Assistant Practitioner Stroke

• To work without direct supervision, but under the direction of the qualified staff in the performance of specific tasks for an individual or group of patients, as part of their treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Duties may include:
• Implementation of treatment plans
• Positioning advice and care
• Assessing performance of activities of daily living
• Teaching use of walking aids
• Carrying own caseload of non-complex patients
• Discharging patients
• Delivery and simple fitting of equipment
• Direct assistance to qualified staff with more complex patients
• Liaison with usual place of residence regarding pre-morbid mobility
• Demonstrating tasks / exercises to carers / family
• Access home assessment
• Communicating with patients / relatives and Colleagues
• To be involved in the induction, training, development and supervision of students and Therapy and Rehabilitation Assistants.
• Be aware of the entire Stroke Care Pathway, including hyper acute / acute / rehab phases and the implications of this on standards of therapy care.
• To write treatment notes in a concise, accurate, and timely manner in line with departmental standards. These notes do not require qualified staff countersignature.
• To be aware at all times of the needs of patients during illness or disability and to promote and encourage independence and restoration of function.
• To undertake any non-clinical / clerical duties as necessary. This may include maintain stock levels, filing, dealing with telephone calls, cleaning, booking appointments.
• To be actively involved in the communication of information regarding patients' conditions and any other useful information to the physiotherapist / occupational therapist and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers. Communication skills to encourage motivation and explanation will be needed. Barriers to communication may include loss of hearing, altered perception, pain and language disorders associated with stroke.
• To be involved in the delivery, collection, cleaning and maintenance of therapy equipment.

• To attend organised statutory training sessions, including annual fire lectures, cardiac resuscitation lectures and any in-service training.
• To work in accordance with the relevant Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Codes of Conduct.
• To be aware of and comply with the organisation departmental policies and procedures.
• To be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and abide by policies including the prompt recording and documentation of incidents and accidents.
• Any other duties that may be considered appropriate by the qualified staff and Line manager.
• All roles within East Coast Community Healthcare CIC (ECCH) require staff to demonstrate our Values and Signature Behaviours in the care and service they provide to patients, service users, stakeholders and colleagues. All members of staff should consider these as an essential part of their job role.
• Our Values outline the core behaviours that we can all achieve and are summarised as an acronym within the word 'CARE'. These stand for: Compassion, Action, Respect and Everyone.
• Underpinning our Values are our Signature Behaviours which highlight by taking the right actions we continue to build a strong culture. Our four Signature Behaviours are: Compassion - We Listen, We Learn, We Lead| Action - My Accountability, My Responsibility | Respect - Respect Our Resources: People, Time and Money | Everyone - Work Together, Achieve Together.

Essential

• SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• *Clear understanding of therapy role
• *Understands the health system
• *Understands the concepts of therapy and the enabling approach
• *Problem solving skills
• *Demonstrates good inter-personal skills
• *Good verbal and written communication skills
• *Basic IT skills
• *Able to work independently and as a team worker
• *Able to use own initiative
• PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
• *Energetic and motivated
• *Flexible
• *Confident
• *Adaptable
• *Able to recognise self-limitations
• *Current driving licence for community work involved
• *Physically fit for manual handling of patients and equipment
• *Willingness and ability to work across different sites and travel to alternative sites and across the community as required
• *Ability to embrace our Culture, Values and Signature Behaviours:

Desirable

• SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• *Basic training days in stroke or rehabilitation
• *Basic supervisory skills, e.g. delegation, co-ordination of tasks for a group
• *Negotiation skills
• *Creative Skills
• * Therapeutic or rehabilitation skills
• PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
• *Life experience
• *Motivation for this role / location