Bank Complementary Therapist

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients
• Manage clinical risk within own patient caseload
• Undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multiple pathologies. These may include symptoms directly related to the disease process, symptoms related to treatment, or symptoms arising from pre-existing pathologies.
• Use advanced clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques to provide an complementary therapy intervention appropriate to the patient's condition and place this within the context of their cancer and its treatment
• Develop advanced listening skills to understand the physical, emotional and psychological needs of patients and carers and incorporate these into treatment planning
• Plan and provide an individual complementary therapy treatment programme incorporating patient focused goals and outcomes. This will be based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice, complementary therapy treatment options and a developing knowledge of cancer and its treatment.
• Assess the patient's understanding of treatment proposals and gain valid informed consent to implement the treatment programme. To have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
• Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills and strategies to communicate effectively with patients, For example patients may be unable to accept their diagnosis, may have a hearing loss, a visual impairment, affected speech, cognitive problems or have a learning disability
• Evaluate patient progress and re-assess and alter treatment programmes if required.
• Develop advanced communication skills, with the support of the Complementary therapy lead, and further training, to work with patients and carers in complex/sensitive situations, which may include end of life situations.
• Represent the complementary therapy service and individual patients/carers at multi-disciplinary meetings when required to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service
• Supply relevant written or online advice and information in line with department protocols.
• Ensure that high standards of documentation are maintained. These should meet professional and departmental standards. These will usually be electronic records entered into the hospital patient records system.
• Use moderate physical effort, highly developed handling skills, manual dexterity and coordination to deliver complementary therapy sessions adapted to patients needs on a daily basis.
• Comply with the Trust Manual Handling Policy and local therapeutic handling guidance at all times.
• With the support of the Complementary therapy lead, draw on previous clinical experience to develop advanced personal coping strategies to work in the oncology setting. Complementary therapists working within this setting have daily exposure to patients with progressive disease and those who are in the terminal stages of their illness.
• Take the responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.
• Take an active role in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for setting and agreeing a personal development plan with the senior complementary therapist
• Ensure personal and professional development through reflective practice, supervision and peer review.
• Be an active member of regular in-service training within the complementary therapy team and Therapies Department.
• Be actively involved in professional clinical groups, and other professional development activities.
• Develop and maintain an awareness of evidence based practice and current developments in cancer and its treatment and the implications these may have for the delivery of care.
• Develop presentation skills to use in formal teaching opportunities where appropriate and with support of senior staff use these skills for internal and external presentations
• Prepare and present formal patient education sessions and provide written information for groups of patients and/or carers attending structured rehabilitation programmes.
• In collaboration with senior colleagues assist in the orientation and integration of new complementary therapy staff members and other health care colleagues. With the Visitor Programmes Co-ordinator, participate in planned programmes for visitors to the Complementary therapy Department.
• Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based projects, audit and outcome measures, with the support of the Complementary Therapy lead and Research and Practice Development lead within Therapies.
• Participate in appropriate research and/or data collection, identified in departmental/rehabilitation objectives, with support from the Complementary Therapy lead

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Diploma/degree level qualification in complementary therapy which must include aromatherapy and at least one of massage and reflexology qualifications
• Membership of, or eligibility to join CNHC. It is an essential requirement for successful candidates to be a member of CNHC
• Evidence of on-going personal/professional development through maintenance of CPD portfolio

Experience

Essential criteria

• NHS experience or other equivalent healthcare setting
• Demonstrable knowledge in core therapy skills
• Knowledge/Experience in the treatment of patients with cancer

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers, therapies colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team
• Ability to show tact and to manage boundaries
• Able to work without direct supervision
• Ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise
• Good time management skills
• Ability to work in a stressful environment and recognise the additional stresses of patients/carers dealing with a cancer diagnosis
• Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
• Basic computer literacy (e.g. Microsoft Word and Outlook)
• Ability to learn and use an electronic patient record system

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• Flexibility to meet the service needs

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination - What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

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