Job overview
*Please note this post is open to internal applicants only*
We are looking for a motivated Physiotherapy Assistant Practitioner for In-Patients with good acute hospital experience to work within our Inpatient Physiotherapy teams covering the wards at Worthing Hospital. The post is permanent. This role will be focused on providing a high standard of Physiotherapy assessment, treatment and evaluation to clients within the Inpatient Physiotherapy service at Worthing Hospital.
You will have excellent opportunities for your own skills development, working within a strong and supportive MDT and alongside an established peer group of Physiotherapy Support Workers. This Band 4 position is an excellent opportunity to work within a dynamic, forward looking and innovative department.
Worthing Hospital is in a wonderful location, situated adjacent to the South Downs National Park and the sea and with excellent transport links to London and across Southern England. You will be joining a strong and supportive Physiotherapy team within the top performing University Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We look forward to welcoming you on an informal visit or discussing any aspect of this exciting opportunity further.
Main duties of the job
Provide a high level of Physiotherapy support to patients following admission to Worthing Hospital
·Provide skilled and insightful aid in the Rehabilitation of patients.
·Conduct a full episode of care from assessment to discharge for a specified designated clinical caseload.
·Manage a patient caseload and treat appropriately; being able to make alterations when required by assessment of patient progression.
·Work in varied and unsupervised settings, with personal or telephone access to qualified Physiotherapist. Including patients own home, care/nursing home etc.
·Provide non-clinical services to thephysiotherapyteam e.g., administrative duties, maintaining a safe environment and maintaining equipment.
·Undertake relevant service development projects.
·Undertake the assessment and discharge of a range of patients,
·Provide educational support to patients, carers, and less experienced staff in unsupervised settings.
1. To be prepared to participate in future 7-day service provision if applicable.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. 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 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.
Communication
• To be able to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with relevant Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g., Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Nursing staff, Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patient’s potential.
• Communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g., blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties / dementia, and for people who do not have English as their first language, on a one-to-one level and to enable the patient to integrate in group activities. This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools.
• Educate patients, carers and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g., therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition
·Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on health promotion, advise on access to community exercise opportunities (gym referral schemes, classes, walking groups etc) for ongoing self-management.
·Use advanced empathetic, tactful, and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients’ Rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling.
·Ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused, and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning.
·Assist in informative / observational visits, work-shadow sessions, and specific areas of induction process e.g., new members of staff and students.
·Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.
·Liaise with other team members on day-to-day issues and ward management e.g., staff shortages, increased patient caseload.
·Keep accurate and comprehensive documentation of all patient contact. Initiate documentation for assessment, transfer and discharge and be conversant with university and multi-professional documentation.
·To be able to manage potentially stressful, sensitive, upsetting situations in an empathetic manner.
Service Delivery and Improvement
·Comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
·Actively involved in the evaluation of current practice, discussions, data collection, audit and relevant projects regarding service evaluation and development be able to contribute to suggestions for change.
·Participates in the provision of weekend Physiotherapy services as appropriate.
·Identifying new work and working in different ways
·To be flexible to enable taking on new work or to work in a different way if required.
·To highlight any concerns regarding the service to the team lead and to offer constructive suggestions where possible.
People Management and Development
·Participate in the planning, administration and delivery of IST and other relevant courses offered to relevant staff from own and other departments and trusts e.g., Physiotherapy Assistant course.
·Responsible for the supervision, training, and appraisal of less experienced staff e.g., physiotherapy assistant staff / Apprentice.
·Responsible maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, review of current research and relevant literature, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses as identified within a personal development plan.
·To identify own learning needs and be open to feedback regarding own performance.
·To participate and engage in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee by preparing for the appraisal, evaluating own practice, and identifying learning needs and strategies to improve.
·To assist in the development of others such as helping induct new staff, supporting peers and assisting students in conjunction with their educator.
Patient Care Delivery
·Involved in the Rehabilitation of patients using knowledge of the patient’s pathology, exercise-based therapy and other relevant therapy techniques.
·Take responsibility for ongoing assessment, treatment, and evaluation of appropriate patients some of which may be more complex in nature.
·Assist nursing staff and therapists as required regarding day-to-day care of patients, e.g., toileting needs, transfers, maintaining hygienic environment.
·Correctly apply various therapeutic aids as appropriate e.g., Gym equipment, continuous passive movement machine (CPM), splints, braces, plaster shoes, walking aids, resistance bands, sliding boards, floor pedals and weights.
·Support Physiotherapist by undertaking skilled Physiotherapy techniques e.g.,exercise instruction, manual therapy techniques, gait re-education andfunctional transfers with individuals.
·Accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with national and trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist, to own competency level.
·Work collaboratively with relevant Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g.,health care assistants, occupational therapy assistants, nursing staff, Orthotists)to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patient’s potential.
·Facilitate patient progression through care pathways which may involve cross therapy working following appropriate training.
·Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g., therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition
·Ability to manage potentially complex situations where patients, relatives or colleagues have voiced concerns, or where there is confrontation. To be able to manage situation sensitively and in accordance with trust policies, seeking senior support where required.
·To report any abnormal or pertinent observational findings to the Physiotherapist with the appropriate degree of urgency.
Person specification
Experience/Qualifications
Essential criteria
2. Completion of Band 3 Physiotherapy Technician competencies
3. Clinical experience in an inpatient acute hospital setting
4. Health care related qualification at NVQ level 4 or equivalent qualification or equivalent level of experience.
Desirable criteria
5. 5 GCSE’s Grade A-D including English and Maths or Level 1 Functional Skills
Skills Non-Clinical
Essential criteria
6. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
Desirable criteria
7. An understanding or involvement in service development or audit, and an understanding of quality issues.
Skills Clinical
Essential criteria
8. Previous clinical in-patient NHS experience.
9. Knowledge of human anatomy and Physiology.
10. Understanding of exercise rehabilitation and prescription.
Desirable criteria
11. Completion of healthcare related courses.
People Management
Essential criteria
12. Proactive in own learning and develop knowledge and skills.
13. Evidence of supervision and support of other members of a physiotherapy team.
14. Evidence of previous experience of involvement in facilitating teaching / IST
Desirable criteria
15. Evidence of own development of knowledge and skills e.g. Portfolio / CPD (continuing professional development)
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
16. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
17. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Specific Requirement
Essential criteria
18. Flexible working patterns
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