We are seeking Band 4 Rotational Therapy Assistants to join our Bank at BHR.
With a dedicated workforce of more than 7,500 staff and volunteers and an income of £570m, we are one of the larger acute trusts in the country.
We provide care for a population of around 750,000 people across North East London (NEL) and that number is predicted to increase by 15 per cent over the next ten years. We serve three London boroughs with diverse populations, and more than half of our workforce identify as Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic. In addition, eight out of every ten employees are women, and most of our workforce lives within the host boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge.
Speciality/Department: Rotational Post – Integrated Therapies
Accountable to: Head of Therapies
Responsible to: Therapies Service Manager
Job summary
- To accept patients allocated by the Therapists. To gather information from patients, family, carers, hospital notes, other healthcare and community professionals, as directed by the Therapist. This would include identifying conflicting elements from different sources, and with feedback to the Therapists.
- To gain patient consent and be able to work within a legal framework with those patients who are unable to give informed consent.
- To prepare the patient for intervention. E.g. ensuring patient suitably dressed.
- To provide a support role in assisting the Therapist in performing functional assessments.
- To undertake functional assessments, as agreed with the Therapist and with access to supervision from them.
- To use information gained from assessment to develop a problem list and proposed intervention options. To action intervention following discussion with a qualified therapist.
- To carry out intervention with individuals and groups, with access to supervision from a qualified member of staff.This may involve moving and handling and personal care.
- To participate with the Therapists in off site visits. To take a lead role where appropriate. This may also include booking transport, preparing patients and equipment, and assisting transfers.
- Following appropriate training, to measure for and order minor adaptations, as agreed with the Occupational Therapist. This would include communicating findings, through reports and diagrams to adaptations providers.
- To ensure the patients comfort needs are met after intervention e.g. drinks available as appropriate / provide means to contact nursing staff. Seek assistance from an appropriate source as required.
- To prepare and restore the environment for and after intervention by self or as directed by the Therapist e.g. clearing the bed space area or ensuring the intervention area is appropriately set up for intervention.
- To prepare the equipment required for intervention by self or as directed by the Therapist e.g. walking aids, equipment.
- To transport patients to and from the intervention areas as required by self or as directed by the Therapist.
- To effectively use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to engage and negotiate with patients across a multicultural and intellectual spectrum.This will include patients who may be elderly, frail or vulnerable, and have difficulties with understanding or communicating.E.g. vision / hearing impaired, dysphasic, cognitively impaired or those who do not have English as a first language.
- To have an awareness of potential physical and psychological risk factors that could lead to patient deterioration before, during and after intervention, and report this information to the Therapist or Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
- To communicate the routine therapeutic needs of the patient, as agreed with the Therapist, to the MDT to ensure continuity of care. To deputise for qualified staff members, for communication purposes, at MDT meetings.
- To be able to take and make telephone calls and faxes as required and take accurate messages ensuring they are followed up.
- To be able to communicate effectively in English when speaking to the public and other Health Professionals both via the telephone and face to face.
- To order and issue loan equipment, as agreed with the Therapist, according to departmental and local guidelines.
- To deliver and install equipment (in patients’ homes) and demonstrate use of equipment, as agreed with Therapist. This work may be conducted alone.
- To receive deliveries, transport, and arrange storage for equipment according to Health and Safety and Trust guidelines.
- To be responsible for ensuring the maintenance of equipment stock levels in the department, re-ordering as required following departmental procedure.
- To carry out basic maintenance and cleaning of equipment in line with Department and Trust guidelines E.g. Activities of Daily Living equipment, mobility aids, and wheelchairs. Reporting any losses and damage to the appropriate person as indicated by Trust policy.
- To maintain and circulate registers and statistical records as required. This will involve basic numerical skills.
- To work within the extended hours and seven-day service provided by the team
Important Requirements:
- Evidence of NVQ Lv 3 or equivalent
- Previous NHS experience as a therapies assistant.
- A minimum of 6 months experience working within the NHS during the last 3 years.
- 2 Satisfactory, professional references covering 3 years
- Proof of eligibility to work in the UK
- Excellent communication skills, and ability to liaise with other healthcare professionals and resident families.
- Experience of care planning and report writing.
Our Staff Bank Mental Health Nurses are invaluable to us, so to reward their commitment and devotion, we offer the following advantages:
- Access to free Bank Partners Core Skills training
- Flexible hours
- Weekly salary
- Opportunity to work across multiple sites to gain invaluable experience
- Priority of shifts over all agency workers
- Competitive pay
Apply now for this exciting career-progressing opportunity by uploading your CV, and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch with you shortly.
Bank Partners is an employment agency/employment business (as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003) and is acting on behalf of its client in relation to this vacancy.