Job Description

This role will be based across primarily in Southwark Community Stroke Team, with a requirement sometimes to travel across Lambeth to alternative community sites within the trust.



The purpose of this service is to provide community rehabilitation for patients, who are 18 years and over, to maximise rehabilitation and post Stroke recovery. Patients will have a wide range of impairments and functional difficulties as a consequence of their Stroke, co-morbidities and pre-morbid level of independence.



Short-term outcome-focused interventions are delivered in client's homes. This is achieved through multi-disciplinary (MDT) assessment and rehabilitation coordinated by Senior Therapists (Specialist Practitioners) and Nurses, supported by Rehabilitation Support Workers (RSWs). The overall purpose of the team is to enhance independence, safety and quality of life for Stroke patients - primarily following hospital discharge.



GSTT is committed to developing new ways of working through the application of new technology. As a clinical member of staff in one of our clinical teams you are required to use a laptop and work mobile telephone as part of your clinical practice.



The post holder will be required to work across borough boundaries as required, accessing and recording information using allocated mobile devices, and coming into offices for administration, meetings or specific events.



Job Summary



To support senior clinicians in the assessment, planning, implementation and review of individual rehabilitation programmes for patients.



To independently implement these rehabilitation programmes as appropriate.



Tasks may include (but are not limited to) teaching or supporting prescribed exercise programs, practicing transfers and mobility, assisting and promoting independence in personal care or domestic tasks and supporting cognitive and communication strategies and exercises.



To treat patients, often unsupervised, according to agreed rehabilitation plans and protocols.



To report back to the relevant professional or team leader as required, regarding any changes in the patient's condition.



To seek timely advice and support as appropriate.



To work as part of a flexible multidisciplinary team and undertake tasks delegated by the Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech & Language Therapists in a variety of settings primarily in the patient's home, residence or community site.



To communicate effectively with patients and their carers; particularly patients with impairments, which may affect their ability to communicate their needs and/or give informed consent to treatment.



To participate in clinical governance and service development activities and take roles such as champion in an area of interest to the individual and the service.



Guy's & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust



Guy's and St Thomas' is among the UK's busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King's Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres.



Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of 'good'. Our adult community services achieved a rating of 'outstanding'. The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success.



Our values



Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it. It is important that we all understand and reflect these values in our work. We are:



Caring - we put patients first

Ambitious - we innovate and strive for excellence

Inclusive - we respect each other and work collaboratively



Clinical



To implement rehabilitation and / or care interventions to patients in their homes. Tasks may include (but are not limited to) teaching or supporting prescribed exercise programs, practicing transfers and mobility, assisting and promoting independence in personal care or domestic tasks, supporting cognitive and communication strategies and exercises and an occasional requirement to take basic observations and vital signs.



To work as part of a flexible, multidisciplinary team and undertake delegated tasks from allocated therapists and qualified practitioners across all disciplines of allied health.



To communicate effectively with patients, their carers and family members, particularly patients with impairments which may affect their ability to communicate their needs and/or give informed consent to treatment.



To maintain close working relationships with multiple health and social care practitioners to enable effective and timely communication regarding patient care.



To work as an autonomous Rehab Support Worker implementing and evaluating holistic pre-formulated rehab and exercise programmes to patients in the community.



To be aware of limitations of own practice and seek advice and guidance from therapists/clinicians as needed.



To assess and manage clinical, physical and/or environmental risk to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and clients at all times. To adhere to incident reporting procedures.



To support the running of and facilitate group therapy across various group types and settings.



Professional



Actively participate in regular structured supervision including one-to-one, shadowing opportunities and group supervision. Produce regular reflective logs as required and maintain a learning log of all CPD activities.



Be responsible for identifying own training and development needs in line with service needs and Rehab Support Worker competencies with regular guidance from supervisors, by attending regular in-services in addition to ad-hoc training as appropriate.



Participate in annual appraisal and performance development reviews (PDR) maintaining records to evidence development.



Work within local and national Allied Health professional code of ethics, code of conduct and standards of practice for support staff.



Communication



To be skilled in the use of verbal and non-verbal communication to develop a rapport and build trusting relationships with patients and those involved in the patients' care i.e. family members, carers where a range of physical disabilities or other barriers to understanding i.e. cognition, mental health problems.



To demonstrate compassion, empathy and sensitivity in all interactions with the patient and their carers and family members.



To notify the appropriate senior clinician immediately of any changes in health of patients to ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times.



To be able to respond calmly and patiently to patients, carers and family members who may be distressed and sometimes aggressive. To offer support, reassurance and advice as required in order to diffuse potentially difficult situations.



To report any changes in progress of clients to ensure that favourable outcomes are met.



To attend weekly multi-disciplinary meetings when required and to present relevant information about client/caseloads in a clear and concise manner.



To participate in weekly Rehab Support Worker peer group sessions which aims to review collective Rehab Support Worker caseload and communicate capacity to the wider MDT.



To maintain comprehensive and accurate client records (electronic and paper) and complete all mandatory documentation in line with the trust legal standards.



Organisational



To contribute to the clinical governance agenda and actively participate in service development activities e.g. development of systems and resources.



Ensure risk is managed for self, patients, colleagues and the work environment in line with trust and local guidelines/policies including reporting any concerns using trust processes.



To comply with all data requirements regarding all clinical and professional activities i.e. completing Carenotes (equivalent electronic health record system documentation, diary appointments and outcomes).



Complete general department duties e.g. therapy equipment stock supply orders and administrative tasks (processing completed multi-disciplinary discharge letters).



Undertake any other appropriate duties as required by the service leads.

The following statement forms part of all job descriptions:

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The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated including:



Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information



Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. Post holders must not, without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff. If any member of staff has communicated any such information to an unauthorised person, those staff will be liable to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.



Following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2005, post holders must apply the Trust's FOI procedure if they receive a written request for information.



Information Governance



All staff must comply with information governance requirements. These includes statutory responsibilities (such as compliance with the Data Protection Act), following national guidance (such as the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice) and compliance with local policies and procedures (such as the Trust's Confidentiality policy). Staff are responsible for any personal information (belonging to staff or patients) that they access and must ensure it is stored, processed and forwarded in a secure and appropriate manner.



Equal Opportunities



Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the Trust's Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.



Health and Safety



All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trust's health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.



Infection Control



All post holders have a personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to reduce HCAIs. All post holders must comply with Trust infection screening and immunisation policies as well as be familiar with the Trust's Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as Hand Decontamination Policy, Personal Protective Equipment Policy, safe procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.



Risk Management



All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trust's use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.



Flexible Working



As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends*.



Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults



Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.



Sustainability



It is the responsibility of all staff to minimise the Trust's environmental impact by recycling wherever possible, switching off lights, computers monitors and equipment when not in use, minimising water usage and reporting faults promptly.



Smoking Policy



The Trust is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for staff, patients and visitors. Staff are therefore not permitted to smoke on Trust property or in Trust vehicles



Review of this



This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organisation. To be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.