Rehabilitation Assistant

at  Solent NHS Trust

Clinical and Professional -Assist patients with day-to-day care/rehabilitation programmes & specific exercise programmes through education and teaching to encourage and empower clients and their carers to reach an optimum level of independence e.g. personal care, kitchen practice, mobility practice, group work, self-care practice. -Undertake clinical & environmental risk assessments on a day-to-day basis and document key risk areas, seeking guidance from a more senior member of staff when dealing with cases indicating a high level of risk. -Monitor clients progress against planned goals and use independent judgement to observe progress/deterioration in a clients condition / situation e.g.

note a difference in clients health and gather relevant information to record and report to qualified staff on a routine (hand-over meetings) and urgent basis (immediately) depending on the priority. -Carry out safe moving and handling practice daily for clients with a range of dependency needs in hospital, in accordance with planned programmes of care and Trust policies e.g., transporting clients and equipment to and from the therapy departments. -Undertake therapeutic handling with clients during transfer practice which may involve dealing with continence / body fluids / infectious materials. -Carry out specific therapy treatment programmes including passive movements and re-education of normal movement with clients as indicated by qualified therapist.

• Carry out therapeutic moving and handling with patients, with, or under the guidance of, the qualified. -Provide, fit, and operate basic and more specialised equipment, once assessed as competent, and train clients, carers, and other staff members in its safe use on a daily basis. e.g., mobility aids, personal care aids. -If required, participate in home assessment visits with clients, carers, and qualified therapists during a clients admission.

Carry through recommendations from the visit as agreed with therapist e.g., fit equipment, organise pendant alarm. -As directed by therapy staff liaise with other professionals involved in the clients care and/or treatment and attend team meetings to feedback to other staff e.g., therapy meetings, case conference, Shared/Collaborative Care meetings. -Provide information to clients and carers on improving their health and wellbeing and of any resources/services available to them. -Participate in reviews of rehabilitation programmes and make practical arrangements for discharge as directed by Case Holder (qualified therapist).

This may involve fulfilling elements of the case holder role under the direction of a qualified member of staff (co-ordination of a clients rehab programme & discharge) e.g., contacting involved agencies, progress reporting on equipment orders, follow up home visits/telephone calls. -Communicate and discuss information with clients and carers e.g., rehabilitation goals. This will include clients who have difficulties in understanding and/or communicating. -Provide psychological and emotional support to clients and carers during the rehabilitation and discharge process.

• Undertake group work with clients as directed by qualified therapists e.g., exercise groups, reminiscence groups. Communication and Administrative -Work positively with colleagues to maintain effective working relationships. -Fulfil team representative roles where this is appropriate e.g., rehab assistant forums, Essence of Care groups, infection control forum, stock checks of department items, department risk assessor. -If required by team manager monitor the ward and Physiotherapy wheelchair stock including: organising wheelchair servicing visits in agreement with Team Manager/Ensuring wheelchairs are available on the day of the service and delivered to the engineers/Ensuring wheelchair documentation is up to date/Carrying out basic adjustments to wheelchairs such as altering footplates and inflating tyres.

Knowledge, Education and Training -Act in a support role to qualified staff in delivering training sessions to small groups e.g., patient groups. -Participate in regular supervision sessions as agreed for their individual needs in line with the therapy service supervision process. This includes clinical and management supervision, as well as appraisal and reviews. -Together with the supervisor identify development needs through the appraisal process and continuously develop skills and knowledge as appropriate.

• Band 3 RA competencies will be discussed in supervision and any gaps identified and training offered. -Some RA specific training will be offered in house. -Undertake training and mentoring of new Rehabilitation assistants and input to student training. Leadership -Actively promote independence for service users.
• Develop strong links with local community statutory and non-statutory agencies and share this knowledge with service users, carers and the staff team. Professional standards relating to all occupational therapy staff include: -Health Professions Council: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics. -Health Professions Council: Standards of Proficiency. -Health Professions Council: Standards of Continuous Professional Development.
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists: Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Occupational Therapists. -Royal College of Occupational Therapists: Professional Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice. Health and Safety, Security and Equality -Works in accordance with the relevant Health and Safety Trust policies, procedures, and guidelines. -Contribute to development of service.
• Attends organisational mandatory training as required by the Trust and relevant to your role. -Actively participates in and enables others to carry out risk assessments within the working environment. -Ensures self and colleagues are trained and competent to use equipment safely. -Ensures incident reporting is expedited promptly and appropriate action plans completed.
• Identifies potential health, safety and security issues and collaborates with others to promote and maintain an environment that supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures. -Supports and promotes a positive approach to diversity and equality of opportunity, to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply through the implementation of the Solent NHS Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy. -Promotes a culture which respects and values diversity, and support patients, visitors and staff in exercising their rights. -Ensures care within areas of practice and adheres to the 5 principles of the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice (2005).
• Recognises and reports behaviour which undermines equality and diversity in accordance with organisational policies and current legislation. Limits of Authority -May not dismiss or suspend staff under the disciplinary procedures. -May not take annual leave without prior agreement from the manager. General requirements Ensure they and where appropriate their staff: -adhere to trust policies and procedures at all times.
• comply with trust standing orders, standing financial instructions, policies, procedures and guidelines. -follow any policies and procedures in relation to infection, prevention and control. -are aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children, and vulnerable adults, and the specific responsibilities placed on individuals who care for such clients/patients. -take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination.
• comply with the trust policy on confidentiality, and the Data Protection Act 2018 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems, -respect the confidentiality and privacy of clients and staff at all times, -maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare and safety issues affecting colleagues, patients, visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or fault in line with trust policy, -fully participate in health and safety training, -participate in personal training, development, appraisal, and attend all relevant training courses as required. -comply with the professional body code of conduct. -This job description seeks to outline the key duties and responsibilities of the post; it is not a definitive document and does not form part of the main statement of Terms and Conditions. The job description will be reviewed during the annual appraisal process.
• The post holder may, with their agreement, which should not reasonably be withheld, be required to undertake other duties as required, which fall within the grading of this post, to meet the needs of this new and developing service. -Individuals who are required to hold a professional registration in order to practice must continue to be a member of their professional body throughout the lifespan of this job description. Such individuals will be required to notify the Trust immediately if their professional body limits or changes the terms of their registration. -This job description will be reviewed yearly as part of the annual individual appraisal, to ensure that it reflects the responsibilities of the post.

