Band 4 - Therapy Assistant (Practitioner), Stroke | West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner,Stroke Unit. Permanent, Full time post. 37.5 hours per week

Watford General Hospital (main base)

Weekdays with Weekend Working Commitments

We have an exciting opportunity for a Assistant Practitioner (Therapy) post within the In-patient Therapy Team on the Stroke Unit at Watford General Hospital.

The successful applicant must have significant experience as a therapy or nursing assistant in the NHS and have a passion for rehabilitating patients in the acute setting. They will join a friendly, dedicated therapy team providing high quality stroke care.

The successful candidate may work independently, managing their own caseload and making treatment decisions autonomously for a select group of patients over-viewed/delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists on the team. They will be assessing both non-complex medical patients on the stroke unit and assisting in assessment of stroke patients and independently screening Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIA's).

The role also includes supporting our qualified members of staff to deliver complex treatments to patients and to assist with the running of the department including data collection and equipment ordering.

To enhance your development, you will be line managed, supervised and trained by a tier of Band 6 and 7 Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists within the Stroke Team.

The successful candidate may work independently, managing their own caseload and making treatment decisions autonomously for a select group of patients over-viewed/delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists on the team.

They will be assessing non-complex medical patients on the stroke unit, assisting in assessment of stroke patients and independently screening Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIA's).

The role also includes supporting our qualified members of staff to deliver complex treatments to patients and to assist with the running of the department including data collection and equipment ordering.

There has never been a more exciting time to join West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust! Major redevelopment works are planned as part of the New Hospital Programme. These will be most dramatic at Watford General Hospital where up to 90% of buildings will be new.

The trust has recently gained 'teaching hospital' status which reflects the dedicated work of many teams and individuals who have set the standard for delivering high quality training, learning and education at all levels of the workforce.

We are a flexible working employer

At West Herts we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly. We are delighted to offer a variety of flexible working options for all staff. Please check out our web page for more information.

https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking/

We encourage and welcome people with disabilities. If you need help, please ask.

We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

The successful candidate would have a responsibility in participating in the weekend and Bank Holiday seven day working rotas (1:4 - 1:6 weekend working frequency) that operates on the Watford General Hospital site.

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively complex information with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes, and to ensure an understanding of their condition/problem so that patients are supported in self management of their condition. Communication of patient progress and forward planning may be discussed with family members and carers where appropriate.

To discuss each patient with a qualified therapist at a minimum of one stage during the patients' intervention. To report back progress or change from expected findings to a qualified therapist.

To attend handover, receive referrals and contribute to the prioritisation of the teams workload.

To communicate complex patient related information effectively, to ensure collaborative working with the multidisciplinary team members across health and social care sectors, ensuring the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.

To be able to deal with contentious information within a team utilising good negotiation skills to ensure the smooth discharge planning of the complex patient.

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own clinical practice, including the treatment of patients, and to be responsible for informing their senior of any areas in which they lack experience or knowledge.

To be responsible for a designated caseload of in-patients and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to own and team priorities.

To undertake specifically delegated comprehensive assessments of patients, including those with diverse or complex presentation/multipathologies.

To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and to have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To carry out and develop rehabilitation programmes with patients in conjunction with other members of the multidisciplinary team.

To formulate an individual management and/or treatment programme, using clinical reasoning and a range of evidence based treatment skills, including physiotherapy techniques, patient education, and exercises classes when appropriate.

To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by maintaining and developing current knowledge of evidence based practice, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development and shows evidence of reflective practice. To develop and enhance skills and incorporate them as necessary into every day practice.

To provide advice, teaching and instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure a coordinated approach to patient care.

To prepare the treatment area and tidying up after use, including the disposal of soiled linen and the cleaning of equipment.

To maintain stock and equipment including reordering.

Carry out data entry using IT skills.