Job overview
This is an excellent opportunity to join the Activity Coordinator team on Elizabeth Ward. In this role, you will lead group sessions and one‑to‑one activities for patients recovering from stroke or experiencing cognitive impairments, supporting their wellbeing and helping to enhance their functional abilities.
Working closely with our multi‑disciplinary team—including nurses, care support workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and doctors—you will help deliver a varied programme of activities tailored to individual needs. From sensory sessions to cognitive exercises and gentle movement groups, your creativity and compassion will play a key role in enriching the patient experience.
This full‑time position (37.5 hours per week) is worked across five days, with occasional evening or weekend shifts to meet patient needs.
You will support patients identified by the ward and therapy teams as requiring additional engagement or supervision, helping to create a stimulating, supportive environment that promotes recovery.
Main duties of the job
Although we provide in‑house training for this role, candidates must have some experience and skills in supporting people with cognitive impairments. These essential requirements are listed in the Person Specification and Job Description on NHS Jobs, but we have highlighted three key points below:
1. Experience in healthcare as a Clinical Support Worker or Rehabilitation Assistant, particularly with patients affected by stroke or cognitive difficulties.
2. Ability to manage challenging situations calmly and professionally.
3. Compassionate, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers, and relatives.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
4. To promote person-centred care by ensuring safety of the patients.
5. To provide cognitive stimulation through activities, social interaction and engagement to improve health and wellbeing.
6. To provide instruction (verbal and non-verbal) to patients on a range of activities as part of the activities programme.
7. To develop a rapport with patients to encourage and motivate them to participate in activities (either within a group or individually).
8. To contribute to the development and implementation of a creative and innovative activities programme responsive to the varying needs of the patient group.
9. To maintain and update an activity plan on the ward.
10. To observe general behaviour, abilities and responses of patients and report them verbally to the multi-disciplinary team and record within the patient record.
11. To provide support at mealtimes, encouraging oral intake and nutrition.
12. To continue therapy goals set by therapists with the aim of improving functional outcomes.
13. To support ward staff in managing stress related behaviours.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
14. Work experience in health care as a clinical support worker or Rehab assistant, and having worked with client in the Healthcare setting, particularly with stroke needs, dementia or mental health difficulties.
Desirable criteria
15. Experience as an activity co-ordinator
16. Experience of facilitating groups.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
17. High standard of written/computing communication skills with the ability to use email and internet.
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
18. Ability to manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner
19. Must be fluent and articulate in verbal and written communication.
20. Ability to maintain records
21. Ability to organise time and work effectively
22. Good time-keeping
Qualifications
Essential criteria
23. Good standard of general education
24. Adequate literacy skills
25. Some IT skills
Desirable criteria
26. NVQ Level 2
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.