Job overview
The University of Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has an exciting new opportunity for a dedicated Band 3 Physiotherapy Technical Instructor to join our friendly Orthopaedic Physiotherapy team, working across The Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre and The Princess Royal Hospital, in the heart of Mid Sussex.
The Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre is a specialist unit for patients undergoing elective and trauma orthopaedic surgery, including major joint replacements and day case surgery. We are proud to be accredited by GIRFT (a national programme promoting excellence in surgery) as an orthopaedic surgical hub. Currently we have several exciting patient improvement projects ongoing; including performing day case joint replacements and robotic surgery. The Princess Royal boasts a dedicated fractured Neck of Femur unit, providing specialist care to patients post-injury.
The department is committed to professional development which is facilitated through an established IPR, mentoring schemes and dedicated CPD time.
Main duties of the job
This post and will require a hard working and enthusiastic individual to support our clinical team. The successful candidate will require excellent organisational, communication and IT skills. Experience in a healthcare setting would be an advantage, but not essential.
After appropriate training, the candidate will be required to assist physiotherapists in the assessment and treatment of patients across both units, helping them to regain their mobility and independence post-surgery.
There will also be a number of administrative duties that the candidate will need to perform to assist the team. These include; management and ordering of stock, sending and processing onward referrals for the team, telephone duties and photocopying. Please read the job description for details of these.
Working for our organisation
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
1. Assisting qualified therapists with the assessment and treatment of Orthopaedic patients.
2. Independently treating Orthopaedic patients who have already been assessed by a physiotherapist. This may include teaching exercises, teaching patients how to use a walking aid, practicing using walking aids with patients, measuring patients for walking aids.
3. Fitting boots, surgical shoes and braces to patients when instructed.
4. Equipment Management; to perform basic daily stock checks, ordering stock via the trust’s iProcurement system, cleaning and putting away physiotherapy stock and equipment. Ensuring essential levels of stock are maintained on the ward and in day case physiotherapy.
5. Coordination of onward patient referrals; sending and receipting of onward patient referrals, registering urgent onward patient referrals on Careflow.
6. Collation of clinical departmental statistics
7. Answering the departmental telephone and emails on the SOTC physiotherapy generic email account, dealing with patient queries and forwarding on these to qualified therapists where necessary.
8. Printing and photocopying physiotherapy paperwork.
9. Taking and typing up meeting minutes.
10. Tidying the office and gym.
11. Assisting with formatting/typing up old and new physiotherapy patient information leaflets/booklets
Person specification
Experience Dealing with Members of the public (Face to Face)
Essential criteria
12. Has worked in a setting dealing with members of the public face to face
Desirable criteria
13. Experience in Healthcare or similar setting
14. Experience in Physiotherapy Department
15. Experience in Inpatient Orthopaedic Department
Has strong IT skills
Essential criteria
16. Evidence of proficiency with Microsoft office, including word, outllook and excel.
Desirable criteria
17. Experience of using healthcare software
18. Experience with using Panda/Bamboo, Careflow, iProc
Understands Practical aspect of role of Physiotherapy Technical Instructor
Essential criteria
19. Shows a clear understanding of role of Physiotherapy Technical Instructor
Desirable criteria
20. Has worked in health care or similar field (sports/leisure) 'hands on'
21. Has worked as A PTA or tech
22. Experience in Manual handling of clients/patients
23. Experience teaching or assisting with exercises
Communication Skills
Essential criteria
24. Demonstrates (with examples) excellent communication skills verbal/non verbal
Desirable criteria
25. Has experience dealing with people who have communication difficulties (with examples).
Organisational Skills
Essential criteria
26. Demonstrates (with examples) excellent Organisational Skills
Desirable criteria
27. Has implemented systems to improve systems/efficiency in previous roles
28. Understands role of Tech in contributing to the smooth running of the department with examples/ideas
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential criteria
29. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
30. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications