk assessments for moving and handling of individual patients, reassessing and recording changes, and referring any increased risk back to the therapist.

Contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team, departmental or other appropriate meetings and comment on recommended changes to clinical care or service provision. The job holder must comply with the Medway NHS Foundation Trust Infection Prevention and Control policies at all times and adhere to the Clinical Work Wear policy. In particular hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment. Mandatory training must also be completed and up to date.