The ‘Think Therapy’ training programme aims to give healthcare support workers the skills to support patient rehabilitation.

Based on the premise that every member of clinical and support staff a patient comes across while in hospital should have a positive impact on their treatment. Through the project, healthcare support workers are taught basic physical, mental and cognitive therapy methods to aid patients’ recoveries and prevent deterioration.

The project has proven successful so far, and now further opportunities have been developed to enable student nurses to shadow therapy assistants, physiotherapists and occupational therapists at work, giving patients even more access to therapy during their journey in the hospital.

Emma Sessa, therapy assistant and project lead said: “‘Think Therapy’ means ‘think holistically’. If every person a patient comes into contact with assisted with basic rehabilitation, it gives our patients the confidence they need to develop new habits, be independent and speed their recovery along.

“We are excited to take this project further to reach more teams. Our healthcare support workers have the most contact with our patients therefore their input and impact they can have is invaluable.”