Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Complementary Therapist to join our friendly team of professional complementary therapists within our organisation.
Part of the Wellbeing and Supportive Care Service, our Complementary Therapy Team provides a range of professional complementary therapies to support HHFT cancer outpatients. The aim of the service is to assist with the management side effects and symptoms of cancer and its treatments.
As a practicing therapist, you will be directly responsible for providing a range of complementary therapies to support our cancer outpatients.
You will support our Lead Complementary Therapist with the day to day running of the service by assisting with enquiries and referrals and work closely to grow and develop the complementary therapy service.
If you are keen to develop your career as a complementary therapist and have experience of working with cancer patients in a hospital/hospice, we would love to hear from you!
Main duties of the job
To support the Lead Complementary Therapist in the delivery of the service, this includes:
1. Provide advice and guidance on the suitability and appropriateness of each type of complementary therapy.
2. As a practicing therapist, provide an being competent in delivering at least two complementary therapies, which must include aromatherapy massage & reflexology.
3. Undertake a formal assessment of referred patients in accordance with policies/protocols and ensure the appropriate complementary care is provided according to need or change in condition.
4. Prioritise and manage complementary therapy referrals and coordinate workload.
5. Deliver safe and effective complementary therapies, providing advice and guidance on the suitability, safety and appropriateness on a wide range of complementary therapies.
6. Work collaboratively with clinical teams to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate complementary care in order to facilitate management of symptoms and quality of life.
7. Work closely with complementary therapy and clinical teams to promote and develop integrated complementary therapy within cancer services.
8. Keep concise accurate records in line with data protection requirements and the Trusts record keeping policies and procedures.
9. You will be required to provide 5 to 6 therapy sessions on most working days depending on service requirements. The allocated sessions will include a mix of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology.
Working for our organisation
Our vision is to provide outstanding care for every patient. Patient care is at the heart of what we do at our three sites: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides medical and surgical services to a population of approximately 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire.
Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.
We provide specialist services to people across the UK and internationally. We are one of only two centres in the UK treating pseudomyxoma peritonei (a rare form of abdominal cancer) and we are leaders in the field of tertiary liver cancer and colorectal cancer.
The trust employs more than 9,000 staff and has a turnover of over £500 million a year. As a Foundation Trust, we are directly accountable to our members through the governors. The Council of Governors represent the interests of their constituencies and influence the future plans of the Foundation Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further information about this role please see Job Description document attached.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Diploma level qualifications in Aromatherapy as recognised by IFPA, FHT, CNHC, ITEC, The Vocational Training Charitable Trust.
11. Current membership of IFPA, FHT, CNHC
12. Evidence of professional development in cancer care
13. Diploma level qualification in Reflexology as recognised by IFPA, FHT, CNHC, ITEC, The Vocational Training Charitable Trust.
14. Diploma level qualification in Massage as recognised by IFPA, FHT, CNHC, ITEC, The Vocational Training Charitable Trust.
Desirable criteria
15. Counselling/Life Coaching qualification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
16. Demonstrate relevant post qualification experience.
17. Provide patient centre care that recognises a persons individual concerns, goals, beliefs and culture.
18. Demonstrate an understanding of multi-disciplinary team working.
19. Previous experience of working in a healthcare setting delivery complementary therapies.
20. An understanding of the benefits and contraindications of providing complementary therapy in cancer care.
Desirable criteria
21. Experience of evaluating complementary therapy treatments/service provision.
22. Experience of working with patients with life limiting conditions
23. Experience of delivering complementary therapies to outpatients receiving chemotherapy.
Supporting information
Essential criteria
24. Demonstrate effective oral, written communication and IT skills.
25. Excellent listening and communication skills and ability to communicate with patient in distress.
26. Deliver presentations/training internally and externally to enable staff and patients to develop their knowledge of complementary therapy.
27. Work independently and as part of a team.
28. Effectively manage time and caseloads.
29. Understand the effects of a range of cancers and their treatments and the implications when delivering complementary therapies.
30. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of complementary therapy in cancer care.
31. Participate in quality improvement, audit and service improvement to ensure high clinical standards.
Desirable criteria
32. To be willing to work across HHFT sites.
33. Previous administration experience.