Job Description

As a Therapy Assistant your role will be to assist the PBS & Physiotherapy Teams in assessment, intervention and service delivery to adults with a Learning Disability. You will be required to provide intervention in the community with clients in the most appropriate setting.



The Physiotherapy Team as part of the Therapies Service provides support and intervention in the community, promoting independence, enabling people to live healthy lives and preventing hospital admission. Specific duties will include providing individual therapy, co-facilitating group work, and supporting the delivery of Behaviour, Sensory and Physiotherapy plans under the guidance of the Therapists



The Positive Behaviour Support Team delivers assessment, intervention, advice and guidance to a group of individuals with learning disabilities and longstanding challenging behaviours. Its aim is to improve an individual's quality of life and well-being by understanding and addressing the reasons behind behaviours that challenge, teaching new skills, and reducing the need for those challenging behaviours.



The Integrated Learning Disabilities Service (ILDS) provides health and social care to adults with learning disabilities living in Enfield. The service consists of Health and Social care staff which include Social Workers, Community Nursing, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language therapists, Arts therapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychology, Psychiatry



The post holder will work within standard operating procedures / pathways to manage their own workload independently but with reference to a supervisor within the clinical area. In doing so, they will support the assessment of patients and implementation of programmes of care ensuring that they practice within their sphere of competence and knowledge. The post holder will work within a range of standard operating procedures and pathways in which they have received training in order to be competent.



The post holder will also be required to work on their own under the direction of the therapists using their own initiative to follow established guidelines referring to others as appropriate.



North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT) is committed to improving mental health care across North London to deliver excellent services to our local people.

Our Five-Year Strategy:

We will provide consistently high-quality care closer to home.



With our partners in North London and each borough we will ensure equity of outcome for all



We will offer great places to work, providing staff with supportive environment to deliver outstanding care.



We will be more effective as an organisation by pioneering research, quality improvement and technology.



Why NLFT?



We develop and retain our staff through leadership behaviours and managers programme and many more opportunities.



We promote flexible working and support staff with a range of health and wellbeing initiatives.



NHS Discounts, generous annual leave and NHS pension scheme



Excellent internal staff network

The post holder will be aligned with our values:

We Are Kind



We Are Respectful



We Work Together



We Keep Things Simple



We Empower



We Are Proudly Diverse



In order to meet the needs of the Trust you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.



To demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.



To establish and maintain effective relationships with clients with complex learning, emotional and behavioural needs and their carer's/parents, other professionals and agencies; to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach to client care



To utilise varied communication techniques and resources to ensure that you are understood by and that you understand clients with communication difficulties eg non-verbal, hearing and visual impairments, cultural/language differences



. To form professional relationships with clients and their families and carers and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture



To adjust communication methods in response to learners needs including the use of Alternative and Augmented Communication, (AAC), interpreters, Assistive Technology and talking mats



To provide and receive personal and confidential information of a sensitive nature relating to residents, service users and carers demonstrating empathy and reassurance.



To report effectively to the teams on client's performance/progress or regression.



To attend Multidisciplinary meetings, reviews and case conferences including adult and child protection meetings and report on client progress.



To liaise with other disciplines and agencies in health, social services, public, private and voluntary sectors on behalf of the service and to foster effective community relationships.



U nde r t h e s upe r v i s io n/direction o f r e gi s t e r e d h e al th ca r e p r o f e s si o n a ls , perform delegated interventions and care tasks, for which they have received training, seeking support as and when necessary.



To participate in risk management and the assessment of clinical risk.



To maintain a safe working environment in liaison with the PBS Project Team and Lead Clinical Psychologist in accordance with health and safety standards



The post requires the use of equipment and skills that necessitates training in specific handling and management techniques, Physical Intervention, Systematic Instruction



To demonstrably improve the quality of life for each client with learning disabilities through use of Positive Behaviour Support and other specialist and highly specialist approaches



To confidentially handle and liaise regarding sensitive issues and information with other services



. Clinical Responsibilities



To complete face-to-face appointments with clients, carers & families in the office or community as appropriate

To engage, deliver and evaluate specialist clinical interventions using technical & behavioural activities to promote independence and wellbeing that support the client to achieve agreed goals.

To monitor client's progress, taking account of their environment and adjust own clinical interventions accordingly using supervision as appropriate.

Contribute to formal assessments and provide feedback on clients' occupational functioning

According to service needs, to be responsible for designated caseload under supervision

To work independently, facilitating group or individual work, with supervision of a registered therapist.

Exercise a degree of in d ep e nde n ce, initiative and judgement and consider different approaches when delivering tasks . Assess situations, eg following falls prevention guidance identify and resolve potential problems, within own competence



8. ensure the care experienced is positive and service user safety is maintained. Treat everyone eg, service users, their relatives, visitors, colleagues etc, with respect, dignity, courtesy and in accordance with the Trust's Values.



Feedback their observations to the registered professional/ clinical team to contribute to the care/treatment planning process. Understand the principles underlying care planning eg, enabling the service user to reach an optimum level of functioning/ independence/recovery.

implement treatment/care within well-established policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and established clinical care plans within own competence and skill set.

Assisting in the organising and participating in a range of therapeutic groups and activities as delegated by the registered practitioner working within own competence and skill set.

Undertake the physical aspects of care eg, moving and handling of service users. Use items of equipment in delivering care eg, hoists, wheelchairs etc. (as appropriate to the role), ensuring appropriate instruction on their use has been received.



2. Operational Responsibilities



1. Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.



3. Policy / Service Development



The post holder will work at part of the PBS & Physiotherapy Teams, along with the wider Psychology, Therapies and wider ILDS Teams and as such will be expected to contribute the day to day running and development of the service

The job holder will be responsible for managing their own workload and using their own initiative in meeting the needs of the client

The post holder will review their work & caseload with their own supervisor regularly to manage the risk and complexity of workload

Along with other staff you will be expected to keep up to date with current practice & guidance and contribute to changes to the service policies & processes

Along with other staff you may be required to work alongside other staff/ teams to complete projects or enable pathways



4. Research And Development



1. To participate in Psychology & Therapies teams along with ILDS Service audits and evaluation activities as agreed with your supervisor



2. To be part of or undertake research tasks as part of role or service development



5. General



Be required to concentrate for periods of time, depending upon the care intervention/care plan This may include areas of work requiring physical effort, with regard to risk, following the risk assessment and health & safety

To ensure that areas are well maintained and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials

Be responsible and accountable for clinical administration tasks and management of resources within the clinical area e.g. stock control, basic equipment cleaning, specific clinical tasks to support the smooth running of the services

All staff are responsible for the continual compliance with CQC standards and outcomes.

The postholder must be aware of, and work in line with, the Trust's Safeguarding Adults and Children procedures.



Many adults with learning disabilities present with communication, emotional, social and psychological difficulties and can also have complex physical and mental health needs, e.g. dementia, forensic mental health histories, psychosis, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Whilst providing intervention in the community you will be responsible to plan and risk assess the individual and their circumstances to minimise risks. This is to ensure the safety and security of you, the client and the public, as clients may be vulnerable and present with behaviours that prevent them from safely accessing ordinary community facilities.



6. Personal Development



1. To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.



2. To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and external development opportunities,



3. To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.



All staff are required to be appraised by their line managers at least once a year at a personal development review meeting where progress made over the last year is discussed and agreed. Focus on the following year's departmental and personal objectives will be identified, discussed and agreed. Where necessary, help and support will be provided and development opportunities agreed in line with service provision and the knowledge and skills competency framework.



7.