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 be based at the Northern health centre, Holloway Road. They will carry out visits to schools in Islington 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



The postholder will be responsible for delivering therapy support to children, young people and their families known to the 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, carrying out audits, updating spreadsheets for the team and helping to organise workshops for schools and families.



Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.



MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIE

Role Responsibility:

To be a member of the mainstream therapies team 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.



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.



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:



Assist in the running of therapy groups



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



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



Implements therapy treatment plans



Organises transport and schedule visits or clinic appointments.



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