Assistant Therapy Practitioner

The successful candidate will work as an influential and integral member of a diverse multi-disciplinary team and will directly support the work of the Dietetic Team.You will be motivated to develop your clinical skills working with adults with learning disabilities, who may have additional and mental health problems and/or challenging behaviour. You will be able to demonstrate an interest in working with this client group from your previous experiences. You will have good communication and organisational skills and be enthusiastic about working as part of a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team.The successful candidate will be able to show understanding of the dysphagia and dietetic needs of adults with learning disabilities and a willingness to undertake further training in these areas.You will receive regular supervision and support from the members of the Dietetic and Speech and Language Therapy team and will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing professional development.The, · To work individually with service users on specific tasks as identified by a registered Dietitian. · To provide this service to service users who present with dysphagia and dietetic needs · To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team · To be able to work flexibly across a wide variety of settings within the service · To contribute to assessment and therapeutic interventions, including completing directed observations To maintain clinical records · To liaise with carers and other professionals as relevant · To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance · To attend mandatory training and demonstrate application during interventions · To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor, this may be taught, shadowing of others or through self-directed learning · Demonstrate, in consultation with the Dietitian, the use of initiative to meet specific individual needs of service users · To keep a record of your training and development activities

post holder will be line managed within the Specialist Learning Disability Services and will be professionally accountable to the lead Dietitian in Learning Disabilities and Forensics. All staff should comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.,

• Technical /teaching qualification e.g. City & Guilds or Health & Social Care NVQ Level 3
• Knowledge of Dietetic interventions relevant to client group
• Willingness to undertake relevant training in dietetics and/or computing skills
• Experience of working in paid or voluntary employment relevant to post
• Understanding of professional conduct
• Clear communication through written, verbal and non-verbal modes
• Good numeracy and literacy skills
• Observation skills
• Presentation skills
• Ability to teach practical skills
• Ability to adapt communication style to meet both the needs of individuals and different situations
• Ability to use problem solving techniques
• Ability to work single independently with individuals and groups
• Commitment to client-centered, non-discriminatory practice
• Treating service users with dignity
• IT skills
• Car driver with access to own vehicle (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010, which prevents you from driving)
• Appropriate level of fitness to undertake all tasks within the role including use of Respect techniques and moving and handling of weighing equipment e.g. wheelchair scales (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010, which prevents you from doing so)
• Ability to manage own workload
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Application of health, safety and risk management policies
• Regular requirement to deal with distressing or emotionally charged situations
Desirable criteria
• Relevant health and/ or social care experience
• Knowledge of the principles of practice governance
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission.
Our family of over 4,500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout, HPFT supports people with mental ill health, learning disabilities and autism across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk and Essex. We employ around 4,500 people who deliver these services within the community and in inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services and medium and low secure learning disabilities services. We have operated as a NHS Foundation Trust since our authorisation in August 2007.