Advertised role location: Southern HSC Trust area (SHSCT)
Official document: CST BAND 4 JD FINAL FOR ADVERT (docx)
Rehabilitation Assistant Band 4, Community Stroke Team

Rehabilitation Assistant Band 4, Community Stroke Team


JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Band 4 Rehabilitation Assistant, Community Stroke Team

BAND
4

DIRECTORATE
ACS

INITIAL LOCATION
2 Posts available, Trust wide service, post 1 base initially Newry and Mourne locality / Post 2 base initially Armagh and Dungannon locality

REPORTS TO
Stroke Lead

ACCOUNTABLE TO
Community Stroke HOS

FLEXIBLE WORKING PROVISION AVAILABLE
Initial posts 31hpw

JOB SUMMARY
To work as a member of the community stroke (CST) multi- disciplinary team assisting with the rehabilitation of people in their own homes and within residential/ nursing home or community settings. The Rehabilitation Assistant will assist with and carry out therapy programmes as directed by Professional staff from the multi –disciplinary team. This may include Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists. They will assist with general departmental and administration duties to support service delivery


KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Main Responsibilities

To support in the assessment of the needs for patients who have had a Stroke
To comply with the Stroke Sentinel National Audit Programme requirements.
To support the use of outcome measures following appropriate training.
To support the identification of risks and inform CST professionals to support risk factor management and escalation where appropriate.
To provide patients with FAST information and who to contact in an emergency.
Where appropriate to inform patients on a range of services available to them in the statutory, private or voluntary sector.
To liaise with relevant health professionals in CST
To evaluate treatment programmes and modify as directed by the appropriate CST professionals within defined limits.
To observe patients’ general behaviour, physical presentation, functional ability, communication and cognition.
To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team to deliver efficient and effective therapeutic rehabilitation
To be responsible for acquiring knowledge of Stroke and therapy interventions through in service training, shadowing more experienced staff members, attending and completing competency training and own personal study
Acquiring suitable knowledge to promote increased awareness of secondary Stroke prevention to individuals and groups
To use acquired knowledge and skills to assist therapy staff in the planning, organisation and implementation of treatment programmes.
To be responsible for own caseload and organise / prioritise this with support from professional staff
To be compliant with Trust Lone Working Policy.
To develop sufficient therapeutic skills to work with or without direct supervision of therapists in the delivery of prescribed individual or group treatment programmes as delegated by qualified therapists.
To be able to undertake therapy tasks which may require physical effort, co-ordination and sustained concentration to ensure client safety.
To monitor stock, order and maintain the safety of equipment
To assist in the planning and delivery of group activities.
To communicate effectively with the team, patients, carers and other members of staff on a range of matters.
To participate in scheduled and unscheduled working Trust-wide across 7 days ensuring compliance with the European working time directive
To support service development within the CST.

SLT
To contribute to the Speech and Language Therapy assessment process as directed.
To obtain information from the patients regarding their functional communication ability. This will require sufficient communication skills to assist patients with aphasia post stroke.
To provide relevant information to assist in the monitoring and evaluation of speech and language therapy programmes and modify interventions within defined limits.
To develop appropriate materials and activities to support ongoing therapy programmes under direction from CST Speech and Language therapists.
To develop sufficient therapeutic skills to support language and swallow training tasks.

Physiotherapy
To issue patients with simple mobility aids as per agreed protocols.
To issue equipment as delegated by Community Stroke Team Physiotherapists and give advice on safe use and maintenance.
To provide follow-up advice on the safe use of mobility/moving and handling equipment to staff, patients and/or carers within defined limits.
To develop sufficient therapeutic skills to support therapy programmes, rehabilitation of walking and stair practice

Occupational therapy
Within parameters, to participate in the assessment of patients’ functional needs using prescribed tools.
To develop sufficient therapeutic skills to assist patients to practice activities of daily living (e.g. washing, dressing), kitchen activities, cognitive tasks.
To adjust and modify interventions depending on patient’s ability, seeking guidance from an Occupational Therapist as required.
To fit, teach safe use of and/or review equipment as directed by an Occupational Therapist
To undertake environmental checks as directed by an Occupational Therapist.

Information management:
To record information as directed in the patient / client file and maintain departmental records as instructed and in accordance with professional/departmental and Trust standards.
To support the team with clerical and administrative duties e.g. filing, making appointments, archiving records, recording and collating statistical information
To participate in audit in relation to own and team activity

Key working relationships:
To develop a rapport with patients to maximise their participation using a patient centred approach
To assist therapists and patients in patient centred goal setting incorporating a self- management approach as appropriate.
To attend team meetings as required

Quality:
To attend and contribute to staff and team meetings.
To participate and contribute to developments and innovative practice within the team providing feedback and suggestions
To ensure you and other members of the team are treated with respect and valued equally
To maintain a personal training file for the purpose of continuous professional development
To monitor and maintain a safe and secure working environment for both patients and staff by complying with health and safety at work legislation.
To deliver high-quality work and encourage others to do so in accordance with departmental and Trust standards
To comply with trust policies and procedures
To undertake mandatory training and relevant training updates
To fully participate in the supervision process and provide support to junior staff.
To participate in the trust annual appraisal process by preparing objectives to assist service delivery and personal development
To take an active role in developing own knowledge and skills and provide information to others to help their development by demonstrating skills, taking part in competency training or mentoring less experienced staff/ students.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.

Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

RAISING CONCERNS - RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.

The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the Trust’s ‘Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)’ policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

PERSONAL AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES (PPI)

Involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community where relevant, in developing, planning, delivering and evaluating our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI) and Co-Production. Further information is available at engage.hscni.net

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS


The post holder will be required to:

Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example:
Smoke Free policy
IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct
standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the Trust’s policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

20/10/2026


PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE AND BAND

Band 4 Rehabilitation Assistant, Community Stroke Team

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE

Community Stroke Team, ACS

HOURS

31hpw


Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience / qualifications


NVQ/QCF/RQF Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care And 2 years’ Band 3 experience delivering therapeutic / rehabilitation programmes to patients in a patient facing rehabilitation environment (must include AHP programme delivery)
OR
5 GCSEs at Grade A-C, including Mathematics and English language or equivalent / higher qualification AND 3 Years’ experience delivering rehabilitation at Band 3 level (or equivalent) to clients in a patient facing health care delivery environment care setting (must include AHP programme delivery)

Willing to undertake and successfully complete RQF level 3 Diploma (if required) and RQF level 4 Diploma in Advanced Health Care. This is a mandatory requirement.


Shortlisting by Application Form

Other
Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Demonstrates empathy
Able to communicate effectively, verbally, non-verbally and in writing, including an ability to communicate technical information.

Ability to understand limitations of the role and the role of others
.
Demonstrates an ability to work positively as an individual or part of a team.
.
Appreciate the need for confidentiality.

Demonstrate an ability to use initiative in planning and organising own work within the parameters agreed and assume responsibility

Proficient practical skills.

Interview

Knowledge
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of Stroke, be rehabilitation focused and have an awareness of the impact of disability.

Able to use Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint or equivalent

Demonstrate an ability to make appropriate decisions within scope of role

Demonstrates a basic understanding of the roles of the wider multidisciplinary team.

Knowledge of Trust’s procedures/policies in relation to current legislation and confidentiality.

Interview

DESIRABLE CRITERIA


SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted

Factor
Criteria
Method of Assessment

Experience

Previous experience of working as part of a community-based rehabilitation team.

Previous experience of working in Stroke rehabilitation environment
Shortlisting by Application Form



As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants:
may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range  of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post.  If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.
are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times