Karly is a Band 5 Orthopaedic Specialist Technician at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust and works an an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team.
Tell us about your role and the impact it has on those work with
I am an unregistered static Band 5 Orthopaedic Specialist Technician working on the trauma and elective orthopaedic wards as part of the multidisciplinary team. My role allows me to work autonomously on the and manage my own caseload. I assess patients after trauma and set patient centred goals to start their rehabilitation, managing their care until they are discharged from to an appropriate destination.
My role assists patients in regaining as much independence as able following a traumatic injury. I work closely with the occupational therapists to hopefully get patients back to their own homes where rehabilitation can continue to allow them to get back to their baseline as it was prior to injury. I also assess patients’ mobility throughout their time on the ward to advise the nursing staff how to transfer and mobilise patients safely. This help keeps the patients and staff safe.
How has training and development in your role helped you so far? Any future plans?
I am incredibly lucky that I work in a team that appreciate the importance of training and increasing your knowledge to utilise and develop your skills. My manager encourages learning opportunities and supports career progression. I have been lucky throughout my career to gain an advanced level apprenticeship in health (AHP support) in 2017 and I am currently working towards a higher apprentice in health (Assistant Practitioner) foundation degree in healthcare practice. I am really enjoying my current course and feel it will really help me develop my academic skills which will assist me in the physiotherapy apprenticeship degree. Learning in this way means I also develop new skills to put into practice in my day-to-day role on the wards.
The support worker role is a fantastic way to not only gain experience in physiotherapy but also to increase your knowledge of the NHS and roles within. There is always something new to learn and develop existing skills.
What attracted you to a role as a support worker?
I was looking for a change after a nine-year career in childcare, and had always been interested in Physiotherapy. I got a role as a Physiotherapy assistant and worked my way up to Technician and on to Assistant Practitioner and now my current role as an orthopaedic specialist technician.
Over the years the role of the support worker has evolved and there are now opportunities to progress. I have ambitions to become a registered Physiotherapist and hope to complete an apprenticeship to gain my degree soon. The support worker role is a fantastic way to not only gain experience in physiotherapy but also to increase your knowledge of the NHS and roles within. There is always something new to learn and develop existing skills.
What are you most proud of in your role?
My career progression and being able to utilise my skills and develop knowledge. I am proud to be part of a fantastic orthopaedic team who support and encourage growth. I am also immensely proud to have been part of a multidisciplinary team that adapted throughout the pandemic to deliver high quality care for our patients and continue to deliver services to our patients despite the increase pressure.
What would you say to encourage others into a role as a support worker with AHPs?
I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities I have had and continue to have at Frimley Heath NHS trust. I would highly recommend a career within the NHS as a support worker and believe it is a fantastic way to learn new skills, develop existing attributes and gain new qualifications.