JOB DESCRIPTION

1. General Information
JOB TITLE: Rehabilitation Assistant
GRADE: Band 3
DEPARTMENT: Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Service
HOURS: 37.5 (1wte)
RESPONSIBLE TO: Clinical Manager, 2B Neuro-Rehabilitation Beds at
Pulross
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Clinical Lead and Head of Neuro-Rehabilitation Service
Department Information
The Neuro Rehabilitation Service sits within the Rehabilitation and Therapies
department of the Adults Community Services Directorate.
The Neuro Rehabilitation Service aims to provide client-centred, evidence based
multidisciplinary therapy for adults over 16 years, residing in Lambeth and
Southwark, with a neurological condition. The multidisciplinary team includes
Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Speech and Language
Therapists, Rehabilitation Assistants and Rehabilitation Support Workers. The
multidisciplinary team work out of bases in Lambeth and Southwark visiting clients in
their own homes or community settings, and at the new 2b Neuro Rehabilitation
Beds at Pulross.
GSTTs Community Neuro-rehabilitation Service comprises five interlinked pathways
of interdisciplinary specialist neuro rehabilitation: Stroke Early Supported Discharge
(ESD), Neuro Conditions, Neuro rehabilitation Enhanced Transition Team (NETT),
Neuro Navigation Service and 2b Neuro Rehabilitation Beds. All teams work closely
together with patients transferring seamlessly between pathways if appropriate. The
service also works in an integrated way with other health care services, social care
and the voluntary sector with shared multidisciplinary meetings and agreed referral
pathways between services.
Self-management of conditions and symptoms is promoted through the use of
various published and evidenced based approaches such as Bridges (self
management of stroke, brain injury and neuro conditions). The teams accept
referrals for people aged 16 and over living in Lambeth or Southwark with a
neurological condition.
Updated Dec 09

Organisational Values:
Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how
we do it. It is important that you understand and reflect these values
throughout your employment with the Trust.
The post holder will:
Put patients first - consider the
Act with integrity - maintain the
patients needs and wishes in all
privacy & dignity of patients, work
that they do
with integrity and be trustworthy, be
accountable for own work
Take pride in what they do
Respect others patients, visitors
strive for highest standards on
own work and challenge
and colleagues. Actively give and
colleagues to do the same
receive feedback .
Strive to be the best in terms of
patient care & teamwork

2. Job Summary
To implement rehabilitation interventions to clients in the 2B NeuroRehabilitation ward and in their homes, as delegated by qualified therapists.
Tasks may include (but are not limited to) teaching prescribed exercise
programs, practicing transfers and mobility, assisting and promoting
independence in personal care tasks, kitchen practice, undertaking access
visits to feedback environmental information to therapists and documenting
interventions accurately in notes following trust guidelines.
To work as part of a flexible multidisciplinary team and undertake tasks
delegated by the Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and
Language Therapists.
To communicate effectively with clients and their carers, including clients with
impairments that affect their ability to communicate their needs and/or give
informed consent to treatment.
To maintain close working relationships with the multidisciplinary team and
notify the appropriate team member immediately of any changes in the health
of clients and to ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times. To report any
changes in clients progress to allow for intervention to be adjusted by a
Therapist.
3. Key Relationships
Nursing Staff including ward based Nurses, District Nurses and Community
Matrons, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Allied Health Professionals (including all
therapists), Consultants and Junior Medical Staff, Rehabilitation Assistants,
Administrative and Clerical Support Staff, Students, Social Services Staff,
Updated Dec 09

Voluntary Sector Staff, Management staff and Head of community neurorehabilitation.

4. Duties and Responsibilities
Professional / Clinical responsibilities

To work with clients in the 2B neuro-rehabilitation ward and the

community implementing pre-formulated care plans as instructed by
Therapists.

To be competent in using a variety of treatment interventions for clients

with a range of neurological conditions including complex physical and
cognitive impairments, in order to maximise rehabilitation potential and
meet measurable goals. The range of treatments and interventions
include (but are not limited to):

Physical and cognitive rehabilitation to promote functional

independence e.g. assisting with, supervising and prompting
activities of daily living such as personal care tasks and meal
preparation.
Mobilising clients (indoors and outdoors) and practicing transfers
using a range of mobility and transfer aids as instructed by
Therapists. Practicing the use of prescribed adaptive equipment.
Delivering exercises and advice to ward and community based
groups, following the instructions of a Therapist and providing the
Therapist with feedback.
Provide falls prevention advice/education and implement prescribed
exercise treatments to identified at-risk clients.
Provide clients, family members and carers with informal training in
a range of tasks to maximise rehabilitation. This may include
manual handling techniques, use of equipment and ADL tasks.
Undertake access visits to clients homes in order to feedback to
Therapists information about clients environment.
To provide, check, order, implement and ensure safe use of walking
aids, adaptive equipment and minor home modifications to
maximise client safety within the home under the supervision of a
Therapist.
Support Speech and Language interventions such as monitoring
and practicing communication and swallowing.
Use paper and electronic systems to clearly record all contact with
clients, following Trust guidelines, including collecting and entering
data for the UKROC database.

To use own clinical judgement and knowledge in regards to

progressing and/or making minor modifications to treatment
programmes within agreed clinical protocols and parameters.

To prioritise daily and weekly caseload utilising effective time

management skills.

Updated Dec 09

To be professionally and legally responsible for own practice and

accountable for all aspects of treatment delivered to the client to
ensure a high standard of clinical care.

