Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner

Job description
Job Overview

Are you looking for a new challenge? Are you motivated to find a role where your development is encouraged? Do you have experience of working with older age service users with mental health needs and /or dementia?

If yes, you could be the right person for our Associate Practitioner (Physiotherapy) vacancy. The post is part of the Healthy Living Service which focusses on improving the physical health of service users in our inpatient units. You will work specifically with older people with mental health needs and/or dementia, as part of a multi-disciplinary approach.

Working under the supervision of an experienced physiotherapist, you will assist with individual service user assessment and treatment. A key aspect of the role is facilitating groups. There will also be opportunity for some independent working with appropriate skill development. You will receive clinical supervision, an individual development plan and opportunities for skill development.

An enthusiastic, positive outlook is essential, as are strong communication skills and the ability to develop rapport with service users.

Main duties of the job
• The post holder will have responsibilities for working directly with service users and carers. This will require the person to manage and engage with sensitive and sometimes, distressing information.
• The postholder will need to be able to demonstrate empathy and positive regard for the people who access our services.
• They will also be able to adapt to barriers in communication that service users may present with e.g. emotional, psychological and physical, utilising a high level of expertise in communication skills.
• Work closely with the physiotherapist in terms of developing and progressing the therapeutic programmes with service users;
• To carry out assessments for service users who have been delegated by the physiotherapist, including assessments related to aspects of health and managing long term physical conditions.

Working for our organisation

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.

There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.

We also have an incredible bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.

Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
• The post holder will have daily access to information of a confidential nature and will be expected to comply with NHS guidelines on confidentiality and information sharing, and ensure communication systems are used appropriately, e.g. written communication, I.T. systems
• The post holder will have regular contact with service users, carers and other agencies and departments, in relation to service users’ care, assessment and treatment plans and will need to be able to understand the responsibilities relating to working with such information, communicating with service users, carers and other agencies as appropriate
• The post holder will have responsibilities for communicating both written and verbal information to the team on a daily basis, and the ability to assess, deliver and monitor care and communicate this effectively within clinical case notes of service users .
• The post holder will be expected to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the clinical team, wider multidisciplinary team and other agencies.
• The postholder will participate and contribute to multi-disciplinary reviews care programme approach meetings and other clinical meetings communicating assessments and delivery of care as part of the overarching care package.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
• Associate qualification or experience working in older peoples mental health settings/care environments, direct hands on patient care.
• GCSE level or equivalent English and Maths or above

Experience

Essential criteria
• Experience of working in older peoples health care settings and understanding of older peoples mental health and physical health needs

Skills

Essential criteria
• Demostrates ability to engage with multiple professionals to enable positive outcome for patient. Demonstrates ability to engage with patients experiencing distress.
• Demonstrates ability to work as a wider multi disciplinary team to work with other professions jointly and can also work independently within the role.