Senior Therapy Support Worker, Band 4

We have a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic and proactive Senior Therapy Support Worker to join our dynamic inpatient therapy team within the care of the elderly speciality.
The successful candidate will be expected to work as a Senior Therapy Support Worker across both Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals to deliver high-quality, personalised therapy to patients referred to the therapy service. You will be expected to use both physiotherapy and occupational therapy theoretical frameworks to assess patients holistically for physical, cognitive and psychological deficits and the impact on occupational performance as well as providing delegated treatment programmes within agreed limitations using exercise and rehabilitation principles.
The successful applicant will join our integrated therapy team, working alongside experienced Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team.
You may work across site at both Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals but this post is predominantly based at Cheltenham General hospital. You will also be required to contribute to the therapy weekend working rota., In line with the Trust Vision to provide the "Best Care for Everyone…"
- To use the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and client-centred way, to promote independence and facilitate safe discharge. This will be achieved by implementing delegated treatment plans and facilitating rehabilitation within agreed limitations through exercise, physical modalities and the use of occupation. To assess and manage delegated patients with mobility and occupational difficulties, reporting back to the registered practitioner as necessary.
- To support the teams with administration, clerical and housekeeping duties

Working for our organisation
It is expected that all employees uphold the values of the organisation as our values underpin everything we do and describe the way we expect our staff to behave towards our patients, families and carers and between each other. We have the following three values:
1. Caring
Patients said: "Show me that you care about me as an individual. Talk to me, not about me. Look at me when you talk to me."
2. Listening
Patients said: "Please acknowledge me, even if you can't help me right now. Show me that you know that I'm here."
3. Excelling
Patients said: "Don't just do what you have to, take the next step and go the extra mile.", To assess patients, identifying patients' problems, potential complications and contraindications and referring back for assessment by a registered practitioner when necessary. To be able to assess, evaluate, progress and report back and assist the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) in identifying and planning safe discharge. To identify and organise/undertake appropriate follow up treatment within a delegated framework of responsibilities, reporting back to registered staff and referring on to other agencies when necessary. This will include follow up home visits and post discharge phone calls to help prevent the risks of early discharge exacerbated by functional difficulties and patient and relative/carer anxieties.
- To use clinical reasoning skills to agree functional goals and develop and evaluate the treatment plan. To implement and progress treatment programmes in order to promote physical / functional independence. To include the instructing of patients on functional exercise, the assessment and issuing of equipment for activities of daily living in hospital and in the home. Assessing and instructing patients in the safe use of mobility aids and equipment for activities of daily living, and practice activities of daily living such as mobility, safety on the stairs, dressing and bathing.
- To provide a collaborative assessment and treatment approach to reduce repetition of information and provide a seamless pathway of rehabilitation from assessment through to discharge, with appropriate follow up intervention post discharge. To improve the discharge planning process by communicating as a key member of the multidisciplinary team.
- To exercise autonomy in the management of the caseload in the clinical area, to include making decisions about allocation of work to other staff, both registered and non-registered. To undertake specific unaccompanied work and organise own caseload comprising of patients with predictable and unpredictable conditions.
- To use verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers. This may include education, motivation, persuasion, and empowerment. This will include patients/carers who may or may not have barriers to communication through cognitive or physical impairment e.g., hearing or visual impairment, confusion and depression.
- To monitor and report back to the registered practitioner and/or other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), regarding progress and changes in the patient's condition or deviation in the expected care pathway, to ensure safety and the achievement of agreed goals. This may include representing the therapists at MDT meetings and ward handovers.
- To be responsible for the supervision of less experienced support workers including appraisal and training. To take a lead role in the induction of new staff into the clinical area. To support the supervision of less experienced staff and undergraduate students. To contribute to the training programme in the clinical area, passing on speciality specific knowledge to others.
- To participate in own continuing professional development (CPD), including supervision, appraisal and training to ensure competency, service quality and meet the clinical governance agenda and organisational goals.
- To undertake administrative and housekeeping tasks to support the Therapy team and ensure the ongoing care and rehabilitation of the patient. To include making accurate and legible entries in the therapy and multidisciplinary patient records. This will involve discharge summaries, reports and transfers to other agencies. To contribute to measuring the treatment outcomes and audit activity related to the service. To contribute to the development of the service, and representing the Therapy service at meetings when delegated.
- To prepare the clinical area/storage area and the patient, for delivery of safe and effective treatments in a clean environment e.g. Securing drips, drains, wounds and catheters and maintain treatment/storage areas to comply with Health and Safety and Infection Control standards. To monitor and maintain stock levels of equipment and consumables to ensure smooth service delivery.
- To participate in the weekend working rota where applicable, following a period of induction, training and assessment. 12.To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times. This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.
Additional Contact Details

The health and wellbeing of our staff and patients remains the priority of the Trust. Vaccination remains the best chance we have of conquering COVID and the Trust encourages everyone to take up this offer.
Please note, this vacancy may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received, so please apply as soon as possible if you are interested. The Recruitment Team are unable to accept any applications after the position has closed on NHS Jobs.

Band 4
Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! We have an ambitious plan for our journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational, committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.
As a former winner of England for excellence award: Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.
As a hospital Trust we are currently involved in over 100 clinical trials and studies, whilst also providing acute elective and specialist services to a population of over 620,000.
By joining Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust new colleagues can look forward to a warm welcome and a future full of opportunities and support.