Job responsibilities

1. Clinical practice and rehabilitation delivery

• Support registered clinicians in the assessment, planning, delivery and review of individualised rehabilitation programmes within agreed competencies.

• Carry out delegated one-to-one and group interventions prescribed by Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Clinical Neuropsychology or other registered professionals, accurately following the documented plan.

• Support patients to practise rehabilitation strategies within meaningful daily activities, including mobility, personal and domestic activities, communication, cognition, community access, confidence and self-management, where trained and delegated.

• Observe and report changes in a patient's physical, cognitive, communication, behavioural, emotional or functional presentation, including fatigue, pain, alertness, engagement and tolerance of activity.

• Use graded prompting, cueing, feedback, repetition, environmental adaptation and other rehabilitation approaches prescribed by the MDT to maximise participation and independence.

• Support collection of agreed clinical outcome measures and goal-attainment information, ensuring that data are accurate and available for review by the responsible clinician.

• Contribute to therapeutic groups, structured wellbeing activities and patient education sessions under the direction of registered staff.

• Promote dignity, choice, consent, least-restrictive practice and reasonable adjustments throughout all patient contact

• 2. Clinical neuropsychology and cognitive rehabilitation

• Under the supervision of the Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, support the delivery of the psychology and neuropsychology pathway at Laverstock.

• Administer and score selected standardised cognitive screening or neuropsychological measures after formal training and competency sign-off, following test instructions, test-security requirements and supervision arrangements precisely.

• Record behavioural observations and relevant contextual factors during assessment without independently interpreting results or providing clinical conclusions.

• Prepare assessment materials, maintain secure test resources, enter scores accurately and support the clinician with collation of information for reports and MDT discussion.

• Deliver prescribed cognitive rehabilitation tasks and compensatory strategies addressing areas such as attention, memory, executive functioning, information processing, awareness and everyday problem-solving.

• Support structured psychoeducation and adjustment-focused work, including fatigue management, emotional regulation, confidence, identity, coping and return to meaningful roles, where this forms part of an agreed clinician-led plan.

• Assist patients to use diaries, planners, prompts, memory aids, written routines, communication supports and environmental strategies, reviewing effectiveness with the supervising clinician.

• Contribute objective observations to formulation and care-planning discussions while recognising that clinical formulation and treatment decisions remain the responsibility of the registered psychologist or other responsible clinician.

3. Multidisciplinary working, goal planning and discharge

• Participate in handovers, MDT meetings, goal-planning meetings, reviews and discharge-planning discussions, contributing concise and relevant observations within the limits of the role.

• Work collaboratively with patients, families and carers, subject to consent and confidentiality, to support shared rehabilitation goals and consistent implementation of agreed strategies.

• Communicate promptly with the responsible clinician when a patient is not progressing as expected, is unable to tolerate a programme, declines intervention, or requires review of the plan.

• Liaise professionally with the host care and nursing team so that therapy recommendations, risk-management strategies and day-to-day support are coordinated and clearly understood.

• Support safe community access, home visits, equipment trials or discharge preparation where these activities are risk assessed, delegated and within competence.

• Contribute to written patient-facing resources, rehabilitation plans, visual schedules and strategy summaries in accessible formats.

• 4. Risk, safeguarding and safe care

  • Remain alert to clinical deterioration, falls risk, moving-and-handling concerns, swallowing or communication risk, behavioural escalation, self-neglect, abuse, exploitation, self-harm or suicide risk, and other indicators of harm.

  • Follow the patient's current care plan, risk assessment and crisis or escalation plan; do not assume responsibility beyond the delegated role.

  • Escalate immediate concerns without delay to an appropriate registered clinician and the host care team, and contact emergency services in accordance with policy where there is an immediate threat to life or safety.

  • Contribute factual observations to risk assessments and incident reviews but do not independently make high-risk clinical decisions or substitute for specialist mental-health assessment.

  • Follow safeguarding adults, safeguarding children, Prevent, consent, Mental Capacity Act, information-sharing and incident-reporting requirements relevant to the role.

  • Ensure that clinical sessions involving known risk are arranged in accordance with the agreed risk plan and with suitable senior support available.

  • 5. Communication, documentation and information management

    • Establish respectful therapeutic relationships with patients whose communication, cognition, behaviour, insight or emotional regulation may be affected by neurological illness or injury.

    • Adapt communication using supported conversation, accessible written information, visual aids, repetition, simplified language, additional processing time or communication technology as advised by the MDT.

    • Maintain accurate, timely, objective and comprehensive clinical records in the approved electronic or paper system, clearly identifying delegated work, patient response, progress and any escalation.

    • Write brief summaries of work completed for review by the supervising clinician and contribute to MDT updates and discharge information as requested.

    • Maintain confidentiality and share information only on a need-to-know basis in accordance with consent, legal requirements and Hobbs Rehabilitation policies.

    • Handle assessment materials, patient data and electronic systems securely, including adherence to specialist test-security requirements.

    • 6. Service development, audit and quality improvement

      • Support development and implementation of Laverstock rehabilitation and neuropsychology protocols, resources and competency frameworks under senior clinical direction.

      • Collect, enter and check service data for audit, outcome monitoring, quality improvement, research or clinical trials in accordance with governance approvals and delegated responsibilities.

      • Gather feedback from patients, families and carers and communicate themes to the team to inform service improvement.

      • Participate in governance meetings, clinical audits, incident learning, service evaluation and action plans appropriate to the role.

      • Contribute to an effective learning culture by sharing observations, seeking feedback and identifying opportunities to improve safety, accessibility, efficiency and patient experience.

      • Represent Hobbs Rehabilitation professionally when liaising with external referrers, case managers, commissioners, charities, community services and other partner organisations.

      • 7. Equipment, neurotechnology and resources

        • Use rehabilitation equipment and neurotechnology only when trained, assessed as competent, and authorised within an individual patient programme.

        • Complete safety checks, cleaning, charging, storage and documentation requirements for equipment used in clinical work.

        • Report defects, incidents, loss or concerns promptly and remove unsafe equipment from use in accordance with policy.

        • Maintain inventories and loan records where delegated, and use resources responsibly and sustainably.

        • Do not independently prescribe, alter or recommend specialist equipment outside the agreed scope of practice.

        • 8. Supervision, learning and staff support

          • Participate in regular clinical supervision with the Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist and/or relevant registered MDT professionals, and in managerial supervision with the designated line manager.

          • Maintain a competency portfolio and provide evidence that delegated activities have been trained, observed and signed off before independent delivery within the agreed plan.

          • Identify learning needs, participate in appraisal and complete all required mandatory, statutory and role-specific training within agreed timescales.

          • Use reflective practice and feedback to improve performance, and raise concerns where workload, competence or supervision arrangements may affect patient safety.

          • Contribute to induction, orientation and practical support for students, trainees, rehabilitation assistants and new staff where requested and competent to do so.

          • The role does not include professional supervision of registered clinicians or autonomous allocation of clinical work.

          • Freedom to act

            • Plan and organise delegated work within agreed priorities, using initiative to manage routine variations while remaining accountable to the supervising clinician and line manager.

            • Work without direct observation for agreed tasks once competence has been demonstrated, but with access to registered clinical advice and clear escalation arrangements.

            • Pause an activity and seek advice where a patient's presentation, consent, safety, behaviour or response differs materially from the agreed plan.

            • The post holder may not extend the scope of an intervention, offer independent clinical opinions, or make material changes to assessment, treatment, risk-management or discharge plans.

Qualifications

Essential

• Foundation Degree / Level 5 qualification in health, rehabilitation, psychology, social care or a related discipline, or demonstrable equivalent knowledge and experience.
• English and Mathematics at GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent.
• Willingness and ability to complete mandatory, statutory and role-specific competency training.
• Commitment to maintaining a competency portfolio and working only within signed-off scope.

Desirable

• Degree in psychology, health science, rehabilitation, therapy or a related subject.
• Care Certificate or relevant health and social care qualification.
• Training in neurological rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, brain injury, stroke or behaviour support.

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience in a health, rehabilitation, care or social care setting.
• Experience of working directly with adults who have disability, illness or complex support needs.
• Experience of delivering structured programmes or interventions under professional guidance.
• Experience of planning and prioritising delegated work and completing tasks to deadline.
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and communicating concerns appropriately.

Desirable

• Experience in inpatient or community neurorehabilitation.
• Experience with stroke, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, progressive neurological conditions or complex polytrauma.
• Experience supporting cognitive assessment, cognitive rehabilitation, psychological interventions or neurobehavioural approaches.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary therapy team.
• Experience supporting groups, audit, research or service evaluation.

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of person-centred rehabilitation, goal setting, therapeutic relationships and promotion of independence.
• Awareness of how neurological illness or injury can affect physical function, cognition, communication, mood, behaviour, insight, fatigue and daily life.
• Understanding of confidentiality, consent, safeguarding, duty of candour, incident reporting and professional boundaries.
• Working knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the need to support decision-making and use least-restrictive practice.
• Understanding of delegated practice, accountability, competence and the limits of a non-registered role.
• Knowledge of safe working practices, infection prevention and moving-and-handling principles relevant to the post.

Desirable

• common neuropsychological consequences of neurological conditions.
• Knowledge of rehabilitation outcome measures and evidence-based neurorehabilitation principles.
• Awareness of neurotechnology and its role in intensive rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of mental-health presentations and escalation pathways within neurorehabilitation.
• Knowledge of relevant CQC standards and clinical governance processes.

clinical and technical skills

Essential

• Ability to learn and accurately deliver delegated rehabilitation tasks and standardised procedures.
• Ability to observe, record and report patient performance objectively without over-interpreting findings.
• Ability to recognise deterioration, risk, distress or a presentation outside the agreed plan and escalate promptly.
• Ability to use electronic clinical record systems, email, word processing and spreadsheets securely and competently.
• Ability to produce clear, concise and grammatically accurate written work.
• Ability to adapt communication for cognitive, language, sensory or emotional needs.

Desirable

• Competence in administering and scoring standardised cognitive screens or neuropsychological measures.
• Experience using communication aids, cognitive strategies, accessible information or visual resources.
• Experience with rehabilitation equipment or neurotechnology.
• Skills in data entry, audit, outcome monitoring or basic analysis.

Communication and Team work

Essential

• Effective verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to establish respectful and boundaried therapeutic relationships.
• Ability to work collaboratively with patients, families, carers, clinicians and partner-provider staff.
• Ability to listen to different perspectives, contribute constructively and manage disagreement professionally.
• Ability to share concerns clearly and promptly with the appropriate senior clinician.

Desirable

• Experience of supported conversation or communication with people who have aphasia, cognitive impairment or reduced insight.
• Experience liaising with case managers, commissioners, charities or external health and social care services.

Personal qualities and values

Essential

• Compassionate, respectful, patient and non-judgemental.
• Reliable, honest and accountable.
• Curious and motivated to learn while remaining aware of professional limits.
• Flexible and able to respond calmly to changing clinical demands.
• Committed to inclusion, dignity, choice and collaborative care.
• Able to tolerate emotionally demanding clinical contact and use supervision appropriately.

Desirable

• Demonstrable interest in neurological rehabilitation and clinical neuropsychology.
• Commitment to service development, evidence-based practice and innovation.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).