Therapy Support Worker in Plymouth

To assist Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists working undersupervision, in providing an Intermediate Care and Rehabilitation Service topatients to promote faster recovery from illness, prevent unnecessary acutehospital admissions, support timely discharge and maximise independent livingwithin the recommended time frame of six to eight weeks.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Main duties of the job

To provide prescribed care packages under professional supervision, supporting independence and, where possible, preventing hospital admission by enabling patients to remain safely at home.

Assist with exercises, equipment and rehabilitation to improve mobility and function, supporting independence with daily living activities including washing, dressing, meal preparation and household tasks.

Support patients at home and in the community to regain confidence with shopping, public transport and hobbies. Undertake delegated tasks as agreed by the care team, working within own competence, accountability and limitations.

Identify and minimise risks relating to falls, moving and handling, and the home environment. Support patients, carers and relatives with safe use of specialist equipment, daily living aids and strategies to reduce risk.

Contribute to patient reviews, case conferences, goal setting and evaluation of progress, ensuring goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. Maintain dignity, privacy, preferences and beliefs, promoting a person-centred approach.

Support healthy lifestyle advice, including balanced nutrition and identifying concerns regarding poor dietary intake. Handle patient finances when required.

Undertake basic nursing procedures including simple wound management and observations where appropriate. Complete documentation, statistical data, audits, training and health and safety activities, and implement recommendations from evaluation.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

5. MAINDUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 Responsibility forpeople who use our services

To provide,under the supervision of professionals, prescribed packages of care and wherepossible, prevent hospital admission by supporting independence with the aim ofmaintaining the patient in the home environment.

Under supervision assist in developing and restoring the function of thebody using exercise and equipment for the patient to gain an optimum level ofmobility.

Under supervision develop the patients ability to perform daily livingskills that may have been temporarily impaired, e.g. washing and dressing,cooking meals in order to return to the optimum level of independence.

Work with patients, under the supervision of the professional, at homeand in their local environment which may include re-familiarising them withtasks such as shopping and use of public transport and previous hobbies.

To undertakea wide range of assessed tasks that have been delegated in relation to thespecific individual as agreed in the care team.

Skilled insensitively ensuring patients are aware of their limitations and that all goalsare, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound.

Participatein the review or case conference of individual clients and contribute to theevaluation and development of their progress in reaching goals.

Identifypotential risk in moving and manual handling of patients and to act in a waythat minimises risk.

Assist inensuring falls risks are identified and minimised when working with patients atrisk of falls.

Understandown limitations, responsibility and accountability.

Workindependently using a wide range of skills.

Teachpatients, carers and relatives the correct use of specialist equipment anddaily living aids.

Offerinformation to patients, carers and relatives on how to reduce risk in theirown home.

Undertakeany work activities and related training as stated in Health and Safetypolicies and procedures.

Undertakethe collating of statistical information and take part in the auditing of theservice as required.

Understandshow to implement recommendations and respond effectively to evaluations.

Respectindividuals privacy, dignity, wishes and beliefs and by minimising anyunnecessary discomfort at all times.

Ensure thereis a good understanding of the individuality of each patient in order thattheir usual lifestyle, in most cases, is not compromised

To assist inensuring patients understand the importance of following advice on maintaininga balanced diet and identify thosepatients at risk through poor dietary intake.

Work with patients, under the supervision of the professional, at homeand in their local environment which may include re-familiarising them withtasks such as shopping and use of public transport and previous hobbies. Willhandle patients money.

To undertakea wide range of assessed tasks that have been delegated in relation to thespecific individual as agreed in the care team.

Deliver nursing procedures, e.g. simple wound management, BasicObservations and any other procedure deemed appropriate for or during theintermediate care period.

5.2 Responsibility forPeople Management

Takeadvantage of learning opportunities both within and out of the workplace asidentified in the individual staff review with line manager.

Facilitatelearning in others and contribute to compiling resources essential for thedevelopment of the post. Introduce newstaff into the department and teach them the systems and procedures.

Participate in Appraisal, Line management andPractice Supervision as appropriate under LWSW policies.

Prioritiseworkload appropriately and reinforce all improvements, successes andachievements at every opportunity, supported by relevant and accurateinformation.

5.3 Responsibility forfinancial and/or physical resources

Order equipment for Therapists andto maintain stock levels.

