Rehabilitation Assistant - Early Supported Discharge for Stroke

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Be part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and implement specific treatment programmes or interventions delegated by qualified staff

Contribute to patient education

Carry out delegated assessment and rehabilitation as determined by patients’ needs

The post holder will be dealing with a varied caseload of patients

Work in collaboration with other team members to provide a rehabilitation service for patients within the specialty, assisting in the implementation of programmes to meet individual needs

Provide therapeutic intervention for individual patients to maintain or improve function in mobility, social and domestic activities including accessing the community, and evaluating the findings

Carry out initial assessments (within scope of practice) and therapy programmes and be responsible for monitoring these to facilitate clients reaching their optimum level of independence and social integration

Plan treatment programmes, adapting and progressing patient rehabilitation within set guidelines. This will include modifying treatments to take account of changes in the patients’ physical and mental state

Take responsibility for the implementation of treatment programmes for an identified caseload, with access to supervision from senior therapy staff

Organise the identified workload efficiently and effectively regarding clinical priorities and use of time

Identify and manage clinical risk within own clinical caseload, and report to supervising clinician

Identify those who may require treatment or intervention by more senior staff or other services

Make limited decisions on straightforward clinical treatments and prioritise  within agreed parameters, applying clinical reasoning skills

Carry out selected functional assessments, communicating the outcome effectively to the MDT

Work with patients individually or in a group, in a variety of settings without direct supervision or presence of a qualified therapist

Advise on the use and provision of mobility equipment (e.g. walking aids, ADL equipment) ensuring appropriate sizing and education of client in the correct use of appliance

Participate in triage process, where required, to accept referrals to ESD from the inpatient setting, and contribute to the discharge planning process from ESD service

Be aware of problems that could affect the patient’s progress and report back any changes to senior staff

Be able to judge when patient is unwell and deteriorating, and call for appropriate assistance in a timely manner

Make onward referrals

Demonstrate knowledge of a range of manual handling and mobility skills relevant to the management of patients, including safe use of transfer equipment

Follow Trust and departmental procedures, policy, guidance and pathways e.g. lone working policy, manual handling, infection control

Be aware of own safety and safety of others, assessing risk and reporting any adverse incidents or near misses

Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients on your caseload, ensuring a high standard of clinical care

Participate in CPD and develop knowledge and skills by attending relevant training and keeping mandatory training up to date

This role requires a flexible approach to working and may require the post holder to undertake weekend commitments as part of a rota

Maintain the competency required to work at Band 4 level

Work to the standards of individual speciality areas and to ensure that the background knowledge within each area is acquired through independent learning and collaboration during the working day with qualified staff

Ensure equipment and resources are prepared for use by therapists

Ensure supplies of equipment are maintained and prepare orders when appropriate

Take initiative and be responsible for general and specific administrative duties as required and delegated

Participate in clinical supervision sessions and the Trust appraisal system as an appraisee 

Support new members of staff by contributing to their induction

Contribute to the supervision of students where appropriate

Maintain the high standards of the service by contributing towards individual, team and service objectives 

Participate and contribute to all activities associated with the department’s response to current trends/developments and changes within the Health service

Support B3 Rehabilitation Assistants to ensure fair and efficient distribution of the caseload

Develop rapport with patients, encourage interest and participation, in a manner which promotes dignity, self-esteem and choice. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills

Use a range of verbal, non-verbal, written and presentation skills appropriately with colleagues, customers and carers

Use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate treatment programmes to patients who may have barriers to understanding or communication e.g. language or hearing impairment, or those whose first language is not English

Form professional relationships with patients who may exhibit challenging behaviour and communicate in a way which respects their autonomy

Be able to engage, persuade and motivate patients with their rehabilitation through effective communication to maximise treatment outcome recognising those who are in pain, are afraid or reluctant and require additional reassurance or other support

Convey information in a sensitive manner when it is contradictory to customer and carer expectations, cultural beliefs or desires

Gain consent for intervention

Report back directly to the MDT, particularly re any changes in functional abilities, relevant information gained, or patients’ comments linked to treatment

Consult with more experienced staff for advice when required

Maintain accurate and legible records of all interventions and management, using SOAP format, in accordance with standards set by the therapy service, local systems, Trust policies and professional guidelines for documentation

Attend appropriate team meetings and liaise with other agencies and members of the MDT, participating in the clinical decision-making process to ensure planned, coordinated and effective delivery of care

Attend staff meetings and relevant training, and actively participate

Promote an understanding of effective rehabilitation via multidisciplinary work, discussion, information giving

Demonstrate ability to manage potentially stressful and upsetting or emotional situations in an appropriate and empathetic manner

Communicate effectively with all disciplines involved in a patient’s care, both those from within the organisation and those outside, to ensure efficient multidisciplinary working

Use computer skills competently to support role including e-mail

Maintain strict confidentiality regarding customer and staff information, adhering to organisational policies and procedures

Take responsibility for and actively record own personal development through educational and experiential learning 

Ensure own competence in the accurate use of the Trust IT system

Ensure practice is kept up to date by participating in mandatory and other training programmes identified in personal development reviews, attendance at relevant training and ensuring interventions adhere to any approved guidelines

Be aware of and demonstrate boundaries in personal scope of practice

Identify your own learning needs and demonstrate reflective practice

Participate in peer meetings with other assistants in the service area

Participate in regular meetings with clinical supervisor/mentor to include clinical supervision and appraisal

Provide appropriate advice, demonstrate own activities or workplace routines to new or less experienced employees or students, including during induction of new staff

Undertake shadowing and joint sessions with MDT clinicians to further knowledge, skills and understanding

Be aware of new developments generally within Therapies, and within the specific area of work

Demonstrate an awareness of your own and others’ health and wellbeing needs and ask for support when needed

Ensure competence in the accurate and effective use of all Trust IT systems, particularly the use of Cerner Millenium and SSNAP data, which are used to record patient notes and activity

Collect & record data accurately in accordance with professional guidelines and ASPH Values

Participate in quality/ development projects, including audit, as directed by the MDT

Contribute to the evaluation of the service and make improvements and alterations with support from MDT clinicians

Keep accurate statistical records in line with departmental procedures

Contribute to the completion of activity records to inform planning and service delivery