Therapy Assistant

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Therapy Assistant to join our Therapy team in our 105 bed Eagle Wood Neurological Care Centre in Peterborough.

The right person will participate as a full member of the Therapy team in the implementation of individual treatment plans including other relevant multi-disciplinary team members where appropriate.

Main duties of the job

Prepare residents for therapy, ensuring their privacy and dignity is maintained at all times. To organise activities programmes that will maintain interest and progression over a period of time ensuring that high quality, age appropriate, condition appropriate and best value activities are offered at all times. To provide under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist ongoing monitoring, support and assessment of residents physical and mental health needs. Prepare and clean equipment, maintain tidy working areas during and after treatment. Monitor progress of individuals and report any observations to the Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Language Therapist and the Nurse in Charge. Maintain accurate and legible records using SOAP format in the therapy notes. To update therapy database records as required or requested to complete by the Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist Working with unit-based Activities Champions to develop and implement the residents weekly. To support with OT kitchen sessions as directed by the Occupational Therapist. Collaborate with the Activities Engagement Co-ordinator on the alternate site to encourage and facilitate a co-ordinated approach. To monitor and encourage residents progress, taking into account the environment and provide regular feedback to the Occupational Therapist, and the wider therapy team.

About us

PJ Care has been rated as the "Best Care Home to Work for in the UK" in the annual Best Companies awards, which have also ranked us in the top five best health and social care providers to work for.

Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and we strive to nurture dignity, independence and holistic wellbeing through the specialist care models, therapies and activities we right candidate will reflect the PJ Care values of Care, Compassion and Commitment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Thepost holder will be expected to undertake the full duties of a TherapyAssistant as outlined below:

1. PROFESSIONAL

To participate as a full memberof the Therapy team in the implementation of individual treatment plansincluding other relevant multi-disciplinary team members where appropriate.

Prepare residents for therapy, ensuring their privacy and dignity ismaintained at all times.

To provide under the supervision of the Physiotherapist or OccupationalTherapist and Speech and Language Therapist ongoing monitoring, support andassessment of residents physical and mental health needs.

Prepare and clean equipment, maintain tidy working areas during andafter treatment.

Check and maintain equipment safe for use and action according to companypolicy if faulty.

To be involved in overseeing inventory checks of equipment in the gym,Occupational Therapy Kitchen and Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapytreatment rooms and on the units with direction from the Occupational Therapistsand Physiotherapists.

Monitor progress of individuals and report any observations to theOccupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Language Therapist and the Nursein Charge.

Maintain accurate and legible records using SOAP format in the therapynotes.

To carry out therapeutic massage, exercises and passive stretching techniquesas instructed by the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist.

To undertake skin integrity checks as instructed by the Physiotherapistand Occupational Therapist.

To update therapy database records as required or requested to completeby the Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist

To attend daily nursing handovers on all Units every morning andfeedback any relevant information to the Health Care Assistants and Therapyteam.

To support with OT kitchen sessions as directed by the OccupationalTherapist.

To carry out shopping for ingredients if not available from the kitchenfor Occupational Therapy Kitchen sessions.

To be involved in groups organised by Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapyand Speech and Language Therapy.

To monitor and encourage residents progress, taking into account theenvironment and provide regular feedback to the Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Speech and Language Therapist.

To be involved in any administration tasks which assist with the runningof the Therapy Department, this may include photo copying, printing, usingMicrosoft office; including Word and Excel to assist with inputting Therapystats, maintaining up to date equipment inventories and any other admin tasks.

To make telephone calls and liaise with otheragencies under the supervision of the qualified therapists.

To be able tocomprehensively assess residents, within your skill level and scope ofpractice, as delegated by the qualified Therapist and consider the residentsphysical, psychological and functional skills approaching a qualifiedTherapist for further advice as required.

UnderstandConsent to Treatment by:

1. Understanding the Mental Capacity Act and how itimpacts on your patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

2.Gainingvalid consent to and understanding of treatment programmes by residents priorto any intervention and/or their carers

3.Assessingpatients understanding of treatment programmes

4.Respectinga patients right to decline treatment.

Ensurerehabilitation goals of any intervention are clearly developed in conjunctionwith the resident and, where appropriate, carers. It would be desirable to userecognised outcome tools to aid evaluation of the goals, where appropriate.

