Prehabilitation Assistant Practitioner

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

This is a 12-month fixed term role to support individuals with lung cancer prehabilitation.

We are seeking a compassionate and skilled Prehabilitation Assistant Practitioner to work in the pilot cancer prehabilitation service, with a specific focus on lung cancer prehabilitation. The role will be supported and supervised by a Band 7 prehabilitation project lead physiotherapist.

The prehabilitation service is new to our trust, and therefore offers exciting opportunities for involvement in ongoing service development.

Main duties of the job

The Prehabilitation Assistant Practitioner will contribute to the delivery of patient care, encouraging and motivating patients to maximise treatment outcomes.

The role will work directly with patients and the multi-disciplinary team. The role will develop and work with groups of patients and contribute to service development/improvement and gathering/auditing outcome measures for data analysis.

The post will seek to make a positive difference to those individuals diagnosed with cancer to ensure they have a good experience of cancer care and support them to live as healthily and happily as possible.

The post holder will ensure at all times the patient is at the centre of all our actions.

About us

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One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award-winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture/working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under-represented groups. Looking after our workforce's health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high-quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,300 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

Job responsibilities

This role will support individuals with lung cancer prehabilitation.

We are seeking a compassionate and skilled Prehabilitation Assistant Practitioner to work in the pilot cancer prehabilitation service, with a specific focus on lung cancer prehabilitation. The role will be supported and supervised by a Band 7 prehabilitation project lead physiotherapist.

The prehabilitation service is new to our trust, and therefore offers exciting opportunities for involvement in ongoing service development. The job role will provide a variety of opportunities, such as working directly with patients, working with a multi-disciplinary team, potential to develop and work with groups, service development/improvement, and gathering/auditing outcome measures for data analysis.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE in English and Numeracy skills to level 2. Minimum GCSE Grade C/4 or equivalent
• NVQ 3 in health-related subject and relevant experience
• Training in exercise or equivalent evidence of underpinning knowledge
• Personal training OR strength & conditioning qualification at Level 3 or Sports rehab/therapy degree
• Qualification in Cancer Rehab
• Qualification in mental health
• Qualification in the management of nutrition

Physical Skills

• Able to fulfil the health requirements of the post; taking in reasonable adjustments recommended by Occupational Health
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to work within an environment with competing demands
• Able to meet travel requirements of post
• Evidence of maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Experience

• Evidence of working as a Band 3 therapy assistant or technical instructor in a local authority, hospital, or NHS organization
• Evidence of interaction with the public or patients in a care setting
• Experience of working directly with patients providing care and treatment interventions
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Previous B4 therapy support worker (e.g. in physiotherapy)
• Experience of group exercise provision or presenting information to groups
• Previous experience of working with patients with cancer.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of prehabilitation or rehabilitation and its benefits
• Form professional relationships with clients who may need motivating and encouraging, in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture
• Ability to work with patients on a one-to-one basis, with awareness of own limitations, recognising and working within own scope of practice and seeking support when needed
• Ability to deliver patient centred care
• Able to evidence/demonstrate values and behaviours aligned to the Trust
• Able to use initiative and good organisational skills: timely organisation, delegation and prioritisation
• Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to communicate at all levels
• Ability to independently follow guidance and standards
• Ability to engage, empathise and motivate people
• Ability to work in a stressful environment with aggressive and emotional people
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Knowledge and understanding of psychological issues faced by patients in specialty area.
• Work flexibly in response to the changing demands of the service.
• Keyboard and IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Evidence of ability to be innovative and proactive

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.

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust