Community Adult Health Services

Maximising Independence

Job Description

Post: Rehabilitation Assistant

Grade: Band 3
Location: St Johns Therapy Centre
Report to: Senior Therapist
Accountable to: Clinical Team Leader
Last Updated: April 2017
Hours: 37.5/week

Key Working relationships: Maximising Independence staff/ other health, social and
voluntary care professionals/ Students and other visitors to the service

Trust Vision & Values:

The postholder is expected to have a clear understanding of how this post contributes to the
achievement of the trust vision of:

Being a thriving Foundation Trust at the heart of an integrated healthcare system, one that
delivers improved patient care at a community, hospital and specialist setting, supported by a
unique and nationally recognised programme of research, education and employee engagement,
we expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the Trust, being Excellent, Kind,
Responsible & Respectful, and behave in a way that reflect these.

St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding children and
vulnerable adults and expects that all staff will share in this commitment. The Trust is clear that all
staff have a responsibility to be aware of children and adult safeguarding policies and procedures
and that each member of staff, clinical and non-clinical, will attend child or adult safeguarding
training that is provided at an appropriate level to suit their role. The Trust has the additional
expectation that all staff will be able to identify concerns and know what action to take.

Role of the Department:

Community Adult Health Services is a team of GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners,

Specialist Nurses, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and
Language Therapists, Social Workers and Support Staff who work with colleagues in
Health and Voluntary sectors to provide a universal approach to patients healthcare
needs. The teams are primarily based in the community but have strong links with our
acute sector colleagues.

The Maximising Independence function of Community Adult Health Services and aims to
provide a high quality, responsive rehabilitation service helping adults aged from 16 years+
 to regain their independence following illness or injury, to support them with their Long Term
conditions and to promote health and wellbeing.
The team provide rapid, intermediate care style therapy in order to facilitate discharge and
avoid unnecessary acute admissions. The service also provides longer term rehabilitation.

The team comprises of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language

Therapists, Therapy Technical Instructors, Rehabilitation assistants/Support Workers and
admin Assistants.

The team is based at St Johns Therapy Centre, Battersea and can offer home based,
community location based or outpatient sessions to patients in the Wandsworth locality.

The Trust is currently implementing a Community Adult Health Services redesign

programme. Applicants are advised that the terms of existing posts within this care
group are subject to change. You should be aware when applying for any post within
Community Adult Health Services that the main duties, location and shift patterns are
subject to review as part of this process.

Job Summary:

To work as part of a multidisciplinary therapy team delivering a community based

rehabilitation service to patients with a variety of conditions under the supervision of
qualified therapists.

To work as a lone clinician

To deliver rehabilitation programmes to patients in their homes or other community

venues as appropriate which may include personal care, meal preparation, mobility
and exercise tasks.

To provide both clinical and non clinical support to the qualified therapists within the
team.

Main Duties/Key Results Areas:

Clinical Duties

To carry out pre-defined rehabilitation programmes with patients in their own homes,
day centres, the local environment, including outdoors and on public transport, and
within the therapy centre as directed by a qualified therapist for a range of patients,
including those with complex presentations.

To report to an allocated supervisor about treatments undertaken, progress made,

outcomes of intervention and to discuss when modification of rehabilitation
programmes may be necessary as part of a structured clinical supervision system.

To ensure all aspects of your work are of a high clinical standard and be accountable
for this to the team lead, through the qualified staff.
 To observe any progress, deterioration or other significant changes in a patients
condition or performance and to report these to the relevant therapist involved in the
clients care.

To participate in the delivery of patient education programmes.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your intervention through the use
of treatment plans, goals, outcome measures and clinical supervision with a qualified
therapist in order to progress treatment programmes and ensure clinical
effectiveness.

To work in partnership with patients, carers and the multidisciplinary team to ensure
a timely, coordinated and individualised approach to intervention which respects
patients choices and values.

To empower patients and their carers to take responsibility for self management
during treatment period and following discharge, using knowledge of local resources
to facilitate this as appropriate.

To organise clinical caseload in consultation with colleagues taking into account

management of waiting lists and necessary non clinical duties.

To assemble and adjust and use specialist equipment within your competencies e.g.
walking aids, standing frames, hoists, orthoses and footwear etc and provide advice
to patients / carers to ensure safe use.

Support patients by delivering health promotion within your competencies.

Communication

To communicate professionally and effectively, both verbally and non-verbally, with

your patients and their carers. This may include communicating with patients and
carers who are deaf, visually impaired, have poor memory, cognitive problems or for
whom English is not their first language.

To use skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation to encourage patients and

carers to undertake treatment programmes which may be painful, challenging and /
or time consuming and therefore require negotiation.

To convey appropriate information about diagnosis, prognosis and treatment to

patients and carers in a sensitive and timely manner and using language they
understand.

To work within an integrated multidisciplinary service maintaining close liaison with

all Maximising Independence staff to ensure the smooth running of the team and the
effective delivery of the service to patients.

To communicate professionally and effectively, both verbally and non-verbally, with

your colleagues and other health and social care colleagues, voluntary agencies and
carers to expedite continuing care of patients.
 To take referrals, chase referral information and deal with enquiries as requested
over the telephone in a sensitive manner, taking into account the need for
confidentiality at all times.

