Job summaryREHABILITATION ASSISTANT PRACTITIONER - INTEGRATED THERAPIES MEDICAL TEAM37.5 hrs per week - Band 4An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioner to join the Occupational Therapy Team at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.We are looking for an ambitious person with experience of working predominantly with adults who have varying medical and surgical conditions.We are a very friendly, supportive and dynamic team and offer regular individual supervision, opportunities for CPD, annual appraisals and training. Whilst no previous Occupational Therapy experience is required, previous experience in a caring profession would be beneficial. You will need to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a positive attitude to self-directed learning.For informal enquiries contact: Lucy Whent, Occupational Therapy Team Lead on 01284 713 560 or Lisa Enright, Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy on 01284 713 639Main duties of the jobThe postholder will work across the acute wards including cardiac, respiratory, surgical and general medicine.The post holder will hold a caseload whilst working alongside the Occupational Therapists, assessing patients, and delivering therapy programmes which may include close contact with family/carers and other professionals. The position requires working independently under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist.There may be a requirement to assist other teams which may be located in the acute setting or in the community.Seven day working will be required as part of this role.About us#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our communityWe are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see the full job description for more informationJob ResponsibilitiesClinicalTo manage a designated caseload of patients under the guidance/direction of a qualified occupational therapist, organising and prioritising the allocated daily workload within the scope of the roleTo undertake assessments and to plan and implement interventions to meet the patients needs, concluding in a safe and timely discharge. This will be achieved using professional, theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skillsTo monitor, evaluate and modify treatment interventions to support the patients progress and ensure effectiveness, taking appropriate action to address issues or risksTo use observation and assessment skills and role specific knowledge to monitor, record and report progress or changes in patients. This includes recognising a deteriorating patient and taking the required action to support them and alert the therapist or relevant staff memberTo assess for, demonstrate, teach the use of and issue items of equipment required to support the patients recovery, rehabilitation and dischargeTo manage the therapy discharge planning process for designated patients and contribute to the process for complex patients using set guidelines and protocols pertaining to dischargeTo enable and empower patients to address their own health and wellbeing needs, motivating and supporting them to plan and manage their recovery using health coaching approachesTo support the therapists to undertake complex assessments, frequently completing allocated aspects of the process independently, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.To participate in the 7-day rota, assisting with weekend cover as part of a larger team.To support other teams as required which may be located in the acute or the West Suffolk community setting as requiredCommunicationTo work as a member of the multidisciplinary team representing Integrated Therapies, establishing effective communication networks with colleagues, supervisors, patients and carers, maintaining interactions with external agencies.To ensure effective communication with patients and carers to gain their active participation in their recovery/rehabilitation process including setting of realistic goals for functional safe discharge.To use an empathetic, motivational and reassuring approach to present and receive sensitive information and maximise the rehabilitation potential of the patient/client, being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.To establish professional relationships with patients and carers, communicating with them in ways that respect their views, beliefs and culture, and being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.To report to the occupational therapist in a timely manner, either verbally or in writing, information regarding significant changes in levels of function and deviations from the planned outcome.To act as advocate for patient and profession ensuring patients needs and choices are the focus of the care process.To identify ways of overcoming potential barriers to effective communication.DocumentationTo be responsible for the quality of information recorded, both electronic and paper based. The information should be accurate, legible, recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately secured.To ensure that required patient activity data is recorded.Professional Conduct and Professional DevelopmentTo comply with local policies, protocols and procedures.To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and carers.To uphold the values and the ethos of the service as a whole and to act as an advocate for patients maintaining the highest professional standards at all timesTo review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and performance review via Knowledge, Skills Framework (KSF)To undertake relevant activities to meet your development objectives as identified through the performance review process with your appraiser and to share learning with colleagues as agreed.In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and performance review.Leadership, Supervision and AppraisalTo prepare for and actively participate in the Trusts annual performance development review process and progress reviews.Ensure training and development needs detailed in personal development plan are followed up and the effectiveness of the acquired training and development evaluated in terms of self, patient/client and service and actively participate in supervision sessions.To demonstrate awareness of leadership needs within clinical and professional situations and support the leadership activities of the qualified staff within the service.Person SpecificationEducation &QualificationsEssentialoEducation to GCSE (or equivalent) particularly English & mathsoLevel 3 qualification or equivalent in health-related subject or equivalent clinical experienceDesirableCompletion of a relevant health competency frameworkoCan demonstrate intermediate level of theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills acquired through coursework, training and experienceExperience & KnowledgeEssentialExperience of working in a healthcare settingAn understanding of the role of an occupational therapist within an acute settingDesirableExperience of working with people with complex needsExperience of working in a multidisciplinary environmentExperience of customer facing rolesExperience of electronic record keepingKnowledge of clinical conditions relating to ageing, such as falls, frailty, stroke, dementiaExperience of managing a delegated workloadSkills & AbilitiesEssentialAble to organise and prioritise a designated workloadAble to work without direct supervision, within an agreed scope of practiceEffective verbal and written communication skills combined with excellent interpersonal skillsAble to assess and manage risk within the scope of the roleAble to react appropriately to change and to work under pressureComputer literateAble to balance of work/personal life if undertaking an apprenticeship course, seeking assistance as neededPersonal QualitiesEssentialCommitment to delivering consistently high standards of careconfidence to work and challenge within a multidisciplinary teamFlexible approach to working hours/dutiesCommitment to continuing personal and professional developmentTo have a good level of awareness of self and others in order to support colleagues and patients with empathy and understandingDesirableAbility to travel to all rural locations to carry out postDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer detailsEmployer nameWest Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustAddressWest Suffolk HospitalHardwick LaneBury St EdmundsIP33 2QZEmployer's websitehttps://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)