Therapy Assistant - Elderly care

This is an opportunity to join a company providing sheltered accommodation and full nursing care where necessary for the retired residents in this beautiful grand village / retirement home. This is an exciting opportunity for a Therapy Assistant who is looking for new challenges and opportunities to enhance their skills.

To support the smooth and efficient running of the Therapy service to deliver care which is safe and effective, including managing a safe gym environment, and therapeutic equipment. To enable pensioners to achieve goals set out as part of their therapy assessment, by carrying out a range of interventions, under the guidance of the Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapist. The position will involve working face to face with pensioners who have a range of needs and abilities, either one to one or in groups.

SALARY ETC: £28,000 + excellent benefits package such as enhanced holidays, private healthcare, life insurance, staff discounts, free events, training and development, free onsite gym etc.

Permanent, full-time 41 hours per week (including breaks), working 08.00 - 16.15. Central SW London

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have full right to work in the UK (unable to offer any sponsorship)
• NCFE CACHE Level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services or an equivalent BTEC / Vocational qualification in health and social care
• Relevant higher-level education courses; for example, Sports Science or MSK.
• Previous experience of working directly with elderly and with people living with Dementia.
• Working within healthcare setting in the community.
• Experience in manual handling of people using various equipment and aids.
• To have the ability and skills to support people with mobility problems, in an enabling way, promoting independence.
• Positive and respectful attitude.

DUTIES TO INCLUDE:

• To be accountable for the strict supervision of the gym while the pensioners exercise and ensure safety, performance of correct techniques and compliance with the Gym Use Policy are followed at all times.
• To assist the Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists by carrying out delegated aspects of care without direct supervision and reporting back pensioner’s progress or issues to the therapist.
• To undertake skilled tasks in delivering pensioner care and rehabilitation as directed by the therapists, this may be individually or in a group with or without supervision of the senior therapist.
• To work independently in the designated clinical area/environment following an agreed treatment plan set by the senior therapists. Managing own workload allocated by the physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
• To give instruction to pensioners, carers and volunteers, providing direction and guidance on relevant physiotherapy or occupational therapy recommendations specific to mobility and functional activities of daily living. Including education on injury prevention and self-care techniques.
• Be responsible for the pensioner’s safe use of mobility aids by training them and identifying the risks.
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team and liaise with the team effectively to ensure co-ordinated approach to pensioner care and attend meetings as delegated by senior clinicians/manager.
• To run a schedule of group exercises classes to pensioners with various levels of needs and communication, including exercises & stimulation to pensioners living on the nursing wards and with Dementia.
• To be responsible and able to safely deliver and install equipment within the pensioner’s environment and directed by the senior therapists and according to manufacturers guidelines.
• Provide advice and training to staff, volunteers and pensioners on relevant aspects of the therapy service, including promotion of the service and use of equipment.