Job overview

This role offers an interesting and exciting opportunity to learn and develop in a supported environment as part of a wide multidisciplinary team supporting patients through their journey to happier and healthier lives.

The bariatric specialist therapy assistant’s typical day will include supporting the assessment and treatment programmes for patients wishing to undergo bariatric surgery, with indirect supervision from the multidisciplinary allied healthcare professional (AHP) team consisting of dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists and nurses. For example, on a ward or in a clinic this will mean:

- assessing patients on the ward and providing AHP specific advice
- assisting in exercise and patient education groups
- collect outcome measures

The assistant will carry out administrative and departmental duties e.g. vetting referrals to the service, collating data, monitoring and maintaining equipment stocks, triaging clinical email queries, taking telephone messages, maintaining clinical information systems, sending letters to patients and referrals to other teams. They will participate in service development projects and will identify areas for service improvements.

****CLOSING DATE IS INDICATIVE. VACANCY MAY CLOSE EARLY DUE TO HIGH APPLICATIONS***

Main duties of the job

• Work with patients who may have complex and varying physical and psychological presentations
• Work independently with patients who have been seen by the therapy team to progress treatment programmes and feedback to the therapists
• Have  in-depth knowledge of a specific care pathway for patients; work independently to assess and treat patients,  evaluate progress and highlight to therapy staff when the patient deviates from that care pathway
• Work with therapists and nurses to assess and provide goal-directed clinical intervention to patients on the ward
• Run exercise sessions or activity groups, organising patients to attend, and coordinating transport to assist patients in and out of the hospital
• Communicate with the MDT regarding changes in a patient's condition, response to treatment or any other useful information that may influence treatment or rehabilitation progression
• Accurately, comprehensively and contemporaneously record and report back the treatment provided and patient's response to treatment in the relevant records in line with local and national standards
• Refer patients to other services as guided by the therapist
• Monitor and maintain stocks of therapy equipment; order leaflets when stocks are low
• Work with therapists and patients to produce timetables for treatment
• Collect statistics and data as required and enter it into a database
• Participate in projects and service developments within the department
• Complete general administrative work as required by the team

Working for our organisation

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing and flourishing organisation serving the population of Hackney, East London, The City and beyond.

We are extremely proud of the fact that Homerton Hospital has recently attained the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our integrated Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community health services for its local population and a range of specialist services for a wider group of patients. In addition, the Trust manages services out of St Leonard's Hospital and the Mary Seacole Nursing Home.

Homerton aims to ensure equality and value diversity, and we are committed to inclusion for all of our staff.  This is reflected in our policies, procedures and People Plan.  All of our staff are expected to embody our Trust values at all times.

We are also committed, through our Fair Recruitment Standards, to ensuring all applicants are treated fairly.

Homerton has a proud tradition of supporting and developing its staff, including its well-regarded and valued nursing community, and all staff are able to take advantage of a great range of benefits.

Homerton is proud to have been included on the HSJ & Nursing Times Best Places to Work list.