Rehabilitation Assistant

• To carry own patient caseload, treating patients under the guidance of a qualified therapist. Monitor the patient and report any changes to the senior therapist, in order to maximise each individual patient's functional ability.
• To undertake specific skilled support work to aid the rehabilitation of patients living in their own homes. Where patients have complex needs, this is carried out in conjunction with qualified clinicians.
• Enable the delivery of effective and efficient rehabilitation teamwork to patients whilst providing appropriate support and communication to relatives and carers.
• To participate in creating a culture of patient centred rehabilitation and enablement rather than being cared for and use every opportunity to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent accidents.
• To support qualified clinicians with administrative tasks, audit, information gathering.
• To support / lead teaching classes for those patients that are able to attend an outpatient setting. Training will be provided.
• To be competent in the prescription of small aids under the guidance and supervision of a qualified therapist.

• To carry out basic assessments of patients needs as directed by Qualified Clinicians
• To carry out mobility and transfer assessments for specific pieces of equipment as requested by therapy or nursing staff and report back to qualified member of the team regarding the need for further input.
• To be able to identify more complex issues that need assessment by qualified clinician.
• To implement therapy programmes (as prescribed by the OT or PT) both to individuals and provide feedback to therapists.
• To carry out programmes devised by therapists using a range of techniques which the post holder has been deemed competent to do.
• To review patient progress and provide feedback at all stages of patients progress in caseload discussions.
• To work jointly with clinicians in cases which are complex and may require physical moving and handling as part of their rehabilitation.
• To be responsible for assessing and managing clinical risk in relation own caseload, seeking guidance where appropriate.
• Will not attempt any procedure without appropriate training and being deemed as competent to carry it out
• To contribute to the evaluations of therapeutic interventions including planning discharge:
• To set/ review SMART goals with patients, adapting them as the patient progresses.
• To be able to monitor progress with appropriate outcome measures, adjusting treatment as appropriate.
• To be able to prioritise work - load:
• To plan day-to-day workload.
• To be able to identify factors involved in making decisions with regard to prioritisation.
• To be able to prioritise the referrals to rehabilitation assistants on a daily basis.
• To provide support to clients, their carers, and other professionals involved in a patients care journey:
• To use listening skills and be aware of the issues and of how to respond to questions and anxieties. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills, especially when a patient has barriers to understanding.
• To liaise with family, carers or other involved with a patients care in order to teach exercise programmes for them to supervise.
• To participate in the multi-disciplinary team within the Dorking Primary care Network Service.

7. To adhere to organisational standards for documentation / writing notes:

• To maintain timely patient progress notes on EMIS / Systm1
• To abide by the record keeping standards of SDHC
• To be involved in service projects and developments
• To contribute to and support any projects for improving the Community Therapy service.
• To keep clinical skills updated by attending study days and training.
• To maintain personal and professional development
• To take part in CPD
• Attend in-service training above.
• To participate in SDHCs appraisal scheme and formulate a personal development plan.
• To participate in Clinical supervision.
• To fulfil any specific tasks as requested by the Team Leader or other therapist
• To maintain complete confidentiality of all information concerning patients that may be known or acquired in the course of work as per SDHC policy.
• To adhere to all policies and procedures of the Community Therapy Service.

Please refer to the Job description and Person specification for more details

Surrey Downs Health and Care (SDHC) deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.

Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centric care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:

• The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area.
• Epsom and St Helier's, St George's, University Hospitals NHS Trust.
• Surrey County Council

Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.

It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.

In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.

Essential: - GCSE or equivalent in Maths & English

Desirable: - Care certificate

Essential: - Previous experience working within a team; - Previous experience of working with effective communication

Desirable: - Previous experience working with patients; - Previous experience working within the NHS

Essential: - Car Driver & access to a car to business use

Desirable: - Evidence of use of manual handling skills