Therapy Associate Practitioner

Do you want to work for a Trust that is rated outstanding for its care and delivers the best patient experience in the NHS (according to the Adult Inpatient Survey)? Our Therapies Department are recruiting for a Therapy Associate Practitioner who has previous experience within a therapy setting or equivalent environment (eg community rehabilitation/therapy teams).

We have a proactive therapy team with motivated staff who are keen to develop further the role of therapy within our Trust. This post will work across Orthopaedic inpatient and the pre-operative assessment phases of treatment.

The successful post holder will contribute to the delivery of our orthopaedic therapy service and will have excellent team working skills. Management of your own caseload is essential and therefore you must have the ability to work on your own initiative. Flexibility in your approach would be advantageous.

The postholder willassist in the provision of a high quality therapy service to the Orthopaedic Unit, under theguidance of registered therapists, to provide a comprehensive assessment and treatment to a variety of patient groups.

The role allows for the postholder tomanage and organise a delegated caseload of patients, through and own professional activities across the clinical areas covered by the Orthopaedic Therapy Team.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust (RJAH) is one of the leading orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with some of the highest levels of staff and patient satisfaction, as well as a strong reputation for research and innovation.

Joining RJAH is more than just a job – we want our people to have the best opportunities to thrive in their role.

We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you'll have access to outstanding professional development opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities – including our recently-opened £6 million Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre (the first unit of its kind in the UK).

RJAH has strong links with a range of universities including Staffordshire, Keele, Glyndwr, Chester and Birmingham.

The hospital is located on a site outside Oswestry in Oswestry, just off the A5. The nearest train station is in Gobowen, approximately two miles from the hospital. The station is part of the Chester to Birmingham line.

Job Summary

To use an evidence-based, person-centred approach in the planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of agreed interventions following guidelines and protocols to promote the functional independence of patients.

To hold responsibility for own caseload, working without direct supervision within the remit of the post. Formal supervision takes place regularly and access to advice and support from a registered
therapist is available at all times, clinical work is routinely evaluated.

To work within agreed protocols and own competencies referring cases that progress to complex back to the Therapist or to continue after advice has been given.

To assist when required in evidence-based audit to further own and teams clinical practice. Make recommendations to team leader for changes to practice that would benefit the patient. May contribute to the implementation of specific changes to practice or contribute to service protocols.

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, representing the Therapy Service, establishing effective communication with colleagues, patients and carers, maintaining interactions with external agencies.

To be able to work flexibly over a 7 day working rota including weekends and bank holidays.

Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regards to clinical priorities and use of time.

To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and support more junior staff to do likewise.

To apply appropriate anatomy and physiology knowledge specific to a patient group to facilitate appropriate decision making.

To be able to recognise the potential future needs of a patient based on their planned surgery and co morbidities. This may include provision of equipment, walking aids or referral to external agencies prior to admission.

To be involved in the assessment for and provision of equipment and patient aids both pre operatively and post operatively, using agreed instructions or manufacturers guidelines. Being responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment / patient aid

To assess the patients, understanding of therapeutic and treatment proposals, gain their valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To communicate effectively with patients and their carers, to maximise rehabilitation potential and therapeutic goals, using a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.

To develop and maintain skills required to provide and receive sensitive or contentious information, from patients and carers. The skills required include those of persuasion, motivation, negotiation, training, empathy and reassurance. This may be because agreement or co-operation is required or because there are barriers to understanding.

To provide accurate feedback to the Therapist of any change in the patient’s condition where the patient’s presentation differs from that identified with the agreed protocols and guidelines or that falls beyond own competency levels.

To be able to recognise and act when treating a deteriorating patient who requires intervention from another profession such as nurses, doctors or other health professionals.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date treatment records for your patients, in line with legal, Trust and department requirements and communicate assessment and treatment outcomes to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports or letters when appropriate.