Therapy Support Worker - Hydrotherapy and Rheumatology

Job description

Job responsibilities

For a full list of duties please refer to the attached job description.

Key Duties

Domain 1: Formal Knowledge and Experience

Entry requirements as personal specification.

It is not essential to have experience in health or social care settings at this stage, but candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working with the public, for example customer care skills in retail or through employment, work experience or volunteering.

Demonstrates the values of the NHS and commitment to personal and professional development.

Domain 2: Supporting Service Users

Develops, manages, and maintains positive, appropriate relationships with service users, families and carers, demonstrating respect, kindness, compassion and empathy at all times.

Provides person-centred care and support.

Understands the social, cultural, and economic influences, individual circumstances, behaviours, and lifestyle choices that impact on health outcomes for service users and their families, including health inequalities.

Understands the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvement and importance of relevant interventions for individual service users and their families, including making every contact count.

Seeks support from a registered practitioner when a service user signals a desire to change their health behaviour.

Able to identify ways to promote dignity and is aware of individuals environments and factors that might cause discomfort.

Aware of the main organisations in the health and social care system and services provided.

Aware of the main legislation, legal and ethical responsibilities that shape provision of social care services for service users.

Understands the importance of adhering to codes of practice, clinical procedures, and professional standards.

Able to work collaboratively with a variety of health staff, social care staff, professional staff and others. Understands and demonstrates the principles of team and partnership working.

Recognises the importance of support workers in service delivery, including the diverse roles undertaken by AHP support workers. Is able to define own role, for example by describing their duties and the roles of others.

Understands the services and programmes of care provided by their employer and team.

Domain 3: Clinical, Technical and Scientific Roles and Responsibilities, Knowledge and Practice, Support and Interventions.

Following appropriate training and demonstration of competency to a specified level, works within policies procedures and treatment plans, performing straightforward, routine and specific delegated care tasks, within their scope of practice.

Works supervised in a range of individual or group therapeutic activities, under direction of a Registered Therapist or Senior Therapy Support Worker/Therapy Assistant Practitioner. At times may work without direct supervision, with patients previously assessed by registered staff, and who they are familiar with, however direct access to registered staff is available at all times.

Understands and gains valid consent prior to action or providing care and records this appropriately.

Assesses and progresses patients mobility, functional impairments, and activities of daily living, which may include issuing, training and the progression in using equipment, under the direct supervision of a registered therapist or senior therapy support worker/ Therapy Assistant Practitioner.

Monitors patients during treatment including assessment of a patients fitness to treat, recognising signs of pain and discomfort or a deteriorating patient and promptly escalating accordingly any concerns/ feedback to a registered therapist/ward staff.

Assists in efficient care planning, assisting with service user flow by sharing relevant information in a timely manner with members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.

Assists in visits in the community setting to provide necessary assessments or interventions to support safe discharge, with another therapist/senior member of staff.

Recognises an emergency, summons assistance and acts as a member of the multi-disciplinary team within parameters of own competence and defined role. In settings where a registered practitioner is not present, initiates immediate first aid whilst awaiting the arrival of appropriately qualified practitioners.

Domain 4: Communication and Information Governance:

Communicates effectively, through a variety of methods with patients, carers and relatives to maximise rehabilitation potential through interpersonal, verbal and nonverbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and reassurance.

Exchanges information with service user and families using active listening, compassion, empathy, and coproduction techniques with the service user.

Actively listens and receives information, gives and acts on feedback.

Manage barriers to effective communication and adapts own communication style as appropriate.

Provides and receives routine and straightforward information in a timely and effective manner to and from service users, carers, Therapy and other acute and community MDT staff.

Understands role requirement and the importance of accessing, maintaining and storing documentation relating to care, in accordance with local guidance and legal requirements for maintaining confidentiality and data protection.

Maintains complete accurate and contemporaneous treatment records including valid consent to interventions, utilising digital platforms as required, in line with local and HCPC standards.

Domain 5: Safe and Inclusive Environments

Contributes to the maintenance of healthy and safe working environments through appropriate practice, use of resources, techniques and behaviours and understanding of relevant legislation.

Understands the importance of adhering to organisational policies, protocols, procedures, and standards.

