Therapy Assistant

We have an exciting permanent vacancy for a Therapy Assistant in the Kirklees Adult Community Learning Disability Health Team.

We are a well-established and supportive team of physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and dietitian who deliver therapeutic assessment and treatment to adults who have a diagnosed learning disability across Kirklees. We are an agile team and do most of our work in peoples homes, day centres, colleges and community venues with the use of therapy treatment rooms when required.

We are looking for an applicant who has a passion for working in an enabling way with this service user group and are committed to helping them to fulfil their potential within the community. We are looking for an individual who would like to build on their existing learning disability experience to expand their depth of understanding and learn new skills. Applicants will be expected to assist all the therapy clinicians over their working week.

The core hours of the team are 09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday, although all members of the IST are expected to provide support outside these hours on occasion, according to clinical need., The team offer a robust induction, regular supervision, appraisal and in-house training to enable the applicant to fulfil the requirements of the role, and the Trust is committed to staff development. Due to the nature of the role a car driver is essential.

Applicants should have excellent communication skills and be able to adapt their communication, verbal and non-verbal, according to service users needs. They should have excellent IT skills and be able to use specific communication programmes. They should be physically able to fulfil the demands of the role which will include participation in hydrotherapy, rebound therapy (therapeutic use of a trampoline) and moving and handling tasks.

Applicants should have excellent observational skills and be able to follow detailed and sometimes complex therapy programmes. They should be skilled in managing their time efficiently and be able to work independently, fully understanding the boundaries of the role and seeking help when required.

The role will predominantly be client-facing, but it will also include note-writing and making therapy resources, for example creating exercise programmes/ writing up Easy Read instructions on how to complete exercises, and creating a range of other resources such as visual timetables, Easy Read leaflets, Social Stories and communication passports.

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.