Integrated Therapy Assistant

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CONTROLS ASSURANCE STATEMENT:

The purpose of this job description is to outline the level of responsibility and accountability of this post.  This will ensure that all work undertaken by our staff is clearly identified and carried out under clear lines of accountability.

Aim of the role:

The post holder will be expected to support their team, department and organisation to achieve the Trust’s Values in their day-to-day work.  These are the ICARE values:

• Innovation
• Compassionate
• Accountable
• Respectful
• Excellent

Working for your organisation

Whittington Health has an excellent reputation for providing children’s therapy into Barnet, Camden, Haringey and Islington, and so there is plenty of scope for flexibility, choice, and professional development.

Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff.  We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.  The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. To support the Children’s Integrated Therapy Team staff (Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy) to deliver services for children aged 0-25 years with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities according to departmental protocols.
2. You will be helping the team with both administrative, and clinical work, thereby supporting the smooth running of the team.
3. Supporting children’s integrated therapists in the role of early identification and prevention for children with therapeutic needs through observation, providing information, directing to services

4. You may be delivering therapy activities or assessment screenings under the guidance of therapists, to individuals or groups of children and/or parents/staff in Clinics, Schools, Nurseries and Children’s Centres reporting back progress and informing the Integrated therapy team.
5. You may be responsible for making resources, maintaining equipment, keeping clinical notes, keeping clinical and offices spaces in good condition.
6. You will be responsible for organising and prioritising your own work and adhering to Trust policies and procedures, especially in relation to child safeguarding.
7. You will have a duty to report any accident/incident via Trust procedures.
8. You will monitor and record children’s progression towards therapy aims.
9. Delivering planned training in Clinics, Schools, Nurseries and Children’s Centres. 

 Leadership

1. To participate in the development of an effective team and the development of productive working relationships throughout the Trust.
2. To actively promote integrated health professional working internally and externally.
3. To facilitate the development of a positive and ‘supportive’ team culture by taking responsibility for dealing effectively with potential conflict.
4. To take an active interest in working parties and groups within the Trust to develop and improve on service delivery, protocols and guidelines.
5. To contribute to the transformation, change and development in services.
6. To participate in the audit process, linking in with the clinical governance agenda.

Clinical Skills

1. Further professional knowledge will have been gained through accredited courses workshops, study and in house training programmes.
2. To develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development.
3. To be responsible, and accountable, for service delivery to clients/patients under the supervision of an integrated therapist.
4. To be able to screen and support plans of care to meet the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. This will include continuously evaluating and discussing outcomes with an integrated therapist.
5. To be able to support referrals to other health professional specialist services and agencies.
6. To provide patients and relatives with information and education thus ensuring they have meaningful choices that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.

Computer/Administration

1. To be computer literate and encourage implementation of the Trust’s IM&T Strategy.
2. To ensure accurate recording of actions, and updating patient’s records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
3. To take part, and assist, in the planning and administration relating to day to day running of the caseload.

Communication

1. To have a wide range of knowledge in approaches to communicating and managing patient care.
2. To be able to effectively communicate with colleagues, peers, senior managers and clinical leads within the Trust.
3. To be able to communicate patient related information facilitating positive outcomes and ensuring collaborative working.
4. Participate in the review and development of clinical policies and identifies improvements to service provision.

 Training

1. To ensure own continued professional development and support a culture of lifelong learning in self and others.
2. To undertake, and assist, in the planning of own mandatory training and workshops.
3. To undertake a regular appraisal, developing a personal development plan that includes clinical competencies reflecting the health needs of the local population and relates to Trust strategy.
4. To support new staff and their integration within the team.
5. To support training as part of the role including changes to professional development and implementation of new policies and guidelines.

 Specific Tasks directly related to the post:

1. To work alongside integrated therapists in the rehabilitation of children and young people using a range of therapy/interventions
2. To work with children individually in a variety of settings, under the supervision or presence of an integrated therapist, e.g., in the patient’s home, clinic or school.
3. To teach children and carers and staff in a variety of settings, providing direction and guidance, on a range of therapy and activities, as part of own clinical work or as directed as necessary by the integrated therapist.
4. To use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal, to communicate treatment programmes to children who may have barriers to communicating or understanding.
5. To use effective tools and equipment to support treatment programmes to children who have physical or sensory disabilities.
6. To contribute to the delivery of care by attending relevant meetings with a variety of professionals and to advise on therapy needs and feed back on integrated therapy provision.