Therapy Assistant
Job overview
Liverpool Universities Hospitals Foundation Trust Therapies Directorate are looking for enthusiastic and reliable team players to join them as therapy assistants. Therapies includes , Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy.
** Please note if you are successfully shortlisted for interview there will be the requirement to attend this face to face for a group interview. Successful candidates following the group interview will then have a panel based interview following this **
Main duties of the job
Therapy assistants work alongside clinicians assisting patients in their rehabilitation and recovery across many areas. Assistants also provide treatment independently under guidance from qualified staff. Posts available in the following clinical areas:
Acute medicine and surgery
Orthopeadics
Emergency Department
All posts are subject to 7 day shift working pattern and staff are required to work flexibly.
Training will be provided in order to gain the required skills and competencies, including some housekeeping and equipment maintenance duties. Some awareness or experience of working with Therapists would be beneficial and previous customer care or health care experience is essential.
These post are based at Aintree University Hospital but if you are successful, there may be opportunity to work at our other sites of Royal Liverpool Hospital or Broadgreen Hospital across a wide range of specialist areas.
Working for our organisation
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was created on 1 October 2019 following the merger of two adult acute Trusts, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
The merger provides an opportunity to reconfigure services in a way that provides the best healthcare services to the city and improves the quality of care and health outcomes that patients experience.
The Trust runs Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool University Dental Hospital and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
It serves a core population of around 630,000 people across Merseyside as well as providing a range of highly specialist services to a catchment area of more than two million people in the North West region and beyond.
To hear more about our achievements click here https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/media/13089/1606-annual-report-booklet_final.pdf
Follow us on Social Media:
Facebook – Liverpool University Hospitals Careers
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Twitter - @LUHFTcareers
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical
Under the instruction of the qualified Therapist assist in carrying out care and exercise programmes with patients in a manner that respects people’s abilities, privacy, dignity and individuality.
Treat patient individually or in a group in a variety of settings with supervision from the qualified Therapist e.g. outpatient department, ward, hydrotherapy and critical care.
To liaise regularly with the qualified Therapist regarding treatment progression and ongoing care. Reporting to Therapist any lack of progression or negative changes in patients ability to undertake treatment session.
To work as a member of the therapy team and multidisciplinary team, sharing information with team members.
Assist on home visits under the direction of a qualified Therapist or technical instructor and arrange transport and complete relevant documentation.
Issue, fit and retrieve Therapy equipment under the supervision of a qualified Therapist in ward or home setting keeping accurate records of this activity.
Ensure equipment within department is clean and fit for its purpose.
Assist patients to access and use toilet facilities.
Transfer patients safely between ward, clinics and treatment areas as requested.
To receive and prepare patients for therapy treatments.
To prepare and maintain equipment and Therapy treatment areas including household duties.
To ensure effective internal and external two-way communication with patients, carers and all other health and social care professionals regarding aspects of patient care, providing and receiving complex information which requires empathy and reassurance, communicating where there may be barriers to understanding.
Maintain accurate and timely records of treatments as directed by the qualified Therapist.
To order therapy equipment and supplies under the direction of Technical Instructor/Therapist and authorised signatories.
To participate in departmental planned out of hours working (optional)
Clinical Governance
To comply with the health and safety policies of the Trust including attendance at mandatory training sessions as specified by the Trust.
To comply with departmental and organisational policies and procedures.
Ensure all accidents, incidents and hazards are reported and dealt with according to Trust requirements.
To comply with the Data Protection Act and Caldicott recommendations.
To maintain accurate documentation in line with local policies and procedures.
To gain valid informed consent in line with Trust and Departmental Policy.
Training & Development
To actively participate in mandatory and in-service training programmes.
To attend relevant training courses as identified and agreed with senior staff and managers during staff appraisal sessions.
To participate in staff appraisal sessions.
To participate in the therapy assist rotational scheme which involves working across the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust in a range of ward settings and outpatients departments.
To contribute to the induction and training of new staff and students assigned to the team.
See Job Description for further information.
Training role consideration:
We will consider the offer of training posts if they do not meet the criteria at interview. Staff will be remunerated to reflect the training element of the post and will only be transferred to a band 3 pay scale on successful completion of the training - this can take between 12 and 18 months.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- NVQ Level 3or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of dealing with the public in service delivery
- Experience of working in the public sector
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Understanding of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
- Able to demonstrate awareness of current NHS issues
Skills
Essential criteria- Capable of working on own initiative
- Able to communicate written information clearly
- Basic IT skills.
- Able to work as a team member
- Excellent communication skills
- Evidence of organisational abilities
Other
Essential criteria- Reliable
- Willingness to work flexibly
- Ability to meet physical requirements of the job role
Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
Posts advertised to ‘internal staff’ are open to employees of hospitals within University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and you should confirm your employment within your application form.
Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.
We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
Candidates applying for the role of Healthcare Assistant on the staff bank should note that due to the nature of the role, workers must be aged 18 or above when commencing in post. Applicants are therefore welcome from those aged over 18 or within 3 months’ of their 18^th birthday.
The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment.Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working.
The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.
Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £23 (standard disclosure) or £43 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment.Bank posts require upfront payment. DBS applications submitted from 2nd December will be subject to the new DBS fee of £26.50 (standard) and £54.50 (Enhanced).
From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults’ policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures.
Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation.
All employees (and volunteers)are expected maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.
As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence.
If you have any personal requirements that will enable you to participate in our recruitment process please contact a member of the Recruitment Services by phone on 0151 706 4666 at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.
Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.