Therapy Assistant

A Special Needs school in the Leicesterhsire area (Oakham area) is looking for a Therapy Asistant to be a member of a multi-disciplinary team supporting the delivery of high quality educational and clinical provision within the residential home or/and school. The successful candidate will work as an assistant, under supervision of a qualified practitioner.

Job Description – Therapy Assistant

External

 The children, young people and adults we support

 The Relatives, advocates and others of the children, young people and young adults we support

 Placing Authorities and Service Providers

 Registration, Regulatory and Inspection bodies

 Local Services – Statutory, Voluntary and Community

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

 To work under the supervision of an appointed qualified Clinician, this might have a specialist focus,

including Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy or Psychology Therapy; or a combination

depending on the needs of the service(s)

 To contribute to assessments as requested by the Clinical and Wellbeing Locality Lead and supervising

clinicians

 To observe and interact with the children, young people or adults in the service(s) offering support,

providing observation and interaction reports to the Clinical Team

 Follow up discussions with staff members and children, young people or adults in the service(s) to provide

support and monitor progress

 Opportunity to develop individual and/or group work with the children, young people or adults in the

service(s) as appropriate and under agreement and supervision of the qualified clinicians

 To contribute to the evaluation of the progress made by the children, young people or adults in the

service(s)

 To contribute to the management of risk under the supervision of a qualified clinician

 To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive intervention records in line with standards of

practice

 To ensure appropriate confidentiality

 To prepare and maintain therapy resources and equipment as required

 Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidenced-based practice, developing specialist knowledge of

particular conditions and presentations

 To liaise with and provide advice and support to education / residence staff

 To liaise with outside agencies e.g. social service, health, and voluntary agencies, to communicate a pupil’s

needs

 To write appropriate reports, counter-signed by a qualified clinician

 To build relationships and work in partnership across the teams with the children, young people or adults in

the service(s) we support.

Teaching, Training And Supervision

 Under supervision, to support and deliver training to other members of staff

 Participate in the staff supervision and appraisal scheme and be responsible for complying with your agreed

personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies

 Be an active member of the organisations’ training programme by attendance at, and participation in,

training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, workshops and seminars

Policy and Service Development

 To keep up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues

 To support the Clinical and Wellbeing Locality Lead to promote, support, initiate, implement and evaluate

agreed service developments and projects, drawing on the analysis of needs, using evidence based

evaluation of outcomes and following best practice guidance

Job Description & Responsibilities – Therapy Assistant

 To participate in multi-disciplinary meetings and generate written protocols and policies concerned with the

delivery and development of clinical services

 To be responsible for the prudent efficient and effective use of equipment and resources

Administrative and IT

 To support the organisation, co-ordination and minute taking of internal case conferences and other

meetings as required

 Management of clinical files

 To be competent in the use of basic IT packages such as Microsoft Word and Excel

 To develop a skill base in the administration and analysis of a range of packages as required

 To maintain the highest standards of record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report

writing

Research and Service Evaluation

 To contribute to the measurement and evaluation of work and current practices

 To contribute to relevant research as agreed with the Clinical and Wellbeing Locality Lead

General

 Exercises vigilance in respect of Health and Safety and promptly report all hazards and/or remedying them

where appropriate. Undertake all duties in a manner calculated to minimise or avoid unnecessary risks,

personally or to others

 Operates at all times in accordance with company policies and procedures, with particular reference to

Safeguarding, Child Protection, Whistleblowing, Complaints and Representations and Behaviour Policies

 To actively participate in internal and external CPD training and development programmes

 Participate in team meetings, supervisions, line management and annual reviews in accordance with

Company policy and the standards set by the Regulatory Body

 Work to promote the Clinical Team as a valued, professional asset within the services it supports and also to

promote a culture that individuals and staff conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reinforces this

image

 Ensure that all actions are in the interests of the Service Users and the Company

 To work to and exhibit the values of the Company and maintain standards of behaviour in accordance with

Company policies, procedures and practices

 To carry out any other reasonable and relevant duties as required within the Company

Managing own Performance and Development

 Being aware of and complying with policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, child protection, health,

safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, and reporting all concerns to an appropriate

designated person

 Contributing to the overall ethos/work/aims of the company

 Appreciating and supporting the role of other professionals

 Attending relevant meetings as required

 Participating in training and performance management as required

 Achieve challenging professional goals

 Take responsibility for your own professional development

Health and Well-Being

 Be aware of the current legal requirements, national policies and guidance on the safeguarding and promotion of the well-being of children and young people

 Know how to identify potential abuse or neglect and follow safeguarding procedures

 Know how to identify and support children and young adults whose progress, development or well-being is

affected by changes or difficulties in their personal circumstances, and when to refer them to colleagues for

specialist support

 To be aware of your own wellbeing needs, discussing these with your line manager where necessary to

ensure you promote a positive work-life balance

 Team Working and Collaboration

 Work as a team member and identify opportunities for working with colleagues and sharing the

development of effective practice with them

Experience Essential Desirable

 Relevant experience of working as a Therapies Assistant – desirable but not essential

 Experience of working as part of an inter-disciplinary team – desirable but not essential

 Experience of group and or individual therapeutic contact – desirable but not essential

 Experience of paid or voluntary work in a child special needs setting and/or

work with young people or adults with complex needs/ behaviours that may

challenge or mental health needs – desirable but not essential

 Experience of teaching and/or supporting of other health professionals – desirable but not essential

 Experience or knowledge of children, young people and/or adults who have

experienced trauma, are neurodiverse, have a Disability and/or Mental Health

needs – desirable but not essential

Skills, Knowledge And Aptitudes – Essential

 Ability to work independently as agreed under supervision

 Ability to accept and work within the boundaries of the role of Therapies

Assistant

 Effective communication

 High level of professionalism

 Use of reflective/analytical thinking in assessment and therapeutic work

 Ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands

 Clear and concise record keeping

 Knowledge of legislation and implications for clinical practice and professional

management of client groups

Ability to work with behaviours that may challenge

Qualifications And Training

 Minimum of 5 GCSE passes including English at Grade C and above

 Evidence of relevant post 16 education

Other

 Willingness to work towards further qualifications as required

 Commitment to the values of the organisation

If you are interested then please send us your up to date CV and apply!

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role as well as the Right to Work in the UK. Please see protocol-education.com/candidates/frequently-asked-questions for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’. We also offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

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