To ensure clients understanding of proposed interventions and

gain/document valid informed consent prior to treatment. To work
within a legal framework for clients who lack capacity to provide
informed consent.

To deliver rehabilitation and care interventions in collaboration with the

client, family and carers, respecting their diversity, ethnicity, cultural
and religious beliefs and their right to informed consent in all areas of
service delivery.

To use effective communication skills, negotiation skills, empathy and

patience when administering interventions to maximise participation
and intervention outcomes.

To have the observational skills to identify significant health changes that

would warrant medical intervention. To be responsible for liaising with the
relevant staff member to convey concerns immediately, and document
findings accordingly.

To be aware of limitations to practice and seek advice and guidance

from senior staff as needed.

To perform risk assessments to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff and
clients at all times. To adhere to incident reporting procedures.

To assist Therapists with goal setting, evaluation of rehabilitation

progress and discharge planning as required.

To maintain comprehensive and accurate client records (electronic and

paper) and complete all mandatory documentation in line with legal and
Trust standards in a timely and accurate manner.

To be responsible for the safekeeping and confidentiality of electronic

and paper records including the use of the Trust electronic patient
records system (Carenotes).

To participate in the maintenance of equipment according to

Occupational Health and Safety regulations.

To maintain stocks of therapy equipment, walking aids and other

equipment in the department and on the wards and place orders as
required.

In addition to clinical caseload, ability to complete administrative tasks

when requested by Therapists. Tasks may include (but are not limited
to) faxing/photocopying, uploading data to IT systems, filing and ad-hoc
sanitising of environment and therapy equipment when requested
including checking returned equipment for re-use.

Updated Dec 09

To adhere to Legal and Trust policies and procedures e.g. Infection

Control, Therapeutic Moving and Handling and Food Hygiene. To
complete and maintain records of all mandatory training.

To positively engage in change management and support service

development.

Communication

To have the ability to use verbal and non-verbal communication to

develop a rapport and build trusting relationships with clients and those
involved in the clients care (e.g. family members, carers), including
people who have impairments affecting their ability to communicate.

To work in a client-centred manner to achieve mutually agreed goals,

appointments and rehabilitation programs.

To communicate effectively with clients, carers and family members

and to develop effective working relationships with the multidisciplinary
team and external agencies.

To be able to respond calmly and patiently to clients, carers and family

members who may be distressed and sometimes aggressive. To offer
support, reassurance and advice as required to diffuse potentially difficult
situations.

To attend multidisciplinary meetings, ward handovers and case

conferences when requested, and to present relevant information
about client/caseloads in a clear and concise manner.

Education and Training

To be responsible for identifying own training and development needs

in line with relevant competency frameworks and personal
development plans.

To engage in supervision and appraisal.

To participate in the in-service training program as service needs

necessitate.

To participate in regular continued professional development.

Contribute to CPD activities by presenting information to colleagues
when requested.

To participate in the induction of new staff and support training and

development of colleagues, therapy staff, volunteers and students.

To maintain clinical governance through participation in clinical audit,

quality assurance and evidence-based research projects as requested.

Updated Dec 09

To undertake and document evidence of completion of all mandatory

and statutory training in line with Trust policy.

To work within local, national and professional codes of ethics, conduct

and standards of practice for support staff.

To maintain knowledge of relevant national and local legislation relating

to practice and of service developments and initiatives.

Equipment

Equipment used in this role may include (but is not limited to):
Computers
Domestic cleaning equipment
Office equipment such as scanners, photocopiers, printers and fax
machines
Mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and a range of walking aids
Adaptive equipment such as rails, bed levers and chair/toilet seat
raisers.

The post holder may be required to work at any of the Trusts sites in line with
the service needs.
The following statement forms part of all job descriptions:
The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are
regularly updated including:
Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information
Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients,
staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection
Act of 1998. Post holders must not, without prior permission, disclose any
information regarding patients or staff.
If any member of staff has
communicated any such information to an unauthorised person those staff will
be liable to dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders
an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of
information.
Following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2005, post holders must apply
the Trusts FOI procedure if they receive a written request for information.
Information Governance
All staff must comply with information governance requirements. These
includes statutory responsibilities (such as compliance with the Data
Protection Act), following national guidance (such as the NHS Confidentiality
Code of Practice) and compliance with local policies and procedures (such as
the Trust's Confidentiality policy). Staff are responsible for any personal
information (belonging to staff or patients) that they access and must ensure it
is stored, processed and forwarded in a secure and appropriate manner.
Updated Dec 09

Equal Opportunities
Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the
Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.
Health and Safety
All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work
Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trusts
health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a
safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.
Infection Control
All post holders have a personal obligation to act to reduce healthcareassociated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in
Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to
reduce HCAIs. All post holders must comply with Trust infection
screening and immunisation policies as well as be familiar with the Trusts
Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as
Hand Decontamination Policy, Personal Protective Equipment Policy, safe
procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.
Risk Management
All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and nonclinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with
the Trusts use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the
incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order
to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their
manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.
Flexible Working
As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that
best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will
increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer
services in the evenings or at weekends.
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and
vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they
are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
Sustainability
It is the responsibility of all staff to minimise the Trusts environmental impact
by recycling wherever possible, switching off lights, computers monitors and
equipment when not in use, minimising water usage and reporting faults
promptly.
Smoking Policy
It is the Trusts policy to promote health. Smoking, therefore, is actively
discouraged. It is illegal within Trust buildings and vehicles.
Review of this Job Description
Updated Dec 09

This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity

and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organisation.
To be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.

JJ, February 2013

Updated by SR, September 2016

Updated Dec 09