Heart Therapy Team Assistant Practitioner: Sponsorship Available

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient care objectives

1. To work as a core member of the Heart Therapy Team.
2. To work effectively within the Multidisciplinary Team and commit to providing quality care and service development by participating in, and contributing to, quality improvement initiatives.
3. To perform complex aspects of patient care in the hospital, with direct and indirect supervision such as carrying out daily supervised patient rehabilitation/developmental sessions.
4. To perform complex aspects of assessment and patient care this may be in the hospital or out-patient clinics.
5. To use appropriate and safe manual handling techniques with patients requiring neuro rehabilitation and therapeutic facilitation to achieve set goals.
6. To be responsible for performing given tasks and reporting any concerns to the Specialist Therapists or appropriate member of the clinical team through daily feedback.
7. To be aware of and adhere to the Trust policies and procedures, including infection control.
8. The post holder will support the Therapy Team team in managing electronic referrals and liaising with the appropriate senior therapist.
9. The post holder will accept in-patients referred for oral nutritional support (according to MUST score) and food allergy, and manage these via set protocols as their own caseload.
10. To treat patients according to relevant allied health professional standards e.g. treat patients according to set dietetic standards and protocols for oral nutritional support and food allergy, monitoring and modifying care plans as required
11. To be aware of and adhere to local policies and procedures.
12. To use assessments made during a treatment session, along side patient feedback and liaison with a Specialist/Senior Therapist, to change and progress treatment sessions in the future.
13. Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date patient records and mandatory statistical information to reflect care provided. To participate in audits as required.

Educational objectives

• To gain the required knowledge and skills in the relevant technical and clinical procedures, and to maintain those skills working under the Assistant Practitioner Competency programme under the supervision of Specialist/Senior Therapists.
• To develop and maintain knowledge of dietetics, rehabilitation, cardiology and cardiothoracics.
• To attend and participate in department in-service training.
• To continue to gain practical knowledge that will support the delivery of care to this particular group of patients.
• To support the day-to-day running of specialist rehabilitation from the therapy team and occasionally cover tasks outside of normal day to day responsibility at an appropriate level to this banding.

Organisational and management objectives

1. To take responsibility for the organisation and provision of Therapy equipment, ensuring patients have appropriate equipment and up to date guidance regarding cleaning and infection control, as well as stock taking and annual servicing.
2. To undertake patient related administration tasks for the therapy team
3. Manage and prioritise own clinical caseload as delegated by the Senior Therapist.
4. To assist in the development of information for patients and their families, particularly around rehabilitation.
5. To keep accurate and up to date clinical records in line with Trust and department standards.
6. Adhere to directorate procedures for the use of supplies and equipment in order to promote the effective and efficient use of resources. Assist in the restocking of supplies and maintenance of equipment as directed by a Senior Therapists.
7. Participate in the Trusts appraisal and personal development plan schemes by meeting with the manager regularly and continually working towards set objectives.

Communication

• Demonstrate a courteous and helpful approach to patients and their families, ensuring patients feel reassured and supported.
• Carry out assigned administrative tasks as directed by a Senior Therapists.

Information management

1. To participate in research, audit, and quality improvement programmes for the Therapy team.
2. Use relevant IT systems in the support of patient care.
3. To maintain strict confidentiality regarding patient information, adhering to trust policies and procedures.
4. To be responsible for managing and maintaining personal diary and to organise time autonomously and effectively.