Victoria Rhodes

My role as a Therapy Assistant Practitioner is multidimensional. An element of the role is completing/ overseeing and supporting the everyday running of a therapy department and support worker team. Ensuring the environment is fit for purpose, sufficient stock and appliances are readily available to allow the treatment of patients.

As a senior member of the AHP support worker team, I offer support and carry out appraisals to junior members of staff. The second aspect of my role is my clinical role in which I am aligned to two clinical teams – neuro physiotherapy and orthotics. In both clinical teams I have direct face to face contact with patients and their families, supporting therapists with doubles and independent treatment sessions. As well as, attending MDT’s and liaising with external counterparts.  

Due to my skills and experience with specialist equipment I am an advisor on postural management and facilitate assessment and equipment for home discharge. I have run orthotics clinics in which I fit and supply orthoses and carry out follow up telephone consultations.  

Another part of my role is a moving and handling link worker for the department, advising and supporting safe practice within the department and liaising with trust advisors.

The role of the support worker complements the work the clinical staff offer, not only does it support by ensuring equipment and stock is readily available and safe to use, it gives flexibility in rehabilitation and knowledge and skills from other areas. It can also offer continuity in care for patients and their families.  

I initially saw it as an opportunity to gain experience within the field to give me the under-pinning knowledge to progress and apply to university. Not only does it give the expose to the role but the culture within a hospital. When applying I didn’t realise how diverse the role was.  

I have been fortunate to have regular in-service training building on skills required for the role as well as attending external courses which has been fulfilling and allowed me to build on my role. I have not yet had the opportunity to develop the role through apprenticeships as these have only recently become available.  

I am proud to be an AHP support worker, seeing and influencing how the role has evolved over the years. From a team of four to a team of 13 raising the profile of an AHP support worker and pushing boundaries to allow the role to evolve. The breadth of knowledge of an AHP support worker can be exceptional, due to how diverse the role is.   

I am proud of is annually attending the British transplant games as a team manager for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Seeing patients compete after going through a transplant and rehabilitation, in which you have been part of either big or small and knowing you have made a difference to someone's journey giving them the opportunity to take part in something like this event is humbling. 

Becoming an AHP support worker is a fantastic opportunity to get experience within varied roles and gives a solid foundation for progression to become a qualified AHP.  

Likewise, it is a fantastic role within its own right, there is scope to progress within bandings and there is the ability to broaden the role and carve it into something unique.  

I have worked as a support worker for 13 years, working up through the roles. The main reason I have remained a support worker is because of how diverse the role is – no two days are the same and I have been supported throughout my career to adapt and expand my role.