Senior Therapy Technical Instructor - Urgent Care & Frailty

Are you a proactive, enthusiastic person looking for a new experience or the next step in your career? We have an exciting opportunity for a band 4 Senior Therapy Technical Instructor (STTI) to join our established team of therapists to work in the urgent care and frailty therapy team at Northampton General Hospital.

The team consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Support Staff and you will be supported by the qualified staff in the role and encouraged to develop your knowledge and skills. The successful candidate will work alongside the therapy staff and the wider multi-disciplinary team on the Nye Bevan Assessment Unit, the Emergency Department and the Frailty Assessment Unit.

The successful candidate will work autonomously, under the indirect supervision of therapists, to complete rapid assessments of routine patients and provide therapy intervention to enable a safe and timely discharge from the front door. This will also include providing clinical reasoning as to why a patient may not be safe to be discharged at that time. The applicant will have the opportunity to work with patients who have a variety of medical conditions and presentations, be required to manage their own caseload and support other team members under the supervision of qualified therapists.

This will include supporting other therapy support staff with their rotational objectives.

• Actively provide therapy care for patients as part of the multi-disciplinary team at NGH
• Provide specific evidence based assessments and treatments under the indirect supervision of qualified therapist using a therapy framework.
• Provide technical skills to assist a qualified Therapist in treating orthopaedic patients.
• Provide therapy care to in-patients and occasionally patients in their own homes
• Have access to, read and understand medical notes and information from the MDT to inform decision making regarding suitability for intervention
• Be able to interpret clinical observations and provide supportive treatments of orthopaedic patients, understanding the implications of therapy interventions
• Provide rehabilitation to patients within the orthopaedic ward areas
• Provide care to post-operative orthopaedic patients
• Provide training in use of mobility aids and Therapy Equipment to Orthopaedic Nursing colleagues/HCAs and Therapy support staff.
• Be part of weekend service rota and possible extended hours
• Manage and prioritise own case load independently, carry out delegated duties and work flexibly and at a fast pace in order to support the smooth running of the therapy department.
• Support therapy team in new projects, service developments and initiatives to ensure best practice.
• Handle non-clinical responsibilities such as ordering and maintaining equipment stock levels, inputting data onto IT systems and other administrative duties.
• Participate in regular supervision, competency and performance reviews and continued personal development.
• Assist qualified therapy staff in assessing and carrying out specific therapy interventions for clients with more complex needs, including those who have difficulties understanding and communicating.
• Review and implement treatment programmes and modify as necessary in line with the band 4 competency framework.

The post holder will be required to maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including Therapy Department and Enablement Centre clinical and non-clinical staff, Therapy Management Team and the broader trust staff group as required. Participate in relevant working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide information and analytical advice and expertise.

• Compassion
• Accountability
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courage

• Demonstrate a good understanding of medical conditions within the area of speciality / clinical pathway and the impact of these on the patients function and rehabilitation.
• Have a holistic understanding of the patient and their condition, as well as the impact of psychosocial dynamics on their function.
• Enable patients to co-operate in their rehabilitation programme using encouragement, reassurance, tact and sensitivity; overcome barriers to understanding with patients whose understanding is impaired.
• Identify and implement correct treatment plans within known patient care pathways under the indirect supervision of a qualified therapist.
• Assess and formulate treatment and discharge plans for patients as guided by the agreed treatment framework.
• Identify patients that do not fall within care pathway / agreed framework and who need referral to qualified staff.
• Use protocols and set processes to assess patients mobility and functional abilities and assess for and issue appropriate low level equipment.
• Constantly assess patients stamina / understanding during treatment sessions and modify treatment as appropriate.
• Work in a flexible and responsive way when under pressure.
• Provide and receive complex patient care…