Identifies and acts immediately to manage risks, including assessment of moving and handling, using local policies and procedures.

Is aware of the environment in which they work and how to maintain safety for themselves and others.

Reports any adverse incidents, accidents or complaints in a timely manner, taking appropriate action where necessary, according to trust policy.

Acts with integrity and honesty, ensuring individuals do not experience harm by reporting situations, behaviours or errors that might lead to adverse outcomes for service users.

Ensures safe use of all mechanical and electrical equipment or medical devices used in the care of patients

Domain 6: Research and Service Improvement

Participates in service evaluation and quality improvement activities relevant to own work.

Able to understand and comply with research governance, ethics, protocols and guidelines.

Domain 7: Leadership and Management

Acts in a professional manner, demonstrating NHS Constitution values.

Acts as a role model (for example by being welcoming) and advocates for service users, families and carers.

Takes appropriate action when the performance and practice of others should be positively recognised or requires improvement.

Manages own patient workload, whilst keeping the supervising Registered Therapist / Senior Therapy Support worker/Therapy Assistant Practitioner aware of any changes in workload.

Identifies and develops own leadership skills, for example by volunteering for broader opportunities within their organisation.

Is responsible, with guidance, for maintaining own knowledge, skills and set core competencies through a range of relevant CPD activities and maintenance of an appropriate portfolio.

Is aware of own limitation of knowledge and skills and actively seeks feedback, guidance and advice from the supervising therapist when appropriate.

Completes all required mandatory and compulsory training and maintaining 100% compliance as per trust requirements.

May help induct and instruct new support staff.

Participates in team learning.

Provides administrative support to the therapy team e.g. appointment booking, stock control, monitoring of equipment.

Domain 8: Personal and Professional Values and Behaviours

Demonstrates, through interactions with others, the core values of the NHS and Our NHS People Promise and WAHT Values and Behaviours.

Understands and acts on own safety and health and wellbeing needs and supports the health and wellbeing of wider team members.

Understands why learning is important and how it improves performance, practice and quality of care.

Participates in all relevant inservice training and learning (including mandatory training) to ensure up-to-date knowledge, skills and behaviours to safely perform role, including occasional delivery of training.

Prepares for and participates in appraisals and agrees a Personal Development Plan.

Records learning and personal development and is supported to identify areas for improvement. Undertakes reflective practice.

Is kept informed of and complies with professional, trust and departmental policies and is legally accountable for all aspects of own work.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with the public, eg. customer care skills in retail or through employment, work experience or volunteering.

Desirable

• Recent experience in a therapy setting.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Evidence of Enthusiasm and commitment to the role in Worcestershire.
• Able to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Professional manner and appearance.
• Evidence of appropriate personal attributes eg. responsible, reliable, flexible, well-organised, compassionate, initiative.
• Evidence of team working.

Qualifications

Essential

• Functional Skills (Level 2) or Maths and English GCSE (grades 9-4 or A*- C).
• 5 GCSEs (grades 9-4 or A*, A, B, C) can include Maths & English above OR Equivalent level 2 qualification(s) OR Level 2 apprenticeship, eg. Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship OR Equivalent clinical experience/expertise within AHP profession underpinned by theoretical and practical experience.

Desirable

• Previous relevant in-service training.
• National Care Certificate.

Skills/Knowledge and Abilities

Essential

• Knowledge of basic principles of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.
• Effective and appropriate verbal & written communication/interpersonal skills.
• Recognises need for self-development.
• Computer Literacy eg. Microsoft word, Powerpoint, Outlook.
• Health and Safety awareness.
• Able to manage flexible demands.
• Able to work under supervision.

Desirable

• Knowledge of common patient conditions.
• Evidence of ongoing CPD.
• Evidence of MDT record keeping.

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Right to work in the UK/Valid Visa.
• Ability to meet the physical, emotional and challenging demands of the role.
• Ability to meet the moving and handling requirements of the role.
• Able and willing to work contracted hours over 7 days, extended daily hours pattern.
• Able to contribute to the Therapy Service weekend/Bank Holiday rota.
• Able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post Full driving licence and access to a vehicle (or alternative mode of transport).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)