Therapy Assistant
Teesside Hospice

Job summary
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £26,000 FTE
Department: Wellbeing & IPU
Location: Teesside Hospice, 1 Northgate Road, Middlesbrough, TS5 5NW

As a therapy assistant you will contribute to the delivery of care pathways for patients with long term conditions and palliative care rehabilitation needs, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.

Effectively and efficiently undertake all aspects of clinical duties and procedure required and identified in an individual treatment plan recognising own competencies and the scope of own role. This may be done within the hospice setting inpatient unit or Wellbeing centre or in the community in the patients own home.

Main duties of the job
As a therapy assistant you will contribute to the delivery of care pathways for patients with long term conditions and palliative care rehabilitation needs, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.

Effectively and efficiently undertake all aspects of clinical duties and procedure required and identified in an individual treatment plan recognising own competencies and the scope of own role. This may be done within the hospice setting inpatient unit or Wellbeing centre or in the community in the patients own home.

About us
People are at our core. We offer a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and are always aiming for the highest standards and working environment. Our teams work positively together, collaborating to ensure our patients get the best care, and staff enjoy a fulfilling career knowing they make a real difference in people's lives.

Our values are Compassionate, Skilled, Accountable, Trustworthy and Principled - working here means being part of a community that focuses on empathy, respect and teamwork. We're there for everyone who needs us and are on a mission to change the way society and healthcare systems care for people.

Job responsibilities
Job Purpose and Role
As a therapy assistant you will contribute to the delivery of care pathways for patients with long term conditions and palliative care rehabilitation needs, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.

Effectively and efficiently undertake all aspects of clinical duties and procedure required and identified in an individual treatment plan recognising own competencies and the scope of own role. This may be done within the hospice setting inpatient unit or Wellbeing centre or in the community in the patients own home.

Main Duties and key result areas
General duties

• Effectively and efficiently undertake all the aspects of clinical duties and procedures required and identified in a patients treatment plan, recognizing own competencies and scope of practice
• Assess patients needs within the limits of your skills and competence
• Apply competency-based treatment techniques/care to patients under supervision of a qualified practitioner following a prescribed treatment plan, including
• implementing activities/exercise programmes
• Ordering and supplying therapeutic equipment/aids, providing instruction and supervision/evaluation of the use of equipment
• Communicate information to patients and carers regarding their health needs and associated treatment plans as well as provide education through programmes such as BIC (Be In Charge, breathlessness and anxiety)
• Plan and prioritise own visits in accordance with therapy guidelines and ensure these are documented on SystmOne
• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, incorporating motivation, encouragement and confidence building to enable patients to engage in their treatment/care and management plan.
• Effective communication skills using all formats/methods of communication, considering communication barriers, such as hearing impairment. Mental capacity impairment.
• Make all necessary reasonable adjustments to enable all service users to achieve desired clinical outcomes
• Provide information as required to the team, patient, carer and/or relative
• Work closely with the wider MDT and liaise with community teams as required to ensure that identified care needs are met and care is co-ordinated properly
• Report and take appropriate action regarding any change in patients condition or circumstance, and communicate information to the relevant team members, ensuring this information is clearly documented on SystmOne.
• Actively contribute to protecting people at risk by assessing and monitoring the care environment, acting upon and following safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Respect dignity of patients obtaining consent, ensuring care is person centred, involving patient, carers, family in shared decision making.

Person Specification
Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential
• Excellent IT Skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel
• Ability to work under pressure remain calm in stressful situations
• Highly organised, ability to manage and plan workload and prioritse effectively

Desirable

• Experience of working with SystemOne
• Able to facilitate groups

Personal Attributes/ Key skills
Essential

• Team Working
• Planning and Control
• Communication and Influencing
• Attention to Detail

Other
Essential

• Leading Others
• Ability to travel independently across areas covered

Qualifications
Essential

• Education to include min GCSE pass (A-C) in maths and English
• NVQ level III in care/BTEC Health& Social care or equivalent

Desirable

• Additional training in palliative care
• Additional training in communication skills

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working in adult health or social care setting
• Strong interpersonal skills and relationship management
• Experience of signposting services for individuals

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Previous experience working as a therapy assistant
• Previous experience working in Palliative care, neurology, respiratory specialities

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.