Associate practitioner

Communication and relationship skills To be able to communicate effectively, using appropriate methods, both verbal and non-verbal to patients who may have barriers to understanding (eg: blind, deaf, or English not first language) Using empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills to encourage patients, families and carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence and well-being Internal Members of hospital and community-based colleagues; administrative, support and data staff External Patients, relatives and carers: general practitioners; consultants; external and voluntary agencies; other NHS staff Knowledge, training and experience Good general education (to GCSE or equivalent) NVQ 3 or equivilent Substantial experience working as an assistant with people who have had a sudden change in health and social care needs or with those who have a long-term condition Experience of taking and leading group work Experience of documenting and evidence learning Good knowledge of commonly encountered orthopaedic, neurological and musculo-skeletal conditions Understanding of basic principles of holistic health and social care assessment being competent in functional assessment Able to demonstrate a holistic approach to patient management Ability to work as part of a team Awareness of limitations, personal strengths and areas of development Flexible, reliable and organised Good written and verbal communication skills and IT skills Ability to work on own initiative and to manage own caseload Ability to travel to dispersed sites in the community in a timely manner Analytical and judgement skills To assess and review patients with their consent, informed or complied consent To undertake highly skilled support work - eg: initial interviews and reporting findings to the therapists To assess patients progress within the parameters set by the therapists. This requires a range of practical skills and a good level of knowledge about common medical conditions and their rehabilitation. To assess for, request and review appropriate use of mobility aids, ensuring the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision practice Identify any potential or actual clinical and non-clinical risk within own role according to team protocols and highlight to relevant senior Using good communication skills, discuss with community teams the needs of the patient To handle written and verbal enquiries in a professional manner and to deal with them promptly and effectively . Planning and organisational skills Have initial discussions with therapists to identify the patients needs To manage and prioritise own patient caseload delegated by the therapist, including the booking of patient visits To plan time to allow participation in general duties within the team eg: answering the telephone, communicating messages and keeping the working environment tidy To collect and submit all data and statistics as required in a timely and accurate manner Maintain clear verbal, written and electronic communication systems for all members of the team, ensuring that communication is clear and effective and cascaded to everyone within the team Decision-making and acceptance of personal accountability for ones own actions Physical skills To assist the therapists in the moving and handling of complex high-risk patients in preparation for assessment and review as identified To carry out interventions with patients/carers referred to the team, independently or under the guidance of qualified practitioners To carry out basic day-to-day assessments (eg: mobility/transfers, response to treatment activities, etc) using judgement and analysis skills and to decide on appropriate action to be taken. Activities may include home exercise programmes, practice of ADL tasks, practice of mobility and transfers and manual handling techniques, with guidance assessment for and provision of walking aids/ADL equipment, basic cognitive assessments Competency shown in physiotherapy, occupational therapy Good IT skills Responsibility for patient/client care To maintain patients dignity, privacy and confidentiality at all times Ensure own practice and staff you may be responsible for meet the required, legal organisation, team and professional standards Have a working knowledge of the processes and responsibilities of safeguarding for adults and children including the Mental Capacity Act 2000. Participate in case conferences and transfer of care planning as necessary To undertake triage and assessment of patients with a wide variety of presentations and conditions: using clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques without supervision, discussing your findings with the relevant team staff member To assess functional needs of patients as delegated by therapists Undertake the care of patients, as appropriate ensuring individual needs are met through the use of evidence-based practice Review patients individually without direct supervision or presence of a therapist and manage own patient caseload, liaising with relevant team member of staff Manage the rehabilitation of patients as delegated by the therapists, working without direct supervision, across community care settings as required To work autonomously as well as together with the main team To undertake skilled and specific support work to patients journey to discharge Using empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills to encourage patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence To use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal to communicate treatment programmes to patients who may have barriers to understanding or communication eg: blind, deaf, dysphasic or who may not have English as their first language Responsibility for policy and service development implementation To adhere to the organisations policies in relation to health and safety, including Working Alone policy, and Safeguarding Vulnerable Children and Adult policies Identify any problems, which may interfere with the smooth running of the team and put forward suggestions and ideas to the discharge facilitator for consideration and encourage others to do the same Complies with organisational operational policies and procedures To be proactively aware of health and safety aspects of your work (area) and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work (area), including your prompt recording and reporting of (near miss) accidents or concerns Responsibilities for financial and physical resources The post holder will be required to comply with the organisations standing orders and standing financial instructions and, at all times, deal honestly with colleagues and all those who have dealings with the organisation including patients, relatives and suppliers To be responsible for the safe usage of equipment and aids by patients, complying with the organisations Infection Control Policy To be aware of health and safety aspects of work, to implement any policies and to record and report any accidents, incidents or concerns To ensure that all resources are used appropriately to provide quality care Responsibilities for human resources (HR) To undertake relevant CPD activities to maintain and develop skills and abilities. To keep a CPD portfolio to demonstrate CPD To actively participate in the organisations appraisal system identifying personal development needs and plans to ensure that the teams key performance indicators are met To attend and actively participate in in-service training as required To attend mandatory and statutory training according to organisation schedules Take part in orientation and induction programmes for new staff The post holder is expected to act in ways that support equality and value diversity, in accordance with legislation and national local policies To maintain NVQ level knowledge and competencies by reading clinical/professional literature and research Responsibilities for information resources Expected to ensure correct use of conditional information and sensitive information in line with information governance and Caldicott guidance To be responsible for maintaining accurate and prompt records of all own clinical interventions in line with legal requirements and local and national standards, including the writing of discharge summaries as required To collect and submit all data and statistics as required in a timely and accurate manner Record and submit accurate, timely data and information to inform caseload management and service development Responsibilities for research and development (R&D) To participate in the ongoing development and evaluation of the team To provide information as required to support service delivery to patients/carers and other users of the Community and Intermediate Care services To participate in audits as required ensuring a high standard of care delivery Freedom to act To assist the therapists in the facilitation and co-ordination of patients on the discharge pathway To triage, assess, review and treat patients individually, or in a group, without direct supervision or presence of a therapist in accordance with set protocols and procedures The ability to plan and organise own workload without direct supervision; with regular progress reports to team staff on progress and any issues The post holder will be required to observe local health and safety arrangements and take reasonable care of him/herself and persons that may be affected by his/her work To support team colleagues when undertaking patient assessments, using initiative Full JD is attached

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