Therapy Assistant Oxford
Job description
As a Therapy Assistant you will be working under the supervision and guidance of trained Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to deliver a high standard of therapy care and management. The successful candidate will need to work to a patient centred model of care, demonstrating compassion and enthusiasm to enable patients to reach their potential and to optimise their level of independence. We need someone who is caring and is passionate in providing high-quality care to our patients, many of whom are older people. Prior experience of working with this specialist client group is preferable, but not essential. To assist therapists in the safe delivery of high quality of care. To travel with Oxfordshire to care homes and patient address in your own car. Plan and provide programmes of therapeutic activity for patients, within the framework laid down by the therapists. To evaluate and progress basic therapy interventions for patients in activities related to their treatment or rehabilitation programme. To record patient information, interventions, and interactions onto IT systems in accordance with local and national guidelines. Complete administrative tasks required for the day-to-day functioning of the team. Active participation in training, development, and clinical governance. Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world-renowned centre of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK. We employ approximately 12,500 staff (including over 4,000 nurses and 2,000 doctors and 850 AHP staff). The Trust comprises four main hospital sites: the John Radcliffe Hospital (which includes the Children's Hospital, West Wing, Eye Hospital, Heart Centre and Women's Centre), the Churchill Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, all located in Oxford, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, North Oxfordshire. Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk 1. Communication and relationship skills• To participate in regular meetings with other members of the Therapy team and Multidisciplinary team To provide and receive routine information to staff, patients, and carers. To communicate factual information to patients. To persuade patients to co-operate in their rehabilitation programme using encouragement, reassurance, tact and sensitivity; overcome barriers to understanding with patients whose understanding is impaired. To be able to maintain records and documentation required by work settings in accordance with local policies and Therapy specifications. On an informal bases, to promote the profile of Therapies in the Trust. To be able to work flexibly under pressure at a fast pace. 1. Service management and development• To work with therapists to implement policies within the team and the department. To assist the therapists to actively participate in the fieldwork education of therapy students seconded to the service. To participate actively in sharing and receiving in-service training and development to ensure continuous professional development, as appropriate to grade and experience. To be aware of and promote cross-site links. To work with other therapy staff to adhere to policies/protocols for the service, as appropriate. To demonstrate duties to new starters. To provide general support for less experienced staff. To follow policies (Trust and Departmental) in own role. Active involvement in audits and quality initiative projects under guidance of therapists. To help collect data for informal and formal clinical research activities, underpinned by appropriate methodology and documentation To identify training needs and facilitate learning of self. To be willing to take on extra responsibilities to develop the service e.g. Back Care Facilitator, First Aider, Fire Monitor. To assist therapists with inducting new staff to the department. To assist therapist with training new therapy assistant to the department. 1. Clinical skills• To implement treatment plans established by therapists. To assess and formulate treatment plans for routine patients as guided by therapists. To assist therapist to carry out identified home assessments in accordance with the Occupational Therapy Service guidelines. To assess patients’ mobility and issue appropriate equipment under guidance of therapists. To provide advice to patients/carers on safe use and care of prescribed equipment. To assess patients’ stamina/understanding during treatment sessions. To update patient’s goals appropriately and in a timely manner. To ensure appropriate liaison and follow-up at community level prior to patient’s discharge including family members. Cleaning, storage and maintenance of therapies-owned equipment and equipment for loaning Assist in the transporting and re-stocking of therapies equipment stores Arrange for ongoing servicing of chairs as appropriate. To have a holistic understanding of patient and their condition as well as psychosocial dynamics as they impact the patient’s function. To plan and provide programmes of therapeutic activity within framework established by therapists. To assess patient’s response to activities and decides on appropriate action, e.g. advise therapist, summon assistance, or cease treatment. 3.15 To work flexibly and be able to adjust to constant changing ward demands. 1. Planning and Organisational Skills• To manage own day to day work tasks and prioritise with reference to therapist To work with other therapists across the Trust to support speciality groups. To assist therapists in arranging in-service training, study days etc. To assist the therapists in ensuring working conditions are kept optimal, or where not, raised and dealt with appropriately. 5. Information and Resource Management• To record personally generated clinical observations. To compile and collate statistics in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with the Therapies guidelines and the need of the service. To use the Trust Intranet, Electronic Patient Records, SEND 2, ORBIT and databases as appropriate for the speciality. To be competent in ordering equipment for patients’ discharge. To be able to use email and MS Teams for communications across the sites, and to use the Therapies IT system for sharing/using information. To ensure all equipment is used appropriately and safely, according to the service guidelines. To observe a personal duty of care when using equipment. To maintain stock levels of equipment. To work with therapists to ensure working within financial limits and referring on to other agencies as necessary. To be aware of criteria for provision of equipment from other organisations in Oxfordshire, and to help the team abide within these criteria. 1. Working conditions and required effort• To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift. To be able to frequently lift equipment, using appropriate methods alongside a well-developed risk assessment. To be able to risk assess and move a patient safely, manoeuvre wheelchair, hoist, etc as required, alongside risk assessments and in line with local policies. To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern. To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism. To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, such as exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.
