Therapy Assistant

Would you like to work for a great employer? Enable Ireland is an organisation that makes a real difference to the lives of children and adults with disabilities in Ireland, and is named as one of Ireland's Irish Independent 150 Best Employers 2024.

Enable Ireland, as an equal opportunities employer, proudly maintains a Bronze Award in Diversity from the Irish Centre for Diversity. We vigorously advocate for fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement, and are dedicated to ongoing enhancement in these areas.

We are currently seeking a highly-motivated Therapy Assistant to join our team in Children’s Network Disability Services Kilkenny.

Contract Type: Permanent Full Time

Contract Hours: 39 hours per week

Salary Scale: €32,372 to €37,617 pro rata per annum

Annual Leave Entitlement: 30 days

Overview of the Post:

The role includes clinical and administrative duties that support Therapists on the Children’s Disability Network Team in providing a high-quality service to users.

Overview of Duties and Responsibilities:

The Therapy Assistant works at all times under the supervision of a professional therapist(s) in the CDNT to support the provision of services to children and families. They may work with only one discipline (speech and language therapist, occupational therapist or physiotherapist) or may work across the therapies, depending on service and team needs, and based on their knowledge, competencies and skill set. The Therapy Assistant is a member of the inter-disciplinary team and takes part in team meetings, training and development.

· Manage own caseload in accordance with the needs of the post.

· Collaborate with children, family, carers and other staff in treatment / intervention planning and in the provision of support and advice.

· Follow treatment plans as determined and delegated by the supervising Therapist including assisting in the provision of education and advice to children on the use of enabling equipment.

· Carry out duties related to the planning, organisation and maintenance of Therapy programmes as directed by the supervising Therapist.

· Carry out generic programmes and groups for children to the specifications agreed with the supervising Therapist, either jointly with the Therapist, independently and unaccompanied or in collaboration with other staff (following the direction and supervision of the supervising Therapist).

· Liaise with other staff and agencies in the provision of therapeutic programmes as directed by supervising Therapist.

· Prepare resources for assessment / intervention for clinic appointments, home or school visits and group interventions.

· Prepare the environment for group or 1:1 interventions according to the child’s needs and therapeutic goals, as directed by the supervising Therapist.

· Assist / provide care in line with each child’s assessed care needs as set out in their care plan and under the guidance of the Team.

· Work directly with children under the direction of a supervising Therapist, providing intervention in both individual and group settings.

· Record intervention outcomes as appropriate and report outcomes to the supervising Therapist.

· As advised by the Therapist maintain accurate records of assessments and interventions. As advised by the Therapist maintain clinical notes relating to clinical work in children’s files in accordance with local service protocols.

· Communicate verbally and / or in writing the results of treatment / intervention programs and recommendations to the Team and relevant others in accordance with Team policy.

· Observe, report and take appropriate action on any matter which may be detrimental to a child’s care or wellbeing or may inhibit the efficient provision of care.

· Maintain professional standards in relation to consent, confidentiality, ethics and legislation.

· Carry out joint home/school/community assessments / follow up home/school/community visits with the supervising Therapist.

A candidate for, and any person holding the office, must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Candidates must have access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role. A full clean driving licence and use of a car is therefore essential.

The successful candidate will have:-

Essential Criteria:

· Possess the Certificate in Health Service Skills or Healthcare Support with Occupational Therapy Assistant modules 1 and 2, or with Physiotherapy Assistant modules 1 and 2, or with Speech and Language Therapy Assistant modules 1 and 2, at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

OR

· Possess a relevant healthcare qualification at not less than Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and give an undertaking to participate in the appropriate Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Assistant/Speech and Language Therapy Assistant training modules 1 and 2, within 1 year of taking up duty.

OR

· Are currently employed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physiotherapy Assistant, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, Healthcare Assistant, Attendant, Multi-Task Attendant or in a comparable role for at least 1 year and give an undertaking to acquire the appropriate Level 5 or Occupational Therapy Assistant or Physiotherapy Assistant or Speech and Language Therapy Assistant training programme within 1 year of taking up duty.

OR

· Are a graduate of a relevant level 8 health and social care course who is committed to ongoing continuous professional development.

AND

· Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

Desirable Criteria:

· Experience of working in a Therapy Department.

· Experience working directly with child/ young persons to develop life skills to support overall wellbeing.

· Experience working as part of a team.

· The ideal candidate will have at least one year’s proven experience of working with children with disability.

If you believe you, would fit the role then please submit your application today.

Benefits

As a staff member of Enable Ireland, you will have access to a wide range of benefits, including:-

· Excellent training opportunities

· Generous annual leave entitlements

· Long service reward scheme

· Pay adjusted Maternity Leave

· Pay adjusted Adoptive Leave

· Pay adjusted Paternity Leave

· Wellbeing benefits

· Pension

For a full list of our benefits & conditions, please click here:

What now?

To apply, please download the Job Description, Person Specification for your information and complete the online Application Form. CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 5th December

Interviews to be confirmed

A panel will be formed from this vacancy for any similar vacancies, which may arise during the next 12 months.

Enable Ireland is an equal opportunities employer

· The post will be subject to reference checks and may be subject to Garda vetting/police clearance, as relevant.

· Due to the large volume of applications, we are not in the position to provide individual feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted for interview.

· Applications are invited from suitably qualified applicants from all sections of the community.

· The above information serves only as a guide to the advertised position. Enable Ireland, at its discretion, reserves the right to change this prior to appointment.

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· Please review the Enable Ireland’s External Data Protection Notice available at https://www.enableireland.ie/privacy-policy for details on how Enable Ireland processes applicant’s personal information. Please note if you are invited for interview, we will share your personal data with:

1) Any virtual service provider we use to host the interview; and

2) the interview panel (if applicable). Your information will be stored for this purpose in line with our retention policy