Detailed job description and main responsibilities

ROLE SUMMARY

·       The community team of West Essex is part of the wider Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System, supporting out of hospital care for West Essex residents.

·       The post holder will be working as part of the integrated community teams with a focus on rehabilitation. This will involve helping patients to engage as independently as possible in activities which enhance their health & wellbeing. Interventions will be carried out within patients own homes, 24 hour care facilities and clinics. 

·       The post holder will work as part of the integrated team to plan, deliver and evaluate all aspects of the patient treatment process. This at times will include onward referrals to appropriate community based health and social care agencies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES CLINICAL

Clinical responsibilities

Demonstrate the ability to:

• To deliver high quality, skilled clinical care to patients and provide rehabilitation and long term care/conditions management in a variety of community settings.
• To manage a caseload of patients with complex health & social care needs, using evidence based, client-centered principles to assess, plan, implement & evaluate interventions.
• To utilise specialist skills and knowledge to undertake comprehensive assessments of patients.
• To analyse information gained form assessment to formulate an accurate intervention.
• To collaboratively discuss and agree SMART goals and outcomes for treatment with patients. This at times may involve negotiation and motivation skills and the need to work sensitively with patients.
• To ensure patients understands and consent to treatment plans.  If the patient does not have the capacity to give consent, to be able to work within the legal framework as appropriate.
• To develop collaborative treatment programmes with patients, carers and colleagues, demonstrating client centred practice and specialist problem solving techniques. The selection of techniques will be based on both theoretical, practical knowledge and evaluative past experiences.
• Evaluate patient progress, reassess and review treatment programmes as required through the monitoring of medical and rehabilitation needs and adjusting if needed. This will involve determining the potential for rehabilitation and future care and support needs
• Plan and prioritise own workload and delegate tasks where appropriate to ensure effective use of time.
• Facilitate the safe transfer of patients using approved moving and handling techniques and equipment.
• To assess and clinically justify the provision of equipment to patients. To be responsible for ensuring equipment provided is safe to use and advise the multi-professional team/family where appropriate.
• Identify and undertake risk assessments of patients and environments during each intervention.
• To liaise with GP’s, other professionals and voluntary agencies to deliver patient centred care to a high standard.
• To be able to hand over patients to non-qualified staff, providing a clear treatment plan and review progress of this at appropriate and regular intervals.
• To be able to manage discharges of patients in a timely manner in agreement with patient, carers and families. To complete clear discharge summaries explaining interventions, outcomes of therapy and appropriate next steps.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Communication Skills:

• Using verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills to ensure that patients and carers have an understanding of their condition and aims of therapy input.
• The Therapist must effectively alter their communication techniques according to individual needs of patients (for example the patient may have a learning disability, sensory problems, neurological difficulties or may not use English as their first language).
• To be able to effectively communicate with the multidisciplinary team where required. 
• To escalate concerns to senior staff in a timely manner, if there are any concerns regarding patients safety and or staff. Such as completing DATIX forms, safeguarding referrals in line with Trust policy.
• To represent the therapy service in meetings with the aim of actively contributing and reporting back relevant information.
• Maintain accurate clinical records in accordance with professional and trust standards.
• To produce timely and accurate electronic patient records and reports in accordance with governing body regulations.

Professional Skills:

• The Therapist must be able to adapt their intervention to meet the needs of the individual patients. Patients seen will range from the vulnerable, to those who are extremely well informed about their condition.

·       The therapist must take a holistic view of patients and their wellbeing, providing a patient centred approach to their care. The therapist must be sensitive to patients’ own cultures, beliefs and emotions.

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in your care.
• To participate or take a lead for specific projects within your area of work to enhance patient care and service delivery.
• To supervise and support junior staff, assistants and students with guidance from line manager when needed. This will include the use of formal and informal supervision along with appraisals.
• To effectively manage your own workload within your working hours. This will include the completion of clinical and non-clinical tasks.
• Actively participate in Continuous Professional Development and maintain a portfolio recording learning outcomes.
• To take an active part in the therapy in service training programme, helping to deliver the training as required.
• Ongoing evaluation of own work and current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice. To participate in audits and implementation of outcome measures for service development.  
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply this understanding to work situations.
• To deputise in the absence of therapy leads. To work when required on a flexible basis across localities to cover service needs.
• Delegate tasks appropriately to assistants, carers and other professionals.
• Demonstrate an awareness of trust wide and local policies and procedures.
• Understand national guidelines and legislations relating to health and social care and their impact on service provision.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times, consistent with Trust policy.

Education and Research:

• Maintain appropriate and up to date knowledge and skills by undertaking training for professional development in accordance with personal and service needs.
• Identify learning needs and provide training and mentoring to support team members, students and health care professionals.
• To provide clinical support to colleagues as required.
• To actively participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis in line with Trust guidelines.
• To participate in annual appraisal and maintain a personal development plan.
• To participate in service development to ensure innovative practice and maintenance of standards.
• Complete mandatory training in line with Trust policy and procedures

You will be expected to work collaboratively with key partner organisations, service users, carers, clinicians and other practitioners within the multi-disciplinary team in delivering services; providing a 7-day a week, 24-hours a day service for 365 days a year working shifts, where appropriate and operationally required.