Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our Integrated Occupational and Physiotherapy team. This position will be based in the Surgical Therapies Team which also covers respiratory and Critical Care at Ipswich hospital.

The successful applicant will manage a ward based caseload, working with individual patients and assessing their functional needs, working with that patient to prepare them for a successful discharge from the hospital.  We are a supportive team and you will have clinical support from qualified OT and PT colleagues. 

We are looking a person with experience of working as a Therapy assistant or experience at a similar level in a related field of health or social care. You will be taking a key role supporting Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists but also working independently in the assessment and safe discharge planning of patients from hospital. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of delivering tailored rehabilitation and care of a wide variety of patients. The post holder will carry out assessment for and provision of appropriate equipment. Experience of working in an acute hospital setting would be beneficial. 

We offer a very supportive approach to personal development and the opportunity to be a key part of shaping the future of how therapy services are delivered. There is a clear competency framework, and opportunity for teaching and training.

Main duties of the job

Under the supervision of a registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist, the post holder will be expected:

•        To manage a defined caseload of patients across the elective and emergency surgery wards, the surgical assessment unit and gastro wards, under the guidance of qualified staff.
•  To use an evidence-based, person-centred approach in the planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of agreed interventions following guidelines and protocols to promote the functional fitness of patients to aid discharge from hospital in a way that is consistent with their abilities, preferences and cultural beliefs.
• To be able to work flexibly over a 7/7 service rota
• To work as a key member of the multi-disciplinary team carrying forward treatment plans and progressing rehabilitation goals for patients to enhance recovery
• To communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients using skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, negotiation and empathy.  There may be barriers to understanding such as hearing loss, speech difficulty, anxiety, fear and depression.
• To assist with the induction and training of new assistants, juniors and students when they become part of the Therapies team.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. 

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff. 

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options. 

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services. 

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.   

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients. 

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.   

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A