Life after a stroke – play your part

A new inpatient ward in Thanet will provide specialist rehabilitation for people affected by stroke to help them get home safely and spend less time in hospital.

Based at Westbrook House Integrated Care Centre in Margate, the ward will support people who have experienced a stroke, to help them regain function and live as independently as possible.

Clare Thomas, Community Services Director, said: “It has been our ambition for a long time to provide high quality specialist rehabilitation for stroke in east Kent. I am very excited to be taking this first step in opening the unit at Westbrook House and I hope we can continue to build our specialist services in the community to support this vital rehabilitation pathway.”

The ward will be nurse and therapy-led, with an emphasis on helping patients to reach personal goals. KCHFT has already recruited a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and dietitians to roles on the ward.

We are now looking for nursing staff, including a new role of healthcare and rehabilitation assistants, along with qualified nurses.

The trust is holding a recruitment open day at Westbrook House on Saturday, 14 January from 9am to 3pm for anyone interested in the healthcare assistant or nursing roles. You can drop-in any time for an informal chat and an introduction to the team. Can’t make the open day? Email Rachelnicholls2@nhs.net or phone 07554 439581.

Now we need brilliant healthcare and rehabilitation assistants along with qualified nurses who can provide the outstanding care we expect for our patients.

This isn’t ‘just another job’.

This ward will be at the forefront of providing the best possible care to help people recover from stroke and continue to live their life.

We’re holding open days at the hospital on Friday, 9 December and Saturday, 14 January from 9am to 3pm.

You can drop-in any time for an informal chat and an introduction to the team. Bring your ID and you could leave with a firm job offer.

Can’t make the open days? Email Rachelnicholls2@nhs.net or phone 07554 439 581.

With your help, more people will be able to lead fully-independent lives after a stroke.

If you don’t have the qualifications required in the job description, we may be able support you to gain these while you’re employed by us. Just call and have a chat with us.

Click on the links for more information and to apply:

• Band 2 Health and rehabilitation care assistants (level two qualified or with relevant experience).
• Band 3 Health and rehabilitation care assistants (level three qualified).
• Band 5 Registered Nurses.
• Band 6 Clinical Sister.