To maintain timely, accurate and concise records of interventions which meet the
documentation standards of the service, both paper based and in electronic form as
required.

To coordinate requests for absence with other MI support workers to ensure that key
tasks are covered at all times.

Health and Safety

Be aware of and adhere to the Trusts policy on standards for safe practice e.g. manual
handling policy, infection control, lone working, uniform policy etc. and support others to
do so.

Identify health emergencies and act accordingly

Report any incidents (e.g. where equipment does not meet the required standard),
accidents or problems to the staff member in Charge.

To monitor equipment and stock levels within the department, arranging for new stock to
be ordered when necessary.

To be responsible for the maintenance and whereabouts of equipment belonging to the

team including walking frames, crutches, kitchen adaptation equipment, cycling
equipment etc.

Personal and People Development

To use the trustwide Personal Development Plan (PDP) system to assist with
identification of own learning and development and to take responsibility for achieving
own PDP objectives.

To participate in appropriate CPD opportunities within, and external to, the team including
in service training, case management meetings and clinical supervision sessions.

Quality
Monitor and maintain the quality of own work and alert relevant team members to quality
issues.
Contribute to clinical governance issues / audit, monitoring and maintaining of standards
and assisting other team members to do so.

Service Improvement
Reflect on own practice and make changes in own practice and offer suggestions for
improving the service.
Participate in service evaluations and improvements.

Equality and Diversity

Act in ways that support equality and value diversity.

Further Information and General Responsibilities:

This post requires shift work to allow the service to run 7 days per week between
7.30am and 6pm. There is therefore an expectation that the post holder will participate
in a range of shifts covering week days, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
The post holder may be required to work in rehabilitation/therapy teams based in
different locations across the organisation in line with service development and need.

To explain the role of the service to visitors, students and volunteers

To communicate with colleagues, patients and visitors in a polite and courteous manner
at all times
To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others and to comply
at all times with the Health and Safety regulations
All St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust employees are required to
act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well being of children and
vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with and adherence to Wandsworth Interagency
Safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees, as is participation in
related mandatory/statutory training.
To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained
during the course of employment in an official capacity
To comply with the St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust policies on
diversity, the consumption of alcohol and non-smoking
To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998
To attend any mandatory training and induction courses as designated by management
To report all clinical and non-clinical accidents or near misses promptly and when
required, to co-operate with any investigation undertaken.
To contribute to the development of the St Georges University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust agenda for quality through the Clinical Governance Agenda and to be
aware of ones own responsibility to deliver high quality services at all times.
To implement and monitor St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and
departmental policies and procedures for Health and Safety.
Contribute to, deliver and implement the St Georges University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust Equality and Diversity Agenda by:
- Putting in place appropriate and measurable actions to eliminate
unlawful discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and good
relations between people of different groups
- Developing and maintaining an inclusive approach to work and
embedding equality and diversity into all work activities
To carry out such duties as may be required by the Line, Service or Professional
Managers which are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade

This job description gives a general outline of the post and is not intended to be inflexible or
a final list of duties. It is a reflection of the current position, and may change emphasis in the
light of subsequent developments in consultation with the post holder. The post holder is a
member of a team and as such may be expected to help out with other work during holidays
and sickness.

I AGREE THAT THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS AN ACCURATE SUMMARY AND A TRUE

REFLECTION OF THE MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POST.

Post holders Name: . Date:

 Signature: ..

Managers Name: .. Date: ..

Signature: .

This job description is not an exhaustive document but is a reflection of the current
position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs after consultation
with the postholder.

St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is an Equal Opportunities

employer and operates a No Smoking Policy
 Band 3 Rehabilitation Assistant PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Attributes Desirable Attributes
Qualifications Broad general education including at least 5 Previous
& Training GCSE level or equivalent qualifications experience of
including English and maths working as a
NVQ 3 in Health or Social Care or equivalent therapy /
academic qualification or willingness to take on rehabilitation
training assistant
Experience Previous experience in elderly care working
with older peoples rehabilitation within hospital/ Experience of working
community setting in an NHS
Previous experience of working in a team Experience of
delivering group and
1:1 exercise
Skills Able to communicate professionally and
effectively in English both verbally and non-
Previous experience of
verbally to patients, carers and colleagues.
working on RIO system
Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
Able to understand and
Ability to work as a lone clinician deliver health
Take direction from and give good feedback to promotion messages
supervising colleagues
Able to deliver and monitor prescribed therapy Able to understand and
programmes promote self
management strategies
Ability to motivate patients to achieve rehab
goals
Excellent literacy, numeracy and IT skills
Ability to work with change
Ability to work under pressure
Effective time management and organisational
skills
Knowledge Understanding of the role of a rehabilitation
assistant
Understanding of the role of the service
Understanding of the needs of older people
and an awareness of the impact of the aging
process
Understanding of confidentiality in the context
of healthcare
Understanding of a holistic approach to care
Understanding of rehabilitation and issues
relating to promoting independence
Awareness of health and safety issues related
to primary care working in particular
Other Caring, motivated attitude
Insight into own capabilities and limitations
Car / Bike user with own transport available for
use at work Full Valid Driving Licence held if
appropriate
If bike user competent cyclist and fit to meet
the demands of the post on a bike
Subject to Occupational Health Clearance and
Criminal Records Bureau Clearance (POCA)