Occupational Therapy Assistant / Physiotherapy Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 4
Main area Trauma Therapies Rehab Assistant Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent: some additional weekend working via rota Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (some weekend working) Job ref 321-NOTSS-7574163-B4
Site John Radcliffe Town Oxford Salary £27,485 - £30,162 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 24/03/2026 23:59 Interview date 13/04/2026
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
Many of our recruitment programmes use Value Based Interviewing to identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values.
Job overview
Exciting opