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%) 

1. Preparation for Therapy Session:  

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

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

3. Clean up environment and equipment after therapy session  

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

2. Manual Handling  

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

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

3. Assessment and Outcome Measures  

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

2. Assist therapist during outcome measures   

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

4. Conduct selected simple outcome measures for low complexity patients  

4. Interventions 

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

2. Apply prescribed therapeutic modalities for routine patients under instruction  

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

4. Implement review sessions for manual wheelchair mobility training   

5. Implement review sessions for powered mobility training  

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

7. Assist therapist during wound care management where necessary   

5. Caregiver Training  

1. Assist therapist during caregiver training sessions  

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

6. Group Therapy  

1. Assist therapist during group therapy sessions   

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

7. Technology-based Intervention  

8. Set up technology-based/robotics intervention  

2. Assist in technology-based/robotics interventions  

3. Implement segments of technology-based/robotics intervention  

8. Communication  

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

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

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

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

9. Documentation  

1. Complete simple form-based checklists of therapy information  

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

10. Ensure safety of patients and always observe safety procedures  

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

2. Training, Development and Supervision (10%) 

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

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

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

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

5. May participate in departmental/ inter-departmental projects  

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

3. Administrative (10%)  

1. Inventory Control   

1. Monitors select therapy equipment and inventory with therapist oversight  

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

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

4. Oversee, reconcile & manage par levels of inventory  

5. Monitor inventory of higher value items  

6. Check and update inventory  

2. Manpower Resource Deployment  

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

2. Assist to plan for daily deployment 

3. Assist to plan working and duties rosters 

3. Record-keeping  

1. Housekeep and organise patient records or other department records  

4. Billing  

1. May perform data entry and billing into system    

5. 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.