Job overview
*Exciting Service Expansion Opportunity*
Are you a Therapy Assistant with experience in acute care settings? Are you ready to take the next step in your career by enhancing your leadership, clinical, educational, and research skills in a dynamic new role?
The Royal Sussex County Hospital has launched an innovative 7-day front-door therapy service, and we are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Assistant Practitioner to join our expanding team.
About the Service
Operating from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday to Sunday. The service will support patients across the Emergency Department (ED), Clinical Decision Unit (CDU), and Acute Admissions Unit (AAU). Our integrated therapy model ensures rapid, comprehensive assessments and seamless collaboration between Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, facilitating efficient patient journeys.
The Team
You will be part of the Integrated Discharge Team, which includes Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Discharge Coordinators, and Therapy Assistants. We pride ourselves on our strong multidisciplinary approach and close collaboration with wider healthcare professionals on the acute floor.
What We Offer
1. A supportive and inclusive working environment
2. Un-registered Band 5 competencies to ensure you work within your own scope of practice
3. Regular supervision and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities
4. Access to training for both clinical and leadership development
5. Opportunities to contribute to service development and clinical audits
A key role in shaping and delivering this new 7-day service
Please note this is a Band 5 post and not a progression post
Additional Opportunities
We are also recruiting for bank staff. If you are interested in flexible bank hours, we encourage you to apply.
Main duties of the job
6. To provide assessment, treatment, and discharge planning for a range of acute medical, orthopaedic, and elderly frail patients referred to the FDFT therapy service (Emergency Floor & Department of Medicine for the Elderly Wards), in accordance with national and local guidelines and standards.
7. To work in collaboration with the wider MDT and health professionals in both secondary and primary care.
8. To supervise, teach and appraise Physiotherapy Associate Practitioners and qualified physiotherapy staff.
9. To support the Team Leads and Band 6.
10. To participate in CPD, IST, audit, evidence-based projects, and service development projects.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & 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, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & 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 & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you view this document and use it when completing the application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the "job description and main responsibilities" section below.
Person specification
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
11. Good basic level of education
12. Evidence of relevant clinical experience in the frail patients, working as an autonomous practitioner at Band 4 level.
13. Demonstrate assessment and management of variety of patients within different specialties e.g., frail, respiratory, medical, orthopaedic and neuro
Desirable criteria
14. Relevant courses / training in specific speciality.
Skills
Essential criteria
15. Ability to prioritise own work and delegate appropriately to others
16. Use initiative and problem-solving skills to resolve queries and problems
17. Recognising when to escalate unwell patients, queries and other issues to Team lead/ nursing staff as appropriate
18. High level communications skills within the MDT, patients, families and carers, and community colleagues
People Management and Development
Essential criteria
19. Evidence of supervision of staff and development of team members and volunteers
Desirable criteria
20. Experience of recruitment and selection
21. Experience of service development
Specific Requirements
Essential criteria
22. Ability to work in a fast paced / high pressured environment.
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