We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Therapy Technical Instructor to join our specialist Children's Community Therapy Team based at the Child Development Centre in Plymouth. PL2 2PQ.
This is a unique opportunity to join a highly specialist multidisciplinary team working alongside Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists supporting infants, children and young people with neurodevelopmental, neurological and physical needs across Plymouth, East and North Cornwall and West and South Devon.
Unlike many therapy support roles, this post offers the opportunity to work across a variety of community settings including schools, early years settings, family homes and clinics.
The successful candidate will support assessment and intervention programmes, monitor progress, liaise with families and education staff, and contribute to improving participation, independence and inclusion for children and young people.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
To implement therapy programmes and support assessments under the supervision of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.
To manage and prioritise an allocated caseload, working independently across schools, homes, clinics and community settings.
To liaise effectively with children, families, education staff and other professionals.
To prepare, deliver and evaluate therapy sessions, groups and interventions.
To prepare therapy environments, maintain resources and equipment, and support the safe running of clinics and sessions.
To carry therapy resources between locations, support equipment reviews and maintenance checks, and assist with the provision and monitoring of specialist equipment across home, school and clinic settings.
To undertake regular physical activity, including kneeling, floor sitting, standing, moving equipment and supporting children during therapeutic activities.
To maintain accurate clinical documentation and contribute to service delivery.
To work with children whose behaviour, mobility and physical presentation may be unpredictable.
The post holder will frequently work independently across Plymouth, South Devon and East Cornwall and must be confident managing their own workload within Trust lone working policies and supervision arrangements. Due to the community nature of the role, you must be able ability to travel independently are essential.
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
- Under the guidance of therapists to deliver effective holistic care for babies, children and teenagers with neurological, developmental and neuro-muscular movement disorders, including those with severe physical and learning impairments or disabilities and challenging behaviour.
- To assist therapists to carry out assessments and contribute to the planning and delivery of appropriate treatment interventions, and evaluation of the child’s progress towards therapy goals.
- With support from the prescribing therapist, instruct and guide children and their families in a range of therapy treatments and interventions including the use of specialist seating and therapy equipment and the use and application of orthoses.
- To set a high personal standard of work, to be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
- To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with local/Trust policy. To communicate appropriately with other disciplines.
- To treat children in a range of settings. This will include the Child Development Centre, special and mainstream schools, nurseries or home visits when clinically indicated. This will necessitate travel from venue to venue and lone working situations. Lone worker policy must be followed.
- To advise and support parents/carers and other professionals in meeting the needs of children on your caseload.
- To work closely with partner agencies to ensure Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy treatment is fully integrated into a child’s holistic programme.
- To participate in safeguarding supervision and to be aware of and adhere to child protection procedures.
- To prioritise and manage workload to ensure effective time management.
For further information please see attached job description
