Job Summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our acute Therapy team working within inpatient acute.
Working as part of an experienced team alongside Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and other Therapy Assistant Practitioners, you will provide a combination of physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessments and interventions in both the home and clinic environment.
You will assess patients independently and as part of a team across the wards. The role involves determining whether patients are safe to return home, providing equipment to enable independence, and making onward referrals to assist patients when discharged. You will also provide exercise programmes and assist with patient rehabilitation to improve strength and function.
As an integral part of the team, the post holder will assess, plan, set goals and plan discharge with a personalised approach with the patient.
We have a holistic approach and are very focused on preventing de‑conditioning of our patients while they are in hospital.
As a service we are innovative, forward‑thinking and encourage staff engagement. You will have the opportunity to be involved in service/quality improvement, develop leadership skills, and engage in student placement education.
Main Duties
Working as part of the therapy and wider multidisciplinary team, Therapy Assistant Practitioners use enhanced skills in a specialised area to provide direct high‑quality and effective therapeutic care and support to patients, including those with more complex needs. Within the scope of the role, the post holder will independently (unsupervised) plan and deliver individual or team tasks, with an understanding of role boundaries and the importance of supervision and carrying out appropriately delegated tasks and plans.
This role requires understanding and factual and theoretical knowledge of principles, policies, protocols, procedures, processes, plans and concepts in broad contexts within the area of work or defined group of patients. Although work is guided by standard operating procedures, protocols or systems of work, the post holder must be able to make judgements, plan activities, contribute to service development and demonstrate self‑development. The post holder may be responsible for supervision of others and delegate appropriate tasks to other non‑registered staff.
The post holder will be required to complete the relevant competencies required for the post and participate in 7‑day working.
About Us
Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire NHS FT, the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross‑on‑Wye.
We are a progressive and forward‑looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care we'd want for our family and friends.
More than 3,500 people work for the Trust – they tell us it's a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.
Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number: 229‑IC‑7690264
Job locations: Hereford County Hospital, Hereford, HR1 2ER
Job Responsibilities
To view role requirements and role responsibilities in full, please view supporting documents linked to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Essential – Education & Qualifications
* Relevant NVQ 3 level or equivalent
* Level 2 English and Maths
Desirable
* Relevant foundation degree or high national diploma level
* Care Certificate
Essential – Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
* Knowledge of specific relevant patient conditions and therapy interventions acquired through training or experience
* Demonstration of knowledge of core Physiotherapy and/or Occupational Therapy skills
* Evidence of ongoing CPD in relevant area
* Experience of multi‑disciplinary assessments and record keeping
* Basic Computer Skills including word processing and e‑mail
* Able to make clinical judgements without direct supervision
* Able to manage busy case load and prioritise
* Ability to work autonomously using own knowledge, skills and initiative in sometimes complex situations acknowledging role boundaries
Essential – Experience
* Experience at Band 3 or equivalent within relevant therapy.
* NHS or equivalent experience e.g. in inpatient areas, acute or community or community services
* Experience of using / fitting adaptive equipment
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name: Wye Valley NHS Trust
Address: Hereford County Hospital, Hereford, HR1 2ER
Employer's website: https://www.wyevalley.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
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