Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

• To assist Nurses, Therapists and other team members in the rehabilitation of patients using a range of delegated appropriate treatment techniques. This includes following nursing and therapy care plans.
• Post holders are required to work independently with regard to routine, delegated tasks, following established good practice and refer non-routine tasks appropriately. Work is supervised and evaluated on a routine basis. This will include undertaking specifically delegated initial patient interviews and functional screening to assess for, measure and teach safe use of aids and appliances such as walking aids.
• To follow treatment plans as prescribed by nurses/physios and therapists and identify select activities that meet treatment goals.
• Encourage individuals to maintain optimum independence in accordance with the agreed activity plan by carrying out therapeutic activity utilizing empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills
• To manage the reablement of patients as delegated by the physiotherapists and occupational therapists, reporting back progress or adverse reactions appropriately.
• To be responsible for the selection, fitting, adjusting and checking of equipment following a broad prescription from an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.
• To communicate with patients and/or carers to provide reassurance and promote understanding
• To assist in information collection from patients/ relatives as requested by trained staff.
• To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g., loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc.
• To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack consent to treatment.
• To priorities tasks allocated and adjust as necessary.
• To ensure that documentation is completed in accordance with Trust and departmental requirements.
• To be responsible for some degree of housekeeping and stock control on the Unit
• To be competent in phlebotomy and simple dressings
• To participate in simple additional tasks such as swallowing assessments/foot screening and nutritional reviews and referring to specialities as appropriate

 Professional

• To attend any in-service training programmes as appropriate
• To take part in the individual appraisal and performance review programme and to actively participate in supervision.
• To maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping up to date any developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.
• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients.
• To exercise good time management, punctuality and consistent and reliable attendance.
• To assist JHRU staff in the induction and training of new staff

 Planning and Organisational Duties

• To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including your prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior stage and ensuring that equipment use if safe.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements.
• To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
• To undertake departmental administrative duties, as required.
• To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the relevant registered nurse/Team Leader, or Community Therapy Services Lead.

 Communications and Key Working Relationships

• To report back to Nursing and Therapy staff on all treatment activities, either verbally or in writing as requested
• To work as a member of the team and communicate relevant information to team members
• To be able to communicate effectively in a variety of ways with patients/carers to gain co-operation and understanding of treatment programmes
• To maintain good working relationships
• To establish therapeutic relationships using negotiating and reasoning skills in order to complete treatment activities.

Responsibility for Finance

• To identify deficits in resources required to carry out the job and bring to the attention of the Team Leader
• To be responsible for the monitoring of materials and equipment and bring defects for deficits to the attention of the Team Leader
• Adhere to financial policies.

 Responsibility for Human Resources

• To attend regular meetings e.g., staff meeting, support and development groups
• To participate in in-service training.

 Responsibility for Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. 

 Responsibility for Teaching

• To assist JHRU staff in induction and training of new staff
• The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above are indicative only and are intended to give an overview of the range and type of duties that will be allocated. They are subject to modification in the light of changing service demands and the development requirements of the postholder.

 Work Circumstances 

• 24 hours per week over 7 days.