Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Assistant

Job overview

This post sits within the Women and Children’s Care Group which is responsible for Maternity Services and Gynaecology within North Cumbria and Children's Health Services County wide.

The Care Group provides community clinical services across Cumbria, community children’s nursing, therapy services, community paediatrics, audiology.

Non clinical support services, such as buildings and estate services are also provided.

The Directorate works with other NHS organisations in Cumbria to support the integration of clinical services to improve the health and well being of children and young people under the age of 19 years.

The Directorate also works in partnership with other organisations, statutory and non statutory, to ensure that health services contribute to improving the social and educational outcomes of the young people of Cumbria; and that other services support the improvement of health & well being.

Children’s Services Directorate has a lead role and responsibility in protecting children, and in supporting other health agencies and partner organisations to safeguard children and young people.

Main duties of the job

To work as a member of the children’s specialist team, providing a physiotherapy and occupational therapy service for pre-school and school age children referred to the service.

To accept an agreed range of patients referred by a therapist, and manage a delegated caseload, providing interventions in an appropriate environment, e.g. patient homes, special schools, child development centre.

Treat children according to set treatment protocols, monitoring child progression, make minor alterations to child treatment programmes under supervision of the referring therapist.

To provide administration and general clerical duties for the therapy team, as required.

To assist therapists in the organisation and running of clinics in various settings eg wheelchair clinics, orthotic clinics and child development centre clinics.

To promote health and reduce inequalities for children, young people, families and communities, so that they may be able to maximise their potential in terms of health, education and social well-being.

To work as a member of the integrated team for children throughout the district to ensure high quality co-ordinated patient care using a Care Aims approach.

To work with direct and indirect supervision within agreed protocols as an effective member of the children’s specialist therapy team undertaking skilled support work and a specified range of therapy interventions to patients and reporting back child progress, informing relevant therapist of any problems/ concerns.

Working for our organisation

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP

Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

1. day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

• Subject to eligibility

Important Information

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date

Person specification

Essential

• English language and maths to grade C at GCSE or equivalent
• Level III NVQ or equivalent in child development or related field.
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Care Certificate or the willingness and ability to undertake (applicable for all non-registered support workers that provide health care)

• Computer literate
• Evidence of CPD
• Competent driver

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience of working with IT
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Awareness of the standards of record keeping
• Awareness of the role of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy for children.

• Previous experience of working with children
• Experience of working in health, education or care environment
• Understanding of the impact of disability on children and their families
• Knowledge of normal childhood development, movement and anatomy, therapy techniques, disorders and delays of child development

Skills & Aptitudes

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• IT skills including word processing, e-mail and publisher skills
• Ability to work as part of a Team
• Good organisational and planning skills
• Able to analyse problems and use problem solving skills I.T. skills
• High level of interpersonal skills
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Ability to keep accurate records in accordance with legal and professional standards
• Ability to use a range of practical skills
• Ability to work flexibly and independently to design and deliver programmes with outcomes set by supporting qualified staff
• Ability to work in family orientated manner

• Organisational skills demonstrated for example by the involvement in a particular project
• Good manual handling Skills
• Knowledge of health and safety and risk management

Personal Circumstances

• Ability to travel throughout Cumbria and elsewhere to represent the Directorate independently of public transport

Other Requirements

• Equality and Diversity Promote equality and value diversity (KSF Level 3)

• Student placement with relevant client group.