An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Therapy Assistant to join the Therapy Team at The Bridge School. This job will be supporting the Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists to meet the needs of the children and young people who attend the school.
The Bridge School is an outstanding school for children and young people aged 4-19 with a high level of learning need, the majority of whom also have a diagnosis of Autism. We are are a friendly, dynamic and proactive team co-located within the school.
The Therapy Assistant will be responsible for assisting in the effective delivery of individualised support and care to children undergoing assessment and receiving interventions from Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists at the Bridge School. She/ he will undertake clerical and clinical duties as directed to provide a health service to children and young people across special schools. In addition to clinical duties, the postholder will assist the wider MDT team with overseeing and organisation of equipment ordering, co-ordination of clinics, managing spreadsheets and assisting therapists with follow up documentation.
The post holder will receive regular supervision from a therapist in the team and receive training in-service and via team meetings and events.
- Form professional relationships with children, families, the MDT and school staff and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
- Develop skills in working with children with additional needs requiring a range of therapy input including individual and group sessions.
- Develop skills in alternative communication methods suitable for children with severe and complex needs and develop rapport e.g. Makaton and other AAC systems both low and high tech.
- Develop skills in supporting development of fine motor, sensory regulation, and self-care skills to increase participation in classroom and school activities.
- Liaise with other agencies involved in the child’s care, including relatives and carers, as appropriate to the child’s needs, as directed by team members
- Persuade and motivate children to participate in therapy activities and reassure if required.
- Demonstrate effective communication over the telephone and in person to parents/carers and external agencies (especially teachers and teaching assistants)
- Demonstrate ability to use computer systems, reports and inputting data including team, word, excel and other programmes used for audits or record management.
- Assist the general specials schools Therapy & Nursing team with ordering, supplies, updating information and audits as required
We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, responsive and flexible to the changing clinical needs of the local population. We are treating more patients than ever before and are dedicated to improving services to deliver the best for our patients.
Our mission
Helping local people live longer, healthier lives.
Our vision
Provide safe, personal, co-ordinated care for the community we serve.
Our goals
We have developed six key strategic goals to make sure we continue to support people to live longer, healthier lives.
To secure the best possible health and wellbeing for all our community
To integrate and coordinate care in person-centred teams
To deliver consistent, high quality, safe services
To support our patients and users in being active partners in their care
To be recognised as a leader in the fields of medical and multi-professional education, and population-based clinical research
To innovate and continuously improve the quality of our services to deliver the best outcomes for our local population
Clinical Responsibility:
- Undertake specific individual or group programmes as assessed and directed by trained staff members, observing general behaviour, ability and response of the children, recording the information as requested and reporting to a supervisor. Settings could include clinic, home, or school.
- Engage children in therapeutic activities to promote speech, language and communication development.
- Engage children in therapeutic activities to promote participation and independence skills.
- Facilitate and participate in planned activities, seeking guidance if child’s condition changes.
- Assist in the implementation of team member interventions including:
o Assist in the running of therapy groups
o Carry out therapy programmes as directed by SLT or OT with children and young people
o Under supervision of a therapist, provide a range of treatments; instructing and guiding children to support them in achieving identified goals. To work towards goals identified by the child, family/carers, the treating therapist, education professionals and the MDT
o Implements therapy treatment plans
o Organising and scheduling visits
o Assist team members with home assessment as required
- Adhere to the Trust’s Policies and Procedures
- To assist in completing risk assessment of environment and safety under the guidance of senior team members following local and Trust policies
- Ensure that toys and play materials are kept clean, safe and secure, assisting with regular toy cleaning
- Highlighting the need for resources to aid the smooth running of clinical sessions
- To assist therapists in making and preparing clinical resources such as visual timetables, PODD books or other materials.
- Assist with programming of high tech AAC devices under guidance of SLT
- Assist with organisation and maintenance of equipment under the guidance of an OT
- To support the Team in gathering evidence (including research database and website searches) and developing resources.
- Provide training or demonstrating teachers/schools, with the support and guidance of therapists
Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility
- Review and reflect own practice and performance through effective use of regular professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
- Participate in non-clinical induction, training and education of students and new assistants as directed by supervisor/line manager
- Provide support and organise peer support for more junior therapy assistant staff.
Administrative Duties
- To keep up to date records on clients following Service Policy.
- To support the team with clinical administrative duties such as scanning and uploading to electronic records, sending letters to families, collating clinical data including feedback questionnaires. This may also include:
- keeping spreadsheets up to date including home visits, equipment ordered and audits.
- To oversee equipment ordering including updating equipment inventory spreadsheet on school teams and following up therapy recommendations for equipment at home or school.
- Ordering team supplies using PECOS.
- Co-ordinating schedules and sending therapy reminder about annual review reports, EHCP updates and transition reports.
- Help co-ordinate new referrals, discharges, and co-ordination of paperwork including sending or uploading reports, letters or consent forms.
- Assisting Team Lead with follow up of recruitment paperwork and process.
- To liaise with AAC Hubs in supporting equipment repairs/ orders
- To liaise with other external supports such as CAMHS and SSOT to coordinate referrals and support under the supervision of an occupational therapist
- Follow up admin from clinics/ home visits as directed by therapists such as distributing reports, compiling guidance forms with photos.
- To attend relevant staff and service meetings.
- To provide cover for other general administrative duties such as answering the telephone, scanning, uploading, laminating and photocopying when requested.
