Go back The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
Generic Therapy Assistant for Care of the Elderly
The closing date is 02 April 2026
The Assistant Practitioner will function as part of the Care of the Elderly therapy team within the Therapies Department under the supervision of qualified Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. They will utilise the knowledge and skills gained through the Foundation degree and/or equivalent work experience to support in the assessment and implementation of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy intervention with inpatients referred to the service. They will undertake skilled and specialist support work with patients following guidelines which have been agreed and set by the qualified therapists and will be responsible for their own caseload, progressing and amending treatment programmes within agreed parameters as necessary. With support, there is also an opportunity to supervise and support more junior staff.
Main duties of the job
* To provide a high standard of care within their scope of practice as delegated by the registered practitioner
* To carry a caseload identified by the Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist
* To assess and carry out treatment plans under the direction of a qualified member of staff to develop and maintain patients’ ability to function independently
* To continue to develop and undertake a range of delegated tasks independently
* To attend mandatory updates
* To complete local competencies for the band with agreed timeframe
* Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade
* To assume responsibility for their workload ensuring that they adhere to the Trust's policies and procedures
* To work as part of a Multi-disciplinary team
About us
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high‑quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined‑up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.
Job responsibilities
To provide a high level of support to the therapy team
To be responsible for the therapy intervention for all those patients on your caseload, and work under indirect supervision. The more complex cases may require joint working with your senior colleague.
Able to accept delegation and work without direct supervision
Responsible for attending MDT whiteboards meeting to represent therapy and facilitate discharges.
To collect relevant patient information from a variety of sources to assist with clinical prioritisation and patient management; ward handovers, observation charts, medical and nursing notes.
Able to manage a ward or cohort of routine patients, escalating complex patients to a qualified therapist as needed.
Establish good therapeutic relationships with patients, and are responsible for ensuring that the patient and carer fully understand the role of physiotherapy and occupational therapy and in context with the wider MDT.
To undertake initial assessments and develop treatment plans reporting back to the supervising therapist.
To teach and supervise simple exercise programmes and treatment e.g. balance training, stairs assessments, post‑operative exercises and gait re‑education.
To assess issue and teach the use of walking aids.
Implement the appropriate therapy intervention under indirect supervision.
Plan and prepare for clinical intervention orientating patient activities towards successful rehabilitation and safe discharge – to promote and encourage independence.
Engages with community services and social services to facilitate simple comprehensive discharge plans independently, and knows when to escalate and work alongside qualified staff to establish discharge plans for more complex patients.
Facilitate the safe transfer of people and equipment using approved moving and handling techniques after training.
Fit, adjust and safely use a range of equipment and tools for a variety of therapeutic activities.
Maintain therapy equipment and materials.
To accurately record all patient assessment, plans and intervention in the medical notes.
Following PAH Trust training, to facilitate the safe transfer of people and equipment using approved moving and handling techniques.
Formulate a personal development plan and take part in the PAH Trust appraisal process.
Maintain compliance with PAH Trust Mandatory training.
Maintain responsibility for own professional continuing educational needs.
To support departmental administration when appropriate, including participation in departmental audits.
To contribute to the fieldwork education of students.
Provide support and education to patients and carers regarding all aspects of Physiotherapy.
Establish sound working relationships with all members of the multi-disciplinary team.
Actively participate in training and development maintaining a portfolio recording learning outcomes.
Recognise boundaries as a support worker.
Demonstrate the awareness of trust wide and local policies and procedures.
Qualifications
* Assist practitioner preparation with a minimum of 120 academic credits at Level 4, or certificate in higher education (Cert HE) or foundation degree in health or health and social care, or equivalent qualifications/experience
* Maths and English level 2
* NVQ level 3 or equivalent
* It may be necessary to complete additional modules/competencies within the first 12 months of employment to comply with trust core competencies
Experience
* Experience working as a therapy assistant in an acute hospital setting
* A high level of understanding of the role of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
* Able to carry out assessments for routine patients, and demonstrate skilled clinical reasoning and decision making to justify treatment plans. Able to independently offer ideas, suggestions, and solutions to problems identified in the assessment
* Should have a basic understanding of community support services
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
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr