Lymphoedema Assistant Practitioner

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a part time 20 hour Band 4 Lymphoedema Assistant Practitioner post to work within the Christie Lymphoedema team.
Full training will be provided as required to develop this role which will be a combination of practice based learning, including the achievement of competencies and the completion of a nationally recognized Lymphoedema Keyworker qualification.
Mentoring and line management will be provided by highly skilled and experienced lymphoedema therapists.
Secondments will be considered
The Lymphoedema Assistant Practitioner will work with the Lymphoedema team within the Rehabilitation Unit to provide holistic management of lymphoedema secondary to cancer.
They will work independently carrying out routine review assessments and alongside the rest of the team delivering various treatment modalities including lymphoedema bandaging. The role also includes various administrative and housekeeping tasks
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

Record and monitor relevant patient data.
Maintain good communication with patients and relatives on their treatment plan and progress.
Demonstrate a variety of communication skills for patients and relatives who have individual needs.
Demonstrate excellent customer care skills as a role model to others.
Recognise and be able to defuse aggressive behaviour, understanding the need to report to senior staff
Provide effective verbal or written feedback to Therapists regarding patient care.
Liaison with outside agencies and wider members of the multi-disciplinary team.
Need ability to be able to work as a part of multi-disciplinary team

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Participate in the annual Performance and Development Review process to identify learning and development needs.
Maintain a personal development plan using a personal portfolio to ensure clinical practice is based on best practice and up to date.
Keep up to date with all policies, procedures and protocols related to the Rehabilitation Unit and relevant clinical practice.
Attend staff meetings and in-service training, as required.
Complete mandatory training and timely updates as required.
Undertake qualification towards Lymphoedema Management.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

Identify risk issues that impact on the patient’s rehabilitative needs.
Demonstrate high standards of clinical practice at all times.
Demonstrate effective team working inclusive of all relevant professionals.
Be accountable for own practice.
Keep up to date with current practice pertinent to the NHS and professions.
This job description indicates the main duties associated with the post, but it is not intended to be prescriptive or comprehensive and does not include specific skills or therapeutic interventions that will be required. It may be reviewed in consultation with the post holder as circumstances change and develop

Main Duties
Clinical Responsibilities
1) Support the assessment and management of patient’s lymphoedema management programme through initial data collection, monitoring of patients’ progress, feedback discussion, written reports and referrals.
2) To independently undertake routine review assessments with patients including measuring for compression garments.
3) To deliver treatment interventions and rehabilitation programmes as per plan of care determined by Lymphoedema Therapist.
4) Develop a rapport with patients and encourage interest and participation in their treatment plan and progress.
5) Develop competencies to fit compression garments for patients
6) Develop competencies to undertake lymphoedema bandaging.