Therapy Associate

The senior TA shall support the therapists for assigned tasks deemed as appropriate. The senior TA shall only perform tasks delegated by the therapist(s). This will be within the limits of what they have been trained, deemed competent to perform and with adequate supervision provided as defined by the department or institution.

In addition, the senior TA may start to carry out components of therapy care plans independently under the instructions or supervision of the therapist for low complexity cases for which their competency have been determined.

The senior TA needs to be able to terminate therapy tasks in the interest of the patient and escalate to the primary therapist when needed.

(A) SPECIFIC (90%)

1. Clinical (70%)

2. Preparation for Therapy Session:

3. Assist in preparing patient before, during and at the conclusion of a treatment

4. Prepare and set up facility, environment and clinical or therapy equipment, including technology-related therapeutics

5. Clean up environment and equipment after therapy session

6. Any other preparation before or after therapy sessions as required by the department or supervising therapist

7. Manual Handling

8. Transfer minimal, moderate, and maximum assistance patients, with assistance and/or use of equipment where needed

9. Conduct practical skills training of safe manual handling for TAs as instructed by the therapist

10. Assessment and Outcome Measures

11. Assist therapist during assessment or re-assessment of patients

12. Assist therapist during outcome measures

13. Conduct selected simple re-assessment tasks for low complexity patients as instructed by the therapist

14. Conduct selected simple outcome measures for low complexity patients

15. Interventions

16. Assist therapist during the delivery of therapy plans for patients

17. Apply prescribed therapeutic modalities for routine patients under instruction

18. Assist in implementing segments of one-to-one therapy interventions under supervision of the therapist

19. Implement review sessions for manual wheelchair mobility training

20. Implement review sessions for powered mobility training

21. Assist with making of individualised hand splints and pressure garments where necessary

22. Assist therapist during wound care management where necessary

23. Caregiver Training

24. Assist therapist during caregiver training sessions

25. Assist in implementing parts of caregiver training under supervision of the therapist

26. Group Therapy

27. Assist therapist during group therapy sessions

28. Conduct segments of simple group session (e.g., well-being/engagement classes) for low complexity patients under supervision from the session lead

29. Technology-based Intervention

30. Set up technology-based/robotics intervention

31. Assist in technology-based/robotics interventions

32. Implement segments of technology-based/robotics intervention

33. Communication

34. Demonstrates ability to receive patient related precautions and session details as explained by primary therapist

35. Demonstrates ability to appropriately communicate results of the assessments and/or therapy session to the primary therapist

36. Demonstrates ability to terminate session and to escalate to primary therapist where necessary quickly and effectively

37. Ability to communicate where assigned work or tasks exceed acceptable scope of practice or training and escalate to senior professional staff

38. Documentation

39. Complete simple form-based checklists of therapy information

40. May document simple templated entries in medical notes with countersigning from therapists

41. Ensure safety of patients and always observe safety procedures

42. And other clinical duties as deemed appropriate by the supervising Therapist

43. Training, Development and Supervision (10%)

44. To buddy new junior TAs for their on-job training

45. Deliver selected training contents/modules to new junior TAs and TA students

46. Conduct parts of orientation on team-based work processes for new junior TAs

47. Assist in supervision of junior TAs and TA students on attachment

48. May participate in departmental/ inter-departmental projects

49. Any other training and development duties as deemed appropriate by the department or supervising Therapist

50. Administrative (10%)

51. Inventory Control

52. Monitors select therapy equipment and inventory with therapist oversight

53. Clean and adhere to infection control/ hygiene standards of therapy equipment and devices

54. Ensure standards of cleaning and maintenance of therapy equipment and devices

55. Oversee, reconcile & manage par levels of inventory

56. Monitor inventory of higher value items

57. Check and update inventory

58. Manpower Resource Deployment

59. Review numbers and report daily manpower needs as well as proposed adjustments to supervisor when appropriate

60. Assist to plan for daily deployment

61. Assist to plan working and duties rosters

62. Record-keeping

63. Housekeep and organise patient records or other department records

64. Billing

65. May perform data entry and billing into system

66. Other administrative duties as deemed appropriate by the department or supervising therapist

(B) GENERAL (10%)

1. Adhere to all policies and procedures of the department in daily work conduct.

2. Demonstrate good interpersonal skills with patients, the public and colleagues.

3. Provide coverage of duties in the absence of other therapy assistants

4. Carry out any other supportive duties as assigned by management or supervisors.

5. Foster continuous improvements as our way of life by encouraging staff efforts at improving processes to achieve clinical quality and operational excellence.