Touse a range of treatment skills and options within your competency level tomake decisions on individualised rehabilitation programmes, but always seekingguidance from a qualified Therapist where a task is beyond your scope ofpractice.

Carry out theimplementation of treatment programmes or, where appropriate, set up elementsof the programmes to be carried out by carers.

Carry outspecific treatment and care under the guidance and delegation of the qualifiedTherapists in accordance with the agreed treatment programme.

Instruct,supervise and provide direction and guidance of exercise/treatment programmesset by the qualified Therapist.

To organise,provide, install and teach in the use of adaptive equipment, mobility aids andtransfer equipment as has been identified by a qualified Therapist.

Evaluate aresidents progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes/goals as requiredin conjunction with qualified Therapists.

To have areasonable understanding of clinical conditions and terminology.

To be involved inreviewing referrals for appropriateness in line with agreed protocols andcontact a qualified Therapist to make a decision regarding urgency,prioritisation of referrals and allocation of resources.

To demonstrategood verbal and non-verbal communication skills with residents, their families,carers and staff and to demonstrate awareness in relation to sensitive issuesand to deal with difficult situations as appropriate.

To ensure thatresident confidentiality is maintained at all times. To be able to communicatein a manner which is consistent with residents needs and to use theappropriate communication tools when required.

To be able towork as an autonomous member of the Multidisciplinary Team and to manage owncaseload with the supervision of the qualified Therapists.

To have theability to work across a range of clinical areas with appropriate supervision.

Tobe involved in making appropriate referrals to outside agencies as overseen bythe qualified Therapists.

Tobe involved in organising equipment to be delivered to the residents home tofacilitate safe and timely home visits or discharge.

Maintainaccurate and up-to-date patient records in accordance with PJ Care and nationalstandards.

To inputappropriate statistics and complete outcome measures as delegated by qualifiedTherapists.

AttendMultidisciplinary Team meetings where appropriate and provide information forcare reviews regarding resident treatment to be able to influence the outcomeof resident care or discharge as delegated by the qualified Therapists.

Evaluateyour own clinical effectiveness individually and with support from a qualifiedTherapist.

To be able torecognise improvements or negative outcomes in relation to the residentsparticipation in treatment sessions and their condition, informing thesupervising Therapist and documenting it in the residents records.

To ensure thatresidents are encouraged to maintain optimal independence through participationin all decision making related to their treatment and care.

To provideemotional support to patients, their families, and carers to enable them tocope with the psychological effects of their injury/illness.

In the absence ofsenior Therapists be prepared to ensure the smooth day to day running of theteam and in the event of any concerns inform the Registered Manager.

HYDROTHERAPY (based atEagle Wood, Peterborough but used by MiltonKeynes residents)

To assist the physiotherapist with patient handling within thehydrotherapy pool.

To observe hydrotherapy residents for any warning signs and highlightany concerns to

the physiotherapist.

To ensure residents take any emergency medication (such as inhalers andGTN sprays) to hydrotherapy sessions and are wearing waterproof dressings ifrequired.

To be competent in, and regularly practice, hydrotherapy emergencyevacuation procedures.

To check and record hydrotherapy pool chemistry, temperature andhumidity levels on a daily basis and inform physiotherapist immediately if anymeasurements are outside of their limits.

To liaise with housekeeping, maintenance team and microbiology withregards to hydrotherapy pool management when required.

To report any incidents/ accidents to the appropriate members of staffand complete the necessary documentation.

To ensure a safe hydrotherapy environment including clear pool access(entrances and exits), removal of any standing water on the poolside andensuring emergency equipment isworking and readily available to use if required.

To ensure residents for hydrotherapy have showered before and after eachsession and encourage fluid replenishment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Proven educational standard to GCSE in English and Maths or the equivalent. To have or be working towards a relevant NVQ 2 or equivalent training with supporting evidence of learning/competency.

Desirable

Driving Licence would be useful to assist with home visits To have a degree in a related field Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy, Sports Science or Sports Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Therapy; or have a similar qualification from an EU or Non-EU country and working towards equivalency in the UK

Experience

Essential

Experience in Health and/or Social Care settings with adults with a range of illnesses or disabilities. Basic understanding of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Experience of working autonomously and of working within a team.

Desirable

A basic understanding of particular neurological conditions and terminology,and their inherent problems Experience of assessing and ordering basic equipment Experience of working in a Rehabilitation Setting Understanding of patient goals and likely response to treatment outcomes.

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