Job Description
Are you looking for a new challenge?
Are you an assistant practitioner with an interest in being involved in activities co-ordinator?
If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you!
To lead the team of support workers in implementing a varied program of social, physical and creative activities under the guidance of team lead.
Please note that this vacancy will be considered on a secondment or flexible working basis.
To be an active member of the team, assisting team members to deliver meaningful social, creative and health related activities to service users.
To carry out therapeutic activities, including physical and functional assessments.
To work under the direction of team lead, liaise with and support other colleagues as required.
To support service users according to activity timetable, and physical exercise program assessing service users who have less complex needs and, within set parameters, set by the team lead and occupational therapist, make relevant alterations to existing timetable or move a service users exercise program onto a different stage.
So what else?
This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused – you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
The small print
Informal visits can be arranged on request.
We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.
Communication and relationship skills
To be able to communicate effectively, using appropriate methods, both verbal and non-verbal to service users who may have barriers to understanding (eg: blind, deaf, aphasic, or english not first language)
Using empathy, sensitivity and excellent interpersonal skills to encourage service users, families and carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence and well-being
Internal – members of social services, community-based colleagues; administrative, support and data staff
External – service users, relatives and carers; external and voluntary agencies; other NHS staff
Knowledge, training and experience
Good general education (to GCSE or equivalent)
Substantial experience working as an assistant with people who have had a sudden change in health and social care needs or with those who have a long-term condition
Experience of taking and leading group work
Experience of documenting and evidence learning
Good knowledge of commonly encountered orthopedic, neurological and musculo-skeletal conditions although not essential
Understanding of basic principles of holistic health and social care assessment.
Able to demonstrate a holistic approach to service user management
Ability to work as part of a team
Awareness of limitations, personal strengths and areas of development
Flexible, reliable and organised
Good written and verbal communication skills and IT skills
Ability to work on own initiative and to manage day to day implementation of a set timetable for the team and service users.
3. Analytical and judgement skills
To assess and review service users with their consent, informed or complied consent
To undertake highly skilled support work – eg: initial interviews and reporting findings to the team lead
To assess service users progress within the parameters set by the specialist therapist. This requires a range of practical skills and a good level of knowledge about long term conditions.
Identify any potential or actual clinical and non-clinical risk within own role according to team protocols and highlight to team lead.
Using good communication skills, discuss with team the needs of the service user.
To handle written and verbal inquiries in a professional manner and to deal with them promptly and effectively
4. Planning and organisational skills
Have initial discussions with team lead to identify the patient’s needs; social, physical, mental and emotional.
To manage and prioritise the daily timetable of activities and timetable of personalised exercise programs.
To plan time to allow participation in general duties within the team – eg: answering the telephone, communicating messages and keeping the working environment tidy
To collect and submit all data and statistics as required in a timely and accurate manner
Maintain clear verbal, written and electronic communication systems for all members of the team, ensuring that communication is clear and effective and cascaded to everyone within the team
Decision-making and acceptance of personal accountability for one’s own actions
5. Physical skills
To assist the support workers in the moving and handling of sometimes complex high-risk service users for assessment and review as identified
To carry out interventions with service users and support workers referred to the service, independently or under the guidance of team lead.
To carry out basic day-to-day assessments (eg: mobility/transfers, response to treatment activities, etc) using judgement and analysis skills and to decide on appropriate action to be taken. Activities may include personalised exercise programs, practice of ADL tasks, practice of mobility and transfers and manual handling techniques, with guidance assessment for and provision of walking aids/ADL equipment, basic cognitive assessments, and communication & dysphagia support.
Competency shown in assessing for personal care needs; advise, train and assist support workers as required
Good IT skills
6. Responsibility for client care
To maintain service users dignity, privacy and confidentiality at all times
Ensure own practice and staff you may be responsible for meet the required, legal organisation, team and professional standards
Have a working knowledge of the processes and responsibilities of safeguarding for adults and children including the mental capacity act 2000. Participate in case conferences and transfer of care planning as necessary
To undertake assessment of new service users with a wide variety of presentations and conditions: using clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques without supervision, discussing your findings with the team lead.
To assess functional needs of service users as required.
Undertake the care of service users, as appropriate ensuring individual needs are met for social, physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Review service users individually without direct supervision or presence of a therapist.
Train, guide and assist support workers with physical aspects of service user activities, including personal care.
Manage the engagement of service users in the daily activities, identifying where changes could be made, discussing with team lead as appropriate.
To work autonomously as well as together with the main team
To undertake skilled and specific support work to ensure all service users feel respected and valued members of the centre.
Using empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills to encourage service users to take an active approach in regaining and maintaining personal independence. Empowering service users to make active choices regarding the activities they engage with whilst at the centre.
To use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal to communicate treatment programs to service users who may have barriers to understanding or communication – eg: blind, deaf, dysphagia or who may not have English as their first language
7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
To adhere to the organisation’s policies in relation to health and safety, including working alone policy, and safeguarding vulnerable children and adult policies
Identify any problems, which may interfere with the smooth running of the team and put forward suggestions and ideas to the team lead for consideration and encourage others to do the same
Complies with organisational operational policies and procedures
To be proactively aware of health and safety aspects of your work (area) and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work (area), including your prompt recording and reporting of (near miss) accidents or concerns
8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
The post holder will be required to comply with the organisation’s standing orders and standing financial instructions and, at all times, deal honestly with colleagues and all those who have dealings with the organisation including service users, relatives and suppliers
To handle cash for tea bar / lunch and ensure accounting is completed at the end of each day.
To be responsible for the safe usage of equipment and aids by service users, complying with the organisation’s infection control policy
To be aware of health and safety aspects of work, to implement any policies and to record and report any accidents, incidents or concerns
To ensure that all resources are used appropriately to provide quality care
9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR)
To undertake relevant CPD activities to maintain and develop skills and abilities. To keep a CPD portfolio to demonstrate CPD
To actively participate in the organisation’s appraisal system identifying personal development needs and plans to ensure that the team’s key performance indicators are met
To attend and actively participate in in-service training as required
To attend mandatory and statutory training according to organisation schedules
Take part in orientation and induction programs for new staff
The post holder is expected to act in ways that support equality and value diversity, in accordance with legislation and national local policies
To maintain NVQ level knowledge and competencies by reading clinical/professional literature and research
