Health Care Therapy Assistant - Band 2 - Permanent- Various hours available
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and adaptable Band 2 Health Care Therapy Assistant to join the team at the Stamford Unit. The Stamford Unit Intermediate Centre comprises of 96 beds which are located on the Tameside Hospital site in Ashton–under-Lyne.
You will work unsupervised or distantly supervised by experienced Nurses and Therapists to provide care and support with activities of daily living whilst incorporating rehabilitation to optimise the independence of the patients.
The unit offers a multidisciplinary approach to the rehabilitation of patients who have a wide range of medical conditions and different levels of need. The focus is to offer excellent care and rehabilitation in preparation for returning home safely.
If you are committed to excellent patient centered care in a busy environment and are enthusiastic about working as part of a multidisciplinary team building new skills and competencies then this could be the role for you
To aid the care and rehabilitation of patients by undertaking assigned tasks according to set protocols and patient centred care and therapy plans as identified by nursing and/or therapy staff.
To work with direct and indirect supervision, reporting back patient progress and informing of any problems.
The successful candidate will be required to work flexibly as the
post includes shift patterns and 7 day working including bank holidays.
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves a community of 250,000 people across Tameside & Glossop. We provide a range of services both within the hospital and across our community for both adults and children. Our vision is to improve health outcomes for our population and influence wider determinants of health through collaboration with our health & care partners.
We have a clear set of values & behaviours which we expect all of our staff to demonstrate:
Safety
Care
Respect
Communication
Learning
We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian & minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ people & Disabled people.
Benefits include; flexible working, 27-33 days annual leave plus bank holidays, sick pay, NHS Pension Scheme, free eye tests and health checks, gym discount, free bicycle loan scheme, salary sacrifice car scheme, support with stress, bereavement, relationships, finance, and much more.
SECTION 1- MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES: CLINICAL:
Assist the nursing and/or therapy staff in the rehabilitation of patients using a range of delegated skills.
Provide care and therapy in line with activities of daily living to individual patients with or without the direct supervision or presence of nursing and/or therapy staff. Maintain high standards of personal contact and communication whilst providing care and therapy.
Contribute to rehabilitation activities with patients individually or in groups.
Encourage each patient and their carer in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills.
Document any observations made with regard to care and therapy delivered in the patients notes in a legible, accurate and appropriate manner, with due consideration for confidentiality.
Liaise with nursing and/or therapy staff as necessary regarding patient care and rehabilitation. In particular highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from care plans.
Following appropriate training, carry out Venepuncture and ECG’s on request by senior staff.
Assess, measure and instruct use of walking aids/functional aids. To effectively administer and record provision of any aids provided to patients.
Contribute to development of patient care and therapy by attending staff handover meetings, safety huddles, board rounds and team meetings as required.
Assist therapists when attending home environmental assessments and patient home visits.
Support a patient case load as delegated by the nursing and/or therapy staff on a daily basis.
Ensure daily communication with the nursing and/or therapy staff regarding general wellbeing/appearance of patients and their progress with rehabilitation goals.
Maintain high standards of housekeeping and follow infection prevention and control guidelines.
Perform and record patient observations as directed by the nursing and/or therapy staff, including temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels and blood glucose recording. Escalate any abnormalities to senior staff.
Participate in basic pressure area care, demonstrating and awareness of basic measures / safe use of aids etc.
Assist with and actively participate in bathing and personal hygiene of patients, including mouth care, hair and nail care, whilst at all times considering the dignity of patients.
Support patients at meal times as required, including the provision of therapeutic diets, fluids and nutritional supplements recording intake if required.
Support patients with toileting and provide bedpans/urinals as indicated in their care and therapy plans. Collect specimens as required charting fluids output as directed.
Contribute to the care of patients clothing / valuables in accordance with policy.
Assist in the performance of last offices.
ADMINISTRATIVE/ORGANISATIONAL:
Record observations and patient activity as required.
Contribute to clinical audit as required.
Clean therapy equipment regularly in line with infection prevention and control measures. Report any suspected damage of equipment to nursing and /or therapy staff.
Be responsible for the daily auditing of the resuscitation trolley and ensure that all equipment and aids are safe for use by patients.
Actively participate in own staff development and review in order to identify personal development plans and training needs.
Assist nursing and/or therapy staff in administrative duties and tasks as required.
Assist with the maintenance of care provisions and equipment as directed by nursing and/or therapy staff.
Assist with the arrangements for both the discharge of patients and their aftercare at home. This may include contacting relatives and carers on the instruction of senior staff.
Abide by all Trust policies and procedures. Contribute to the development of local protocols, policies and guidelines.
To undertake any related duties as directed by relevant senior staff.
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT:
Assist in the induction of newly appointed Health Care Therapy Assistants in basic elements of patient care and therapy.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Take part in the individual appraisal and performance review programme.
Attend in-service training as required.
Actively participate in the delivery of in-service training.
Monitor and develop own performance, aiming to achieve and maintain a high standard.
Attend/complete mandatory training as required by Trust policy.
SECTION 2- KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Support the care and therapy of patients as delegated by the nursing and/or therapy staff. Be responsible for recognising patient progress against care and therapy plans and report back
Use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal to communicate care and therapy plans to patients who may have barriers to understanding or communicating, e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic or who do not have English as a first language.
SECTION 3- EFFORT AND ENVIRONMENT
The post holder will be expected to kneel, sit on heels, move inert adult limbs, support patients while walking, move and handle patients, push wheelchairs, use hoists on a daily basis.
The post holder will be expected to concentrate during treatment sessions and ensure good communication with patients, including those who have impaired understanding or communication difficulties, e.g. slurred speech.
Dealing with patients who may be depressed, withdrawn or aggressive.
The post holder will be expected to work in cramped space in patient rooms. They may come into contact with infestations, soiled linen and other bodily fluids.
Be aware of emergency procedures relating to cardiac arrest and fire, and understand own roles within that.
Participate in the safe transfer of patients, at the discretion and direction of the nursing and/or therapy staff.
