Inpatient Generic Technical Instructor

The Trauma, Orthopaedic & Amputee team are looking for an enthusiastic candidate to join our dedicated therapy team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and technical instructors to deliver specialist and excellent service to our inpatients.

The role will include working at Pinderfields Hospital where our patients are acutely admitted having experienced trauma orthopaedic injury, acute illness or following amputation surgery. There may also be opportunity where service need requires, to work at Pontefract Hospital at our centre of excellence elective orthopaedic suite.

The job role can be flexible with days and hours provided this meets the needs of the service.

Main duties of the job

To support Therapy staff in the assessment and treatment of inpatients referred into Mid Yorkshire Therapy Services and complete delegated tasks as required. This would be including, but not limited to, mobility practice, washing and dressing reviews, supporting on visits and daily admin to support patient discharge.

The role promotes independence from the early acute phase and supports and facilitates safe discharge from hospital following their acute inpatient stay, embedding core values of occupational and physiotherapy to our service.

About us

We are an acute trust caring for over half a million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Application guidance

We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

Job responsibilities

Clinical duties

• To support qualified therapists to provide assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to patients.
• Use technical/creative skills to engage patients in therapeutic activities and exercise programmes to promote rehabilitation, independence and well-being.
• Demonstrate the use of mobility aids where appropriate and adjust aids as necessary.
• Assist in the implementation, evaluation and modification of Therapy and team interventions.
• Ensure appropriate and safe manual handling at all times and highlight concerns when this is not being adhered to.
• Be responsible for the assessing, issuing and fitting of specialist equipment and the provision of adaptations, aiming to maintain the independence of patients living on or returning to their home environments.
• Ensure equipment is safe to use and cleaned in line with trust policies, this includes wheelchairs, walking aids, equipment issued to increase independence and treatment areas.
• Within set protocols, facilitate and where necessary instruct in planned group work.
• Work with patients on individual activities, providing ongoing continuous assessment and adjust own clinical interventions based on fluctuating needs of the patient.
• Under the guidance of a qualified therapist, contribute to formal therapy assessments and provide detailed written and verbal feedback on the patients therapeutic functioning and progress.
• Review and follow care and treatment plans and assist in the implementation, evaluation and modification of therapy and team interventions.
• Under guidance of a qualified therapist, provide a range of activities/exercises, instructing and guiding patients to support them achieving identified therapy goals.
• Work effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team to undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service.
• Be responsible for planning own day to day allocated workload and manage and prioritise own caseload as appropriate.
• Use analytical skills to assess and make judgements on patient ability e.g. with mobility, progression of exercises, providing aids / equipment working within health & safety policy.
• Attend home visits and facilitate with access visits and deliver equipment as appropriate.
• Undertake follow up visits to review and monitor the continued suitability of equipment and adaptations.
• To work independently in a variety of settings including visits in the community, where the environment is previously unknown and may pose a risk to personal safety including exposure to varying degrees of cleanliness, space and temperature.
• To be responsible for your own safety and the safety of others by adhering to health and safety and lone worker procedure.
• Adhere to policy and procedure when exposed to bodily fluids i.e. sputum, faeces, urine, vomit.
• To be adhere to policy/procedure when transporting equipment in vehicles, either trust, own or private hire vehicles.
• Be able to recognise changes to a patients condition and report to appropriate professional.
• Support a patient to manage nutrition and hydration as required.
• Alert any concerns regarding a patient/carer via the appropriate channels, i.e safeguarding concerns, risks identified.
• Keep up to date with medical conditions and procedures relevant to your area.

Departmental

• Be responsible for stock control within the sphere of the therapy team, ordering, but not authorised signatory from the NHS distribution centre and outside companies.
• Ensure that treatment areas are clean, tidy and well maintained in order to comply with health and safety and infection control guidelines, and facilitate the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.
• Be responsible for the safe and effective use of therapy equipment for use by both patients and staff and complete checks prior to provision. Report any health and safety issues to relevant person.
• Carry out some administration and clerical duties such as filing, photocopying, making appointments, requesting and collecting x-rays and medical notes, access to appropriate information technology systems.
• Ability to impart knowledge clearly and effectively.

Person Specification

Skills and abilities

• Able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.
• Able to work independently under direction and follow through agreed plans.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.
• Ability to participate and complete competency and training frameworks relevant to post.
• Skills in communicating with people with language difficulties.
• Evidence of competency completion relevant to post.

Qualifications

• GCSE in maths and English grades A-C or equivalent relevant experience.
• Ofqual-regulated level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
• Completion of care certificate.

Experience

• Experience of working as a support worker within a health care / social care setting.
• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Experience of working within a therapies/rehabilitation setting.
• Experience of Wheelchair or similar medical devices and how to alter/clean/adjust repair.
• Experience of using assistive technology.

Knowledge and awareness

• Awareness of the impact of health and disability on lifestyle.
• Awareness of health and social care systems.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Awareness of how communication can be adapted to respond to a variety of clinical situations.
• Awareness of the role of an Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist in health care.
• Knowledge of health and safety issues within the workplace and how risk can be managed.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development and portfolio.
• Knowledge of disability equipment and adaptations.
• Awareness of the different roles and their importance within the multi-disciplinary team.

Personal attributes

• Commitment to providing a quality service and participating in personal and service development in line with Trust values and behaviours.
• Ability to carry out moderate physical effort throughout the day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Motivation to learn and develop.
• Ability to demonstrate a flexible approach to working practice and changing situations.
• Ability to work alone and seek help when required.
• Ability and experience of IT.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Team leader Trauma, Orthopaedics and Amputees

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working