Band 3 Therapy Assistant Stroke

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic Band 3 Therapy Assistant to join our Therapy Team on the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual, keen to learn or gain experience in therapy, to join a supportive and friendly team. The successful candidate will be an important member of the inpatient team, working alongside qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to provide appropriate and timely interventions and to help in the assistance and management of clinical caseloads on the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit.,

• To work as a member the Stroke Specialist MDT
• To assist the therapy staff with a range of duties
• To provide holistic interventions for patients, often without direct supervision, working to treatment plans, protocols and accountable at all times to a registered practitioner
• To support patient centred rehabilitation in order to facilitate timely, safe transfer of care, reflecting individual choice and maximising individual's independence
• To accurately record patient information
• To accurately input data onto IT systems, Communication :
1. To participate in regular meetings with other members of the MDT 2. To provide and receive routine information from staff, patients and carers 3. To communicate factual information to patients 4. To encourage patients to participate in their rehabilitation programme using reassurance, tact and sensitivity; overcome barriers to understanding with patients whose understanding is impaired 5. To be able to maintain records and documentation required by work settings in accordance with local policies 6. On a continual basis promote the rehabilitative approach within the Trust 7. To be able to work flexibly and at a fast pace under pressure Clinical Responsibilities : 1. To carry out treatment plans established by therapy and nursing staff 2. To assist therapists and nursing staff in environmental assessments 3. To carry out mobility and transfer practise and issue appropriate equipment under guidance of therapists 4. To provide advice to patients and carers on safe use and care of prescribed equipment under guidance of therapists 5. To be aware of patients stamina and understanding during treatment sessions and make appropriate adjustments to the session 6. To update all relevant documentation appropriately 7. To maintain wheelchair and pressure cushion store 8. To coordinate cleaning, storage, maintenance of chairs including arranging for ongoing servicing 9. To have a holistic understanding of the patient and their condition as well as psychosocial dynamics as they impact the patients function 10. To provide stroke specific programmes of therapeutic activity within framework established and guided by therapists and nursing staff 11. To monitor patients response to activities and take appropriate action, advise senior staff, summon assistance, or cease treatment 12. To carry out shared duties across the Therapy service, such as equipment delivery / van maintenance and cleaning. 13. To work flexibly across 7 days (approx. 1 weekend per month) within the Acute Stroke Unit and across Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. Planning and Organisational Skills 1. To manage own day to day work tasks and prioritise with guidance from therapists and nursing staff 2. To assist the stroke specialist MDT in arranging in-service training, study days etc. 3. To assist the therapists and nursing staff in ensuring working conditions are kept optimal, acting quickly when they are not Service and Personal Development 1. To work with the senior members of the MDT to implement policies within the Stroke Pathway 2. To actively support the fieldwork education of students from all disciplines seconded to the service 3. To participate actively in sharing and receiving in-service training and development to ensure continuous professional development, as appropriate to grade and experience 4. To be aware of and promote cross-site links 5. To support the induction of all new starters, demonstrating duties where necessary 6. To provide general support for less experienced staff from all disciplines 7. To adhere to all relevant Trust and Departmental Policies and Procedures in line with Trust Values 8. To collect and input data for surveys, audits or research as necessary 9. To identify training needs and facilitate self-learning 10. To be willing to take on extra responsibilities to develop the service Back Care Facilitator, First Aider, Fire Monitor 11. To assist senior staff with training new Therapy Assistants within the department Information and Resource Management 1. To record personally generated clinical observations using SEND where appropriate 2. To compile and collate statistics in a timely and accurate manner in accordance with departmental procedures 3. To use the Trust Intranet, Electronic Patient Records, ORBIT and databases as appropriate for the speciality 4. To complete top-up procedures for equipment stores following guidelines. 5. To be able to use email for communications within the team, and to use the IT system for sharing / using information 6. To ensure all equipment is used appropriately and safely, according to the service guidelines 7. To observe a personal duty of care when using equipment 8. To proactively maintain stock levels of equipment 9. To work with therapy and nursing staff to ensure the MDT is working within financial limits and referring on to other agencies as necessary 10. To be aware of criteria for provision of equipment from other organisations in Oxfordshire, and to help the team to work within these Equality, Diversity and Rights 1. To be sensitive to the cultural, religious and linguistic needs of the individual and bring these issues to the attention of others 2. To develop, sustain and evaluate collaborative approaches with other workers, agencies and communities 3. To identify training needs and facilitate learning of self and others, 3. To identify and alert senior staff to areas of clinical risk, particularly ensuring that the range of devices / equipment used is safe, modern and efficient 4. To adhere to the culture of being progressive, honest and open regarding risk assessment 5. To be familiar with the Major Incident Policy and Fire Policy and the local response plan and their role within that response Responsibilities for Health & Safety The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all duties and responsibilities of this post are carried out in compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Statutory Regulations and Trust Policies and Procedures. This will be supported by the provision of training and specialist advice where required. Infection Control Infection Control is everyones responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Trusts Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA. All staff employed by the ORH Trust have the following key responsibilities : Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol gel on entry and exit from all clinical areas and between each patient contact. Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training provided for them by the Trust.

The successful candidate must demonstrate effective communication skills and be passionate about working within a multi-disciplinary team. They should be able to demonstrate an adaptable approach to their clinical and non-clinical duties due to the busy and changing demands of an acute hospital setting., 2. To be able to move a patient safely, manoeuvre wheelchair, hoist, etc. as required 3. To be able to assist patients in transfers in a variety of situations. 4. To be able to frequently lift equipment, using appropriate methods alongside a well-developed risk assessment 5. To be able to concentrate / focus during unpredictable work patterns ( with patients) or interruptions and the need to meet deadlines 6. To be able to demonstrate mental ability to focus on predictable work patterns and to have well-developed coping strategies to deal with stressful / unpleasant situations as they occur, seeking senior support where necessary 7. To be aware of and deal appropriately with any exposure to bodily fluids Risk Management 1. To ensure working conditions (physical) and mental risks (behaviour of aggressive patients / staff, relatives, etc.) are kept minimal, or where inevitable, dealt with appropriately,
• Good written and spoken English
• Proven educational standard to GCSE in English and Maths (or the equivalent)
• IT literate and able to use a range of applications to support workload.
• Experience of working autonomously
• Experience of the adult client group
• Experience of working with patients individually or in groups
• Some understanding of Health and Community Services in the NHS
  
  Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.