5.4 Responsibility for administration

Collect,collate and record appropriate personally generated observations and report tothe team or caseload holder any significant changes that might be detrimentalto the patient.

5.5 Responsibility forimplementation ofpolicy and/or service developments

Understandhow to apply changes in legislation, policies and procedures. Work with theteam to suggest service developments.

5.6 Other Responsibilities

Participatein Audit as required.

6. COMMUNICATIONS ANDRELATIONSHIPS

The Therapy Support Workers with liaise with the patient, carersTherapy staff Nursing staff and health and Social Care staff at the Hub. .

Communicatewith a range of people on a range of matters that is appropriate to them andthe situation.

Skilled insensitively ensuring patients are aware of their limitations and that all goalsare, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound.

Interact andcommunicate with patients, carers and relatives appropriately and effectivelytaking behaviour and body language into account in order to ensure informationis understood by all concerned.

Communicateeffectively with those who may have a physical and or mental impairment, e.g.loss of sight/hearing, depression/anxiety, stroke.

7. PHYSICALDEMANDS OF THE JOB AND WORKING CONDITIONS.

The post holder will deliver and fit equipment daily into patientshomes, carrying commodes and heavier equipment such as a Return stand aid.

The post holder will raise beds and chairs as required. .

The post holder will be involved with patient handling to enablerehabilitation, on frail and end of life patients. .

Patients will have behavioural problems and mental healthdiagnoses including Dementia. .

Thesupport worker will assess the general health of the patients whilst they arehaving Therapy and relay any changes to registered staff.

The postholder will help patients clean themselves if they have been incontinent.

The postholder will discuss the patients condition with them offering basic advice and sign posting.

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALLPOSTS

The post holder is required to comply with allrelevant policies and procedures pertinent to their post. Current versions canbe found on the intranet or via your manager. The areas listed below are thoseLivewell Southwest currently places particular emphasis on. Failure to followcorrect policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.

In accordance with the RiskManagement Strategy, employees will participate, whenever required, with therisk management process. They will support line managers by attending mandatoryand statutory training, completing incident/accident forms for every adverseevent or near miss that occurs, report all defects and complaints, andcommunicate any dangerous situation to individuals potentially at risk.

8.2 Health and Safety at Work

You must co-operate withthose in authority and others in meeting the statutory requirements and infollowing policies and procedures. Acopy of the Health and Safety Policy is available from the intranet or from theRisk Management Department.

You are reminded that inaccordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 you have a duty to takereasonable care to avoid injury to yourself and to others affected by your workactivities.

You will be notified whereyour post carries a requirement for immunisation.

You may be required to be able to undertake physicalintervention training and participate in physical intervention as part of aphysical intervention team and Basic Life Support (BLS).

8.3 Infection Control

Livewell Southwest is determined to eradicatehealthcare-acquired infection and puts a great deal of emphasis on theresponsibility of all staff to ensure their own personal and others compliancewith Infection Control (including Hand Washing) Policies. All staff must comply with infection control policiesand guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to theirimmediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is theindividuals responsibility to elevate their concerns to the Director ofOperations or Chief Executives Office).

8.4 Safeguarding Children and Adults

All employees have a dutyto safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults and are required toact in such a way that at all times safeguards their health andwellbeing. Familiarisation with and adherence to national and localsafeguarding adults and children policies is an essential requirement upon allemployees. Livewell Southwest has specific safeguarding policies and in addition,employees also have a responsibility to practice and work within themulti-agency policy developed by the Safeguarding Adults Board and theSafeguarding Children Board. Staff are also required to participate in relatedmandatory/statutory training.

Person Specification

Specific skills

• Ability to work single handed.
• Ability to work under pressure and with flexibility.
• Competent listening and observation skills.
• Good communication skills, written and verbal.
• Positive interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to teach technical skills/life skills to clients.
• Able to contribute to the training of other staff/students
• Ability to help run the community based groups

Experience

• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience of participating in supervision and Appraisal
• Working independently
• Ability to prioritise delegated work

Qualifications

• Good standard of education
• Vocational Qualification Level III or able to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and ability to work to this level
• Written and verbal skills
• Basic IT skills
• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport
• GCSE English and Maths

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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