SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES The post holder will be expected to undertake the full duties of a Therapy Assistant as outlined belo.....
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES The post holder will be expected to undertake the full duties of a Therapy Assistant as outlined below: 1. PROFESSIONAL 1.1 To participate as a full member of the Therapy team in the implementation of individual treatment plans including other relevant multi-disciplinary team members where appropriate. 1.2 Prepare residents for therapy, ensuring their privacy and dignity is maintained at all times. 1.3 To provide under the supervision of the Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist ongoing monitoring, support and assessment of residents physical and mental health needs. 1.4 Prepare and clean equipment, maintain tidy working areas during and after treatment. 1.5 Check and maintain equipment safe for use and action according to company policy if faulty. 1.6 To be involved in overseeing inventory checks of equipment in the gym, Occupational Therapy Kitchen and Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy treatment rooms and on the units with direction from the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. 1.7 Monitor progress of individuals and report any observations to the Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Language Therapist and the Nurse in Charge. 1.8 Maintain accurate and legible records using SOAP format in the therapy notes. 1.9 To carry out therapeutic massage, exercises and passive stretching techniques as instructed by the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. 1.10 To undertake skin integrity checks as instructed by the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. 1.11 To update therapy database records as required or requested to complete by the Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist 1.12 To attend daily nursing handovers on all Units every morning and feedback any relevant information to the Health Care Assistants and Therapy team. 1.13 To support with OT kitchen sessions as directed by the Occupational Therapist. 1.14 To carry out shopping for ingredients if not available from the kitchen for Occupational Therapy Kitchen sessions. 1.15 To be involved in groups organised by Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy. 1.16 To monitor and encourage residents progress, taking into account the environment and provide regular feedback to the Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Speech and Language Therapist. 1.17 To be involved in any administration tasks which assist with the running of the Therapy Department, this may include photo copying, printing, using Microsoft office; including Word and Excel to assist with inputting Therapy stats, maintaining up to date equipment inventories and any other admin tasks. 1.18 To make telephone calls and liaise with other agencies under the supervision of the qualified therapists. 1.19 To be able to comprehensively assess residents, within your skill level and scope of practice, as delegated by the qualified Therapist and consider the residents physical, psychological and functional skills approaching a qualified Therapist for further advice as required. 1.20 Understand Consent to Treatment by: 1. Understanding the Mental Capacity Act and how it impacts on your patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. 2. Gaining valid consent to and understanding of treatment programmes by residents prior to any intervention and/or their carers 3. Assessing patients understanding of treatment programmes 4. Respecting a patients right to decline treatment. 1.21 Ensure rehabilitation goals of any intervention are clearly developed in conjunction with the resident and, where appropriate, carers. It would be desirable to use recognised outcome tools to aid evaluation of the goals, where appropriate. 1.22 To use a range of treatment skills and options within your competency level to make decisions on individualised rehabilitation programmes, but always seeking guidance from a qualified Therapist where a task is beyond your scope of practice. 1.23 Carry out the implementation of treatment programmes or, where appropriate, set up elements of the programmes to be carried out by carers. 1.24 Carry out specific treatment and care under the guidance and delegation of the qualified Therapists in accordance with the agreed treatment programme. 1.25 Instruct, supervise and provide direction and guidance of exercise/treatment programmes set by the qualified Therapist. 1.26 To organise, provide, install and teach in the use of adaptive equipment, mobility aids and transfer equipment as has been identified by a qualified Therapist. 1.27 Evaluate a residents progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes/goals as required in conjunction with qualified Therapists. 1.28 To have a reasonable understanding of clinical conditions and terminology. 1.29 To be involved in reviewing referrals for appropriateness in line with agreed protocols and contact a qualified Therapist to make a decision regarding urgency, prioritisation of referrals and allocation of resources. 1.30 To demonstrate good verbal and non-verbal communication skills with residents, their families, carers and staff and to demonstrate awareness in relation to sensitive issues and to deal with difficult situations as appropriate. 1.31 To ensure that resident confidentiality is maintained at all times. To be able to communicate in a manner which is consistent with residents needs and to use the appropriate communication tools when required. 1.32 To be able to work as an autonomous member of the Multidisciplinary Team and to manage own caseload with the supervision of the qualified Therapists. 1.33 To have the ability to work across a range of clinical areas with appropriate supervision. 1.34 To be involved in making appropriate referrals to outside agencies as overseen by the qualified Therapists. 1.35 To be involved in organising equipment to be delivered to the residents home to facilitate safe and timely home visits or discharge. 1.36 Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records in accordance with PJ Care and national standards. 1.37 To input appropriate statistics and complete outcome measures as delegated by qualified Therapists. 1.38 Attend Multidisciplinary Team meetings where appropriate and provide information for care reviews regarding resident treatment to be able to influence the outcome of resident care or discharge as delegated by the qualified Therapists. 1.39 Evaluate your own clinical effectiveness individually and with support from a qualified Therapist. 1.40 To be able to recognise improvements or negative outcomes in relation to the residents participation in treatment sessions and their condition, informing the supervising Therapist and documenting it in the residents records. 1.41 To ensure that residents are encouraged to maintain optimal independence through participation in all decision making related to their treatment and care. 1.42 To provide emotional support to patients, their families, and carers to enable them to cope with the psychological effects of their injury/illness. 1.43 In the absence of senior Therapists be prepared to ensure the smooth day to day running of the team and in the event of any concerns inform the Registered Manager. HYDROTHERAPY (based at Eagle Wood, Peterborough but used by Milton Keynes residents) 1.44 To assist the physiotherapist with patient handling within the hydrotherapy pool. 1.45 To observe hydrotherapy residents for any warning signs and highlight any concerns to the physiotherapist. 1.46 To ensure residents take any emergency medication (such as inhalers and GTN sprays) to hydrotherapy sessions and are wearing waterproof dressings if required. 1.47 To be competent in, and regularly practice, hydrotherapy emergency evacuation procedures. 1.48 To check and record hydrotherapy pool chemistry, temperature and humidity levels on a daily basis and inform physiotherapist immediately if any measurements are outside of their limits. 1.49 To liaise with housekeeping, maintenance team and microbiology with regards to hydrotherapy pool management when required. 1.50 To report any incidents/ accidents to the appropriate members of staff and complete the necessary documentation. 1.51 To ensure a safe hydrotherapy environment including clear pool access (entrances and exits), removal of any standing water on the poolside and ensuring emergency equipment is working and readily available to use if required. 1.52 To ensure residents for hydrotherapy have showered before and after each session and encourage fluid replenishment.
