Therapy assistant

Go back Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 17 June 2026

We have an exciting opportunity for a Therapy Assistant to join our team.

Directed and supervised by Qualified Therapists you will be working with patients on the wards in a busy acute hospital.

This role involves working hands‑on with patients during their hospital admission to improve their mobility and self‑care routine [ie., washing & dressing]. Many patients are frail, elderly, or recovering from surgery or illness, and initially need full physical assistance with all basic care tasks. Our aim is to improve their mobility and independence with their activities of daily living so support them return home with minimal equipment and care support. There are also administrative tasks, equipment cleaning and record keeping.

This is a physically demanding job that requires good communication and interpersonal skills in addition to basic computer skills. You are required to write directly into the Medical notes and so a good standard of written work is essential. It is a busy but friendly working environment so you will need to be resilient, flexible and organised. You will be required to work one weekend a month and some public holidays as part of a rostered service.

Ideally you will have previous experience of working in a therapy, hospital, or care environment, however no professional qualifications are required and appropriate instruction and support will be provided.

Please be aware that there is no visa sponsorship for this role.

Main duties of the job

To assist the qualified therapists in delivering an excellent Occupation and Physiotherapy service to patients in the acute hospital setting.

To follow treatment plans set by the Qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapist. These may be in one‑to‑one sessions with a patient or in ward based groups.

To undertake general departmental duties such as cleaning, collation of statistical information and ordering bank stock equipment.

To undertake clerical and household tasks as necessary to maintain the smooth running of the department.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Job responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include:

• To assist the qualified therapists in delivering an excellent service to patients in a variety of settings.
• To contribute to the treatment of patients both individually and in groups, undertaking therapeutic work and supervising patients in activity relating to their treatment as directed by Qualified Therapists.
• To undertake general departmental duties such as cleaning, collation of statistical information and ordering equipment.
• To undertake clerical and household tasks as necessary to maintain the smooth running of the department.
• To organise and prioritise own delegated workload, under supervision of qualified staff, using effective time management skills responding flexibly to changing priorities.
• To be able to progress patient treatment within established protocols and guidelines.
• To assess patients progress, taking account of their environment, and adjust own clinical interventions accordingly and report back to the Therapist.
• To participate in and follow the Therapists treatment plan. To complete delegated interventions in the appropriate setting once trained to do so.
• To liaise with the qualified staff member as necessary regarding patients therapeutic interventions, highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from the treatment programmes.
• To be skilled in the safe use of a broad range equipment and therapeutic skills once trained.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience as a Therapy assistant within the NHS or similar
• Experience of working in a care or rehabilitation environment

Qualifications

• Completion of a Therapy or Health Care NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
• Maths and English GCSE grade C and above (or equivalent)

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

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

£25,760 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working