Therapy Assistant Practitioner

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

• To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to carry a full caseload of patients under the supervision, direct and indirect, of an Occupational Therapist or a Physiotherapist.
• To work to departmental standard operating procedures and clinical protocols and in conjunction with the supervising clinician to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and service demands.
• To be responsible for implementing programmes of care assessing patient progress and using initiative to suggest changes to treatment plan within agreed competencies. When care deviates from standard operating procedures report back to therapist.
• To own competency level to be accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist.
• To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient.
• To undertake the assessment and treatment planning for patients identified within a specific and designated caseload.
• To carry out home visits and access visits, with or without a therapist, as required.
• To implement individualised clinical management programmes, utilising a range of treatment skills and options to plan a suitable programme of care.
• To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.
• To provide information, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies. To promote understanding of the aims of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy.
• To participate in multidisciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care. This may include the review of patient progress and discharge planning.
• To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with Trust guidance and agreed criteria.
• Deliver and install simple aids and equipment in the patients home and instruct patients and carers in use of this equipment as appropriate.
• To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients where there may be barriers to understanding or the inability to accept diagnosis. To facilitate the best possible communication outcome in every situation and use appropriate services e.g. interpreters, SALT.
• To ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning.
• To employ appropriate skills such as persuasion, motivation and negotiation to gain co-operation in the continuation of the agreed treatment programme.
• To communicate with empathy, patient information which may be of a complex and sensitive nature
• To receive complex patient related information from patients, relatives, carers and other professionals to effectively plan and develop individual case management.
• To communicate and advise regarding complex patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working within the Therapy service and with other professionals across health and other agencies to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service.

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream

Essential

• Knowledge of basic principles of rehabilitation
• Able to use computer databases and complete patient records electronically
• Able to supervise staff
• Understanding of care pathways and key issues for Trust