Senior Therapy Assistant

Choose Well - Choose WWL

Job overview

Do you want to work at the North West's leading specialist orthopaedic hospital?

Do you want to help patients with their rehabilitation following surgery and assist them in achieving their goals?

We are looking for an enthusiastic Therapy Assistant who would like to join our Orthopaedic Out-Patient Team working at Wrightington Hospital. The post holder will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary team members to deliver high quality care throughout the out-patient therapy pathway.

You will be given the opportunity to learn and develop with support from highly qualified and experienced colleagues.

The post is for 37.5 hours per week and would be worked Monday to Friday .

The role will require you to work across all areas in the Trust which may include those that are designated as positive, asymptomatic and negative COVID wards.

Please note this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received.

Evidence of qualifications will be requested at interview.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

The successful candidates will:

• Have varied duties (both clinical and non-clinical) and will be involved directly in the assessment, care and treatment of patients following orthopaedic surgery. This will be under the supervision of qualified therapists.
• Have involvement in hydrotherapy sessions, led by a qualified member of staff.
• Help with the organising and running of a variety of classes in a gym environment, under the supervision of qualified staff.
• Assist qualified staff using specialist equipment- for example walking aids, anti gravity treadmill , Biodex and specialist gym equipment.
• Support hand therapists with wound care/dressings as required.
• Have excellent communication skills when treating patients both face to face and via telephone.
• Have knowledge and understand of the types of Therapy interventions carried out for elective orthopaedic patients
• Have a caring and considerate manner, which is essential to the post.
• Be expected to have a good level of general education and basic computer literacy
• Be able to work comfortably in a faced paced out-patient environment
• Have previous experience of working in a Therapy or healthcare rehabilitation environment or relevant area.
• Have non-clinical departmental duties such as admin roles, cleaning duties, pool testing, and stock checking.

Working for our organisation

Choose Well – Choose WWL

We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values ‘the WWL Way’.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To carry out a flexible patient centered programme of therapeutic activities under the direction of a Therapist
• To enable patients to achieve their treatment goals
• To keep accurate written records and statistics as required by the service
• To assist in departmental administration
• See job description for more detail

Person specification

Additional

• Demonstrate a commitment to personal development
• Willingness to work flexibly over 7 days
• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.

Knowledge

• Demonstrate understanding of therapy interventions and the role of the assistant
• Health and Safety Risk awareness Knowledge of appropriate Moving and Handling methods
• A basic understanding of relevant medical conditions and appropriate therapeutic interventions
• Awareness of confidentiality
• Knowledge of appropriate Moving and Handling methods

• Understanding of the use of mobility / aids for independence

Skills

• Ability to teach practical skills to patients/clients
• Ability to work single-handed with individuals or groups
• Practical observational skills
• Good personal organisation skills
• Able to conduct self in a professional manner
• Able to problem solve
• Able to participate in aspects of personal care with patients/clients
• Have good written, verbal and non verbal communication skills
• Able to engage patients/ clients in activities
• Ability to use own initiative within designated role
• Able to empathise with people in difficult situations
• Able to recognise and work within own personal limitations

• Able work confidently within a hospital environment
• Able to fit/ adjust mobility / aids for independence
• Able to utilise NHS databases/ patient information systems
• Able to use basic Microsoft Office programmes

Experience

• Working as work as part of a team
• Experience working in a relevant health related area.
• Experience of working with the effects of illness and disability on adults

• Experience of working in patients/ clients own homes
• Experience of working in a therapy/rehab service.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level III /QCF training or equivalent course in relevant area
• Evidence of basic level qualifications in both Maths and English
• Evidenced training / competencies achieved through current practical experience

• GCSE or equivalent in English

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Recruitment Information for Candidates

Our Trust prefers candidates to submit applications online. Please contact the Recruitment Team on 01942 244000 if you have difficulty applying online.

The Trust reserves the right to close adverts earlier than the stated closing date if there is a high volume of applications.

We endeavour to inform all applicants of the outcome of their application by email or SMS text message.

Guidance on Completing Your Application

Applications are scored against the person specification, therefore we recommend that you use the supporting information section of your application form to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role, providing illustrative examples where possible.

On-Call

Please note that some roles may require you to participate in an on-call rota, if the role is predominantly operational.

Continuous Service

WWL has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. and will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester Local Authority or NHS organisation, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority; giving you access to our service-related benefits.