Assistant Practitioner

An opportunity has arisen for a highly skilled, enthusiastic, conscientious, experienced and motivated assistant practitioner with a keen interest in the holistic working model, to join the community beds team. The service consists of a multi-disciplinary team that includes Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Registered Mental Health Nurses, Assistant Practitioners, Rehabilitation Support Workers and administrative support. The aim of the MDT is to provide assessment and rehabilitation to patients who are discharged from hospital but need a period of further assessment to determine their long-term needs; we aim to promote independence through rehabilitation.

We are a dynamic, developing organisation with well-recognised rehabilitation services providing assessment, education, advice, support and rehabilitation for patients within our community beds. An understanding of Health and Social Care provision and the ability to work closely with partner organisations and other stakeholders is essential. You will need excellent assessment and intervention skills in order to plan, develop and evaluate goal-focused rehabilitation and Reablement programmes, as well as complex discharge planning experience.

Main duties of the job:

• The successful candidates will be expected to work holistically alongside the multidisciplinary team which consists of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Registered Mental Health Nurses and Rehabilitation Support Workers.
• Our team provides comprehensive assessments to patients who have been in hospital and require a further period of assessment and rehabilitation to determine their long-term care needs, whether this is being discharged home with further reablement, a package of care or moving into a long-term care setting.
• You will need to be able to use your own initiative within your limitations to support the clinicians to provide gold standard quality care to our patients within the community beds.
• The ideal candidate would be someone with experience of working within the health and social care sector, who can demonstrate they have the skills and qualities to work holistically in a fast-paced environment.

In return you will be offered a comprehensive induction, access to internal and external training, exposure to a range of clinical expertise within our team, along with regular supervision.

About us:

We are a provider of NHS Community Health Services, CityCare exists to support the health and wellbeing of all local people, working alongside other health and care partners to achieve this. We are a value-driven, people business with a passion for excellence. Our vision and social purpose is to make a difference every day to the health & wellbeing of our communities and our values of kindness, respect, trust and honesty lie at the heart of everything we do, guiding how we work together with partners and each other to consistently deliver high-quality compassionate care.

As a social enterprise, we aim to add social value by investing in the future of our local communities and helping to make a difference in people's lives. CityCare values the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from candidates who identify as disabled, LGBT+ or from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, as they are currently under-represented within our organisation. We are proud to be a forces-friendly organisation and are dedicated to supporting Veterans, Service Leavers, Reservists, and military spouses/partners. We value the unique skills and contributions you bring. CityCare is an equal opportunities employer. We are positive about employing people with disabilities.

Job responsibilities:

Job Purpose: To work alongside Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Support Workers to provide assessment and treatment intervention to people within the Nottingham City Community beds team.

• To support the work of the clinicians, providing assessments of needs, and working across professional boundaries and within legislation, policies and procedures and core values.
• To work in a variety of settings and participate actively in the services training strategy, including in-service training and multi-agency training.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide support to other Assistant Practitioners as appropriate.
• To undertake individual treatment and interventions with clients under the supervision of qualified staff.
• To refer service users to external agencies and specialists when their needs are beyond the assistant practitioner role.
• To accept responsibility for designated caseload, working independently taking an active role in promoting independence and meeting the needs of the service user.
• To promote wellbeing, safe mobility, transfers and effective communication.
• To assess, provide, fit and demonstrate use of a wide range of equipment to promote independence.
• To attend and contribute to team meetings and case discussions using effective communication.
• To maintain comprehensive and accurate records in line with employers' policies.
• To promote health and wellbeing with all citizens.
• To undertake basic wound care tasks as delegated by the District Nurse.
• To undertake a range of nursing competencies, as per the AP competency framework.

Professional Policy:

• To be actively involved in Clinical Governance, implement policies and propose practice changes.
• To comply with organisations Lone Working Policy and local team guidelines at all times when working alone.

Planning and Organisation:

• To be responsible for own time and caseload management.
• To liaise effectively with other professionals and agencies to enhance rehabilitation within the boundaries of Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC and Social Care.
• To use information technology on a daily basis to record information and statistics, to aid communication and produce reports.
• To ensure the Health and Safety of staff and clients at all times in accordance with Health and Safety legislation, Trust policy and procedures.
• To undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required.

Training:

• To comply with and complete statutory and mandatory training in line with Nottingham CityCare Partnership policy.
• To attend training events as appropriate to support your continuing professional development.
• To actively participate in your own supervision, annual performance review and personal development plan.

Person Specification:

• Knowledge of differing professional area procedures and practices (e.g. nursing, physiotherapy or occupational therapy).
• Knowledge of Health and Social Care provision.
• Knowledge of need and risk in relation to Health Care provision in the community.
• Understanding the concepts of assessment and care planning.
• Knowledge of the roles of the members of the multi-professional team.
• Aware of Rehabilitation and/or Nursing Care process.
• Aware of promoting/enabling independence and self-care.
• Aware of a range of activity of daily living equipment and adaptations.
• Effective communication skills (Verbal and written) and good interpersonal skills and IT skills.
• Ability to prioritise and plan workload.
• Ability to follow the Health Care Support Workers code of conduct policy and maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to recognise the need for help and support from other professionals.
• Ability to contribute to the effective working of a team.
• Ability to complete a standard assessment of need and take appropriate action.
• Ability to involve individuals in a person-centred approach to care.
• Ability to access support from the team when required.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Knowledge of specific nursing and rehabilitation interventions.
• Aware of Mental Health issues.
• Knowledge of how to access equipment and adaptations.
• Ability to lead group activity sessions.
• Ability to take on administration and organisational tasks within a team.
• Ability to support the team's referral process.
• Experience of completing referrals to other agencies within Nottinghamshire health and social care setting.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working in a Health Care, Social Care, Voluntary Care setting.
• Experience managing own workload in a team setting.
• Experience of working with individuals and/or groups within a Health Care, Social Care, Voluntary Care setting.
• Experience of working with individuals who have long-term conditions.
• Experience of record keeping and accurate data recording.
• Experience of working in the community and acute sector.
• Experience of the UK Healthcare system.
• Experience of working in a community setting.
• Experience of working at Band 3/equivalent level in a health or social care setting.
• Experience of providing health or social care to clients.
• Experience of using databases.

Qualifications:

• Educated to Foundation degree or equivalent in a health-related discipline.
• NVQ/QCF 3 in health and social care.
• Ability to be flexible over hours worked within contracted hours to meet the needs of the service.
• Ability to work out of hours.
• Full driving licence and the ability to travel between locations.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.