Overview
Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Therapy Assistant - Neighbourhood Rehabilitation
The closing date is 10 October 2025
We are looking to appoint a dynamic, motivated, enthusiastic and forward-thinking Therapy Assistant to work within our Neighbourhood Rehabilitation Service. The service provides assessment, treatment and support within patients own homes and spot-purchased nursing care homes, based on patient need and dependency levels. The successful applicant will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team alongside Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists across our Neighbourhood Teams. Following initial assessment by a registered health care professional, you will exercise initiative and judgment in contributing to enabling service users to reach their potential and develop knowledge to promote holistic care. You will also be responsible for coordinating the duty rota, distributing shifts and daily visits to support workers within the team. You will have excellent communication skills to support and motivate patients to participate in their rehabilitation. Hours of work will include weekends and bank holidays.
Visa sponsorship under the Health and Care Worker visa route can only be considered if the prorated salary meets the minimum threshold of £25,000, as required by the UK Visas and Immigration. For Band 3 roles, only full-time positions at the top of the pay scale meet this threshold. Therefore sponsorship may not be possible depending on salary increment placement and working hours.
Main duties of the job
As Therapy Assistant you will:
* work in close liaison with the wider MDT, therefore excellent communication and time management skills are essential
* Provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate care to people that maximises their rehabilitation potential
* Participate in training, education, and clinical supervision to develop skills and knowledge and apply continuous reflection on own practice
* Possess high levels of communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills
* Be committed to teamwork and delivering high-quality patient care
* Exercise a degree of independence, under supervision, using your initiative and judgment when delivering tasks
* Develop and maintain meaningful therapeutic relationships with people and ensure the care experienced is positive and service user safety is maintained
* The use of a vehicle to undertake any necessary travel in connection with the duties of the post is essential
* All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means we’re accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we’re run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder will:
* under the supervision/direction of registered health care professionals/associate practitioner, within a delegated framework for agreed tasks, seek support as and when necessary, in the delivery of therapeutic interventions, psychological and physical care to a defined group of people
* as part of a healthcare team, provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care to people that maximises their recovery and rehabilitation potential
* develop and maintain meaningful therapeutic relationships with people; adopt a polite, positive and empathetic approach, communicating effectively and informatively
* demonstrate an understanding of the care and treatment programmes of a designated group of service users to enable you to instruct, advise and guide service users, family and carers; make appropriate adjustments independently (within own competence) and communicate any changes to service users and registered health care professionals
* be required to concentrate for periods of time, depending upon the care intervention/care plan (e.g., following the observation policy, taking and recording physical observations) and respond to issues of concern appropriately; may include areas of work requiring physical effort, with regard to risk, health and safety
* exercise a degree of independence, initiative and judgement and consider different approaches when delivering tasks; assess situations, identify and resolve potential problems within own competence and skill set
* ensure the care experienced is positive and service user safety is maintained; treat everyone with respect, dignity and courtesy in accordance with the Trust’s values
* contribute to the care planning process; understand the principles underlying care planning to enable the service user to reach an optimum level of functioning/independence/recovery
* implement care within well-established policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and established clinical care plans; organise a range of activities (e.g., facilitate meaningful activities for individuals or small groups)
* apply knowledge of longer term health conditions (e.g., diabetes, obesity, smoking cessation) providing advice and support
* undertake the physical aspects of care (e.g., moving and handling of service users); use items of equipment in delivering care (e.g., hoists, wheelchairs) with appropriate instruction on their use
* assist in dealing with verbal/physical aggression using de-escalation techniques; may include the need for restraint and/or seclusion (as appropriate to the role and in line with Trust policy and training)
* attend to the service users personal care needs as required
* participate in a flexible rostering arrangement providing 24-hour/7 day care (as appropriate to the role)
* For full details of the role please see the job description and person specification attached.
Person Specification
Special Knowledge/Skills
* As appropriate to the role: demonstrates excellent customer care skills
* Enthusiastic, able to work flexibly on a 24hr shift pattern to meet the needs of service users (where appropriate to the role)
* Demonstrates safe decision making skills commensurate with role
* Excellent communicator, numeracy and literacy skills level 3 and good IT/keyboard skills
* Knows responsibilities regarding confidentiality and trust
* Resilience to pressure and exposure to emotional, distressing or hazardous situations (e.g., verbal aggression, body fluids, etc.)
* Non-judgemental, empathetic manner
* Demonstrates Trust Values
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Good administration and organisational skills
* Able to use observation skills to identify potential service user, environmental risks and act appropriately
* Able to fulfil the value-based induction requirements
* Language skills other than English
* Experience of supervising/inducting others
Training
* Must be willing/able to undertake all appropriate Trust mandatory training requirements and subsequent refresher training relevant to the area
* Must be willing/able to undergo job development and training
* Demonstrate excellent knowledge of service user safety, e.g., Prevention and management of violence and aggression, moving and handling
Qualifications
* GCSE A-D or grade 3-9 in Maths and English or equivalent
* RQF/NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent relevant to the post
* Or, RQF/NVQ level 2 in health and social care with the ability to demonstrate competencies at level 3
* Care Certificate or required to achieve within 12 weeks of commencement (where appropriate to the post)
* Level 4 units in Health & Social Care (or other relevant to the post)
* Experience of the speciality area
* Willingness to undertake further study towards level 4 qualification
Experience
* In providing personal care and related procedures for those with health/social needs (where appropriate to the role)
* In working in a caring environment at a band 2 or equivalent level of competence
* In dealing with the public
* In working as an effective team member
* Demonstrating own duties
* Ability to work effectively, professionally and independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team
* In demonstrating initiative, decision-making and prioritisation skills
* Evidence of a commitment to service user and carer involvement
Personal Attributes
* Responsive attitude and approach
* Dress appropriately for the environment
* A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)
Physical Attributes
* A satisfactory sickness record over previous 2 years
* Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary)
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 name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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