Overview
Therapy Assistant - Older Persons Team. The closing date is 13 February 2026. We are recruiting for a permanent full-time Band 2 Therapy Assistant post supporting the Older Persons Service (OPS) Therapy Team. The OPS Therapy team assess and manage patients that present in the Emergency Department, the Older Persons Assessment Unit and Inpatient wards around the Hospital. The team is focused on providing high-quality care for older people with a holistic approach. Responsibilities include working alongside the Therapy team (Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapists and Therapy Assistants) on Older Persons Medicine wards, supporting rehabilitation to prevent hospital-associated physical and cognitive deconditioning, and supporting qualified staff with home visits and administrative duties such as equipment ordering and general organisation. A competency framework will be provided with training and in-house development opportunities.
Main duties of the job
The post will include 7 day working and therefore the post holder will be expected to participate in weekend working. You also need to hold a valid UK driving licence. Some administrative responsibilities will be required within this role. Previous experience of working with older people, in an acute hospital or community setting would be desirable.
Base Location and Interview
Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Interview Date: 18/02/2026
We will consider full time and part time applicants.
About us
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview. UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes. AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Education to GCSE level
* Basic skills: evidence of literacy and numeracy skills.
* NVQ 2 in care or other relevant qualification
Other requirements specific to job
* Ability to drive and hold a clean drivers license.
* Ability to use a keyboard to access and input information from a computer based system.
* Ability to move and handle patients and equipment.
* Ability to work in confined spaces
* Access to own car for work purposes
Experience
* Previous work with people where good communication skills were required.
* Interest in working with older adults
* Previous experience working in a hospital/care environment
* Previous experience working with the elderly
* Ability to work independently with daily guidance/supervision from qualified staff
* Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
* Ability to problem solve
* Good observational skills
* Ability to maintain and promote patient safety.
* Moving and handling of patients and equipment
* Food hygiene
Knowledge
* Effect of illness and injury on individual's lifestyle which may come from life experiences rather than previous work role.
Interpersonal skills
* Ability to communicate verbally and establish rapport
* Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
* Ability to work as part of a team.
Peronal attributes
* Well motivated
* Able to take direction from senior staff
* Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role
Language Requirements
* Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
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.
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr