Description
We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate and motivated Band 3 Therapy Assistant to join our friendly and supportive Care of the Elderly Therapy Team.
This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a dedicated multidisciplinary team, supporting older adults to regain their independence, improve their mobility and achieve their rehabilitation goals.
Working alongside qualified Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, you will play an important role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care to older people with a wide range of complex medical, physical, cognitive and functional needs.
Main duties of the job
- To work in an integrated way to assist the Therapy team in information gathering, delivering treatments, agreeing patient goals and to support with discharge planning.
- To be confident in using a wide variety of manual handling equipment to support treatments such as hoist, sliding sheets, rota stand, sliding board, sara steady, walking frames, crutches and sticks.
- To be able assess and prescribe basic equipment such as commodes, FSTF, perching stools and bed sticks.
- To attend all relevant training, and ensure ongoing CPD towards achieving all band 3 Generic Assistant competencies.
Job responsibilities
- To implement the appropriate therapy intervention under supervision from Therapists.
- Assist in carrying out standardised assessment i.e. washing and dressing/kitchen assessments and the demonstration of equipment as requested by therapist.
- To assist therapists on home visits and carry out visits independently as deemed appropriate.
- To support the therapy team in delivering treatment and rehabilitation by practicing exercise, transfer and mobility.
- To carry out skilled therapy techniques learnt through training, experience and competencies
- To monitor patients’ progress reporting changes and offer appropriate suggestions regarding further treatment from the therapist.
- To recognise a deteriorating patient, or changes in a patient that require escalating to a senior member of staff.
- To have a good awareness of health and safety regulations, reporting incidents and safeguarding issues where appropriate.
- To prepare equipment ready for treatments, be able to check equipment safety and highlight equipment concerns.
- To monitor treatment areas and ensure that they are tidied following use and that all soiled linen/dressings/unwanted splints are removed and disposed of, and any equipment/instruments are cleaned/sterilised all in accordance with service policies.
- To attend multidisciplinary team meetings when requested by line manager to share factual information and feedback to therapist.
- To assist the therapists with patients who require two or more members of staff to treat them effectively and safely.
- To accept and act on duties delegated by the qualified Therapist.
Person Specification
- Qualifications: Maths and English Level 2
- Experience: To have experience as a therapy assistant, Understanding of the roles of physiotherapy and occupational therapy, Basic understanding of health education and promotion