Care Therapy Assistant in Cheltenham

Location: Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester

Salary: £14.50 per hour including travel

Hours: Part-time

Position Overview

The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to helping others, excellent communication skills, and a passion for promoting health and wellness outside of traditional healthcare settings.

Key Responsibilities of our Care Therapy Assistant

• The Care Therapy Assistant will work directly with the customer in their home undertaking activities directed by therapists or senior colleagues, whilst promoting a safe and confident life.
• Working across a number of customers' homes, often without other professional staff present.
• Supporting people to achieve their goals which may involve practical, personal and intimate care.
• Providing continual monitoring of the customer's progress and functions.
• Communicating both verbally and in writing about the customer's progress in case notes and to members of the Reablement Team.
• Supporting the individual throughout their service journey in line with the care and support plan set by senior team members to maximise independence within safe working practice guidance.
• Using the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and customer-centred way to promote independence, facilitate reablement and champion customers to maintain independent living in their own environment.
• Delivering all aspects of care to customers as needed to live at home.
• Implementing delegated treatment plans and facilitating rehabilitation within agreed limitations through exercise, physical modalities and the use of occupation.
• Supporting customers in performing therapeutic exercises and activities, ensuring adherence to prescribed plans and promoting independence in self-care.

The ideal candidate will achieve this by:

• Assessing, implementing and progressing treatment plans for delegated patients with non-complex problems and daily life difficulties, reporting back to the registered practitioner as necessary.
• Working closely and professionally with customers to achieve daily outcomes in all aspects of their lives.
• Providing practical, personal and intimate care whilst managing high levels of hygiene and health and safety.
• Providing assistance with mobility exercises, transfers, and activities of daily living to help customers improve their physical function and quality of life.
• Educating customers and their families on exercise programmes, injury prevention strategies, and techniques for managing pain and discomfort.
• Monitoring and documenting customer progress, providing regular feedback to the physiotherapy team and making recommendations for adjustments to treatment plans as needed.
• Working collaboratively with community healthcare providers and social services to ensure holistic care and support for customers in their own environment.
• Participating in community outreach initiatives and health promotion activities to raise awareness about the benefits of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services.
• Supporting the teams with administration, clerical, and housekeeping duties.

Knowledge, skills and experience required

• GCSE level C or equivalent for literacy or numeracy.
• NVQ level 3/BTEC or equivalent level of knowledge/experience.
• Basic keyboard skills with the ability to input data accurately.
• Relevant experience working as an Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy assistant, support worker or equivalent in a healthcare setting in the UK.
• Full UK driving licence with access to reliable transportation for home visits and community outreach activities, except if disability precludes driving.
• Strong positive communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with customers of diverse backgrounds and ages.
• Empathy, patience, and a positive attitude towards supporting customers in their rehabilitation journey.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and community support workers.
• Commitment to professional development and ongoing learning in the field of physiotherapy and community health.
• Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology, as well as common musculoskeletal conditions and rehabilitation principles (Full training provided).

Working Conditions for our Care Therapy Assistant

This position involves travel within the community to visit customers in their homes, assisted living facilities, or other community settings. Customer schedules, including evenings or weekends as needed, will require flexible working hours to accommodate these schedules. Therefore, this role will not always be directly supervised on a day-to-day basis. However, employees will always have access to a registered practitioner, whether in person or by telephone.