No changes will be made without full consultation with the post holder

This may involve fulfilling elements of the case holder role under the direction of a qualified member of staff (co-ordination of a clients rehab programme & discharge) e.g., contacting involved agencies, progress reporting on equipment orders, follow up home visits/telephone calls. -Communicate and discuss information with clients and carers e.g., rehabilitation goals. This will include clients who have difficulties in understanding and/or communicating. -Provide psychological and emotional support to clients and carers during the rehabilitation and discharge process.

• Undertake group work with clients as directed by qualified therapists e.g., exercise groups, reminiscence groups. Communication and Administrative -Work positively with colleagues to maintain effective working relationships. -Fulfil team representative roles where this is appropriate e.g., rehab assistant forums, Essence of Care groups, infection control forum, stock checks of department items, department risk assessor. -If required by team manager monitor the ward and Physiotherapy wheelchair stock including: organising wheelchair servicing visits in agreement with Team Manager/Ensuring wheelchairs are available on the day of the service and delivered to the engineers/Ensuring wheelchair documentation is up to date/Carrying out basic adjustments to wheelchairs such as altering footplates and inflating tyres

Knowledge, Education and Training -Act in a support role to qualified staff in delivering training sessions to small groups e.g., patient groups. -Participate in regular supervision sessions as agreed for their individual needs in line with the therapy service supervision process. This includes clinical and management supervision, as well as appraisal and reviews. -Together with the supervisor identify development needs through the appraisal process and continuously develop skills and knowledge as appropriate.

• Band 3 RA competencies will be discussed in supervision and any gaps identified and training offered. -Some RA specific training will be offered in house. -Undertake training and mentoring of new Rehabilitation assistants and input to student training. Leadership -Actively promote independence for service users.
• Develop strong links with local community statutory and non-statutory agencies and share this knowledge with service users, carers and the staff team. Professional standards relating to all occupational therapy staff include: -Health Professions Council: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics. -Health Professions Council: Standards of Proficiency. -Health Professions Council: Standards of Continuous Professional Development.
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists: Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Occupational Therapists. -Royal College of Occupational Therapists: Professional Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice. Health and Safety, Security and Equality -Works in accordance with the relevant Health and Safety Trust policies, procedures, and guidelines. -Contribute to development of service.
• Attends organisational mandatory training as required by the Trust and relevant to your role. -Actively participates in and enables others to carry out risk assessments within the working environment. -Ensures self and colleagues are trained and competent to use equipment safely. -Ensures incident reporting is expedited promptly and appropriate action plans completed.
• Identifies potential health, safety and security issues and collaborates with others to promote and maintain an environment that supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures. -Supports and promotes a positive approach to diversity and equality of opportunity, to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply through the implementation of the Solent NHS Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy. -Promotes a culture which respects and values diversity, and support patients, visitors and staff in exercising their rights. -Ensures care within areas of practice and adheres to the 5 principles of the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice (2005).
• Recognises and reports behaviour which undermines equality and diversity in accordance with organisational policies and current legislation. Limits of Authority -May not dismiss or suspend staff under the disciplinary procedures. -May not take annual leave without prior agreement from the manager. General requirements Ensure they and where appropriate their staff: -adhere to trust policies and procedures at all times.
• comply with trust standing orders, standing financial instructions, policies, procedures and guidelines. -follow any policies and procedures in relation to infection, prevention and control. -are aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children, and vulnerable adults, and the specific responsibilities placed on individuals who care for such clients/patients. -take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination.
• comply with the trust policy on confidentiality, and the Data Protection Act 2018 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems, -respect the confidentiality and privacy of clients and staff at all times, -maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare and safety issues affecting colleagues, patients, visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or fault in line with trust policy, -fully participate in health and safety training, -participate in personal training, development, appraisal, and attend all relevant training courses as required. -comply with the professional body code of conduct. -This job description seeks to outline the key duties and responsibilities of the post; it is not a definitive document and does not form part of the main statement of Terms and Conditions. The job description will be reviewed during the annual appraisal process.
• The post holder may, with their agreement, which should not reasonably be withheld, be required to undertake other duties as required, which fall within the grading of this post, to meet the needs of this new and developing service. -Individuals who are required to hold a professional registration in order to practice must continue to be a member of their professional body throughout the lifespan of this job description. Such individuals will be required to notify the Trust immediately if their professional body limits or changes the terms of their registration. -This job description will be reviewed yearly as part of the annual individual appraisal, to ensure that it reflects the responsibilities of the post