Therapy Assistant

Full job description
We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and highly motivated therapy assistant with previous experience of supporting therapy for children.

Islington Additional Needs and Disability Children’s Service provides a multi-agency team approach to working with babies, children and young people who present with additional needs and complex disability. Within this service are teams providing assessment, diagnostic and therapy services to children in early years settings, special schools and mainstream schools.

The post holder will support the therapists working in mainstream schools (school aged children and young people) and early years (children and babies under 5 years with complex needs). The post holder will be based at the Northern health centre, Holloway Road and carry out home visits, children’s centre/nursery and school visits where necessary.

We offer excellent training opportunities with a strong emphasis on individual performance appraisal and supervision.

We are a friendly and relaxed service which promotes equal opportunities and access for all. We support flexible working hours and applicants interested in part time working are also encouraged to apply.

For further information or an informal visit, please contact Liz Relf, Mainstream Therapies Team Leader, elizabeth.relf@nhs.net or Kajal Doshi, Early Years Therapies Team Leader at kajaldoshi@nhs.net

The postholder will be responsible for delivering therapy support to children, young people and their families across both the Early Years Therapy Team and Mainstream Therapies Team. They will deliver interventions under the guidance of a qualified therapist and support the team with home assessments as well as support the team with clinical admin such as making resources. Their role in the Mainstream Therapies team will also include carrying out administrative tasks such as contacting families to book appointments, carry out audits, update spreadsheets for the team and help organise workshops for schools and families.

As an integrated care organisation, Whittington Health provides both hospital and community services, and offers a range of development opportunities along with attractive benefits to staff at all levels of our organisation.

Within Whittington Health, the Islington Additional Needs and Disability Team is a multidisciplinary service for children and young people 0- 19.

We work in integrated teams which are made up of a range of healthcare professionals including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, clinical psychologists, specialist nurses, family counselling, therapy assistants, health care assistants and specialist key workers. Our integrated service allows professionals to work holistically and to provide a responsive and streamlined family centred service.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIE

Role Responsibility:
To be a member of the mainstream therapies and early years therapies teams and share information with team members as directed and appropriate, keeping confidentiality at all times.
Demonstrate ability to use basic computer systems, reports and inputting data.
Ensure that up-to-date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Trust standards with guidance from supervisor.
Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of children and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
Assist team members with liaising with other agencies involved in the child’s care including: education, Social Services and Voluntary Services
Form professional relationships with children, families and children centre/school staff and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
Develop skills in alternative communication methods suitable for children with severe and complex needs and develop rapport e.g. Makaton and Core Boards
To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication skills and tools to communicate with children who are non verbal, of a non English speaking background, requiring an interpreter, with a hearing impairment, with altered emotional states, with a cognitive/learning/behavioural disability.
Report verbally to community and school therapists on the child’s development and performance in therapeutic and functional skills.
Liaise with relatives and carers and other agencies involved in the child’s care, as appropriate to the child’s needs, as directed by team members
Report effectively any issues or concerns to supervisor/line manager
Persuade and motivate children to participate in therapy activities and reassure if required.
Demonstrate effective communication over the telephone to parents/carers and external agencies (especially teachers and teaching assistants).
Clinical Responsibility:
Undertake specific individual or group programmes as assessed and directed by trained staff members, observing general behaviour, ability and response of the children, recording the information as requested and reporting to a supervisor. Settings could include clinic, home, nursery or school.
Engage children in therapeutic activities to promote independence, safety and well-being.
Facilitate and participate in planned activities, seeking guidance if child’s condition changes.
Assist in the implementation of team member interventions including:
o Assist in the running of therapy groups

o Carry out therapy programmes as directed by therapists with children and young people

o Under supervision of a therapist, provide a range of treatments; instructing and guiding children to support them in achieving identified goals. To work towards goals identified by the child, family/carers, the treating therapist, education professionals and the MDT

o Implements therapy treatment plans

o Organises transport and schedule visits or clinic appointments.

o Assist team members with home assessment

Adhere to the Trust’s Policies and Procedures
To assist in completing risk assessment of environment and safety under the guidance of senior team members following local and Trust policies
Have a basic understanding of Moving and Handling Legislation and apply manual handling principles.
Assist with transfers, standing and the application of braces, splints and other equipment such as seating with support as appropriate
Ensure that toys and play materials are kept clean, safe and secure.
To support staff in gathering evidence (including research database and website searches) and developing resources.
Provide training and/or demonstrate activities and strategies to teachers/schools, with the support and guidance of therapists
To assist therapists in making and preparing clinical resources such as visual timetables
To co-ordinate the Therapy Assistant referrals from therapists in the MDT and report on the outcomes
To be responsible for toy cleaning for the team on a termly basis
Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

Review and reflect own practice and performance through effective use of regular professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
Participate in non-clinical induction, training and education of students and new assistants as directed by supervisor/line manager
Administrative Duties

To keep up to date records on clients following Service Policy.
To support the team with clinical administrative duties such as scanning and uploading to electronic records, sending letters to families, collating clinical data including feedback questionnaires, calling families to arrange appointments, supporting therapists to organise workshops, carry out audits for team e.g toy cleaning audits and updating spreadsheets.
To attend relevant staff and service meetings.
To provide cover for other general administrative duties such as answering the telephone, and photocopying when requested.
Service Development and Improvement

Implements the Policies and Procedures that have been determined by Islington Specialist Children’s Services.
To highlight service provision problems to line manager in order to identify unmet needs and gaps in service provision
To undertake surveys or audits as directed by supervisor/line manager
Ensure that work areas are well maintained are comply with Health and Safety Guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment, cleaning and storage of materials
Responsibility for Dealing with Difficult Situations

To regularly deal with emotional circumstances with children and families to promote achievement of goals with close guidance and support
To work with children and young people who may have complex emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.
To identify and report concerns regarding Child Protection issues
To be able to complete required work load within time frames and deadlines set by line manager/supervisor, which may be stressful at times
To deal with children and their parents/carers with a variety of emotional conditions e.g. depression, anxiety, aggression, frustration, apathy, and cognitive/learning/behavioural disabilities and mental illness.
To deal sensitively with clients and their carers who may be distressed.
Please see attached job description for full details of role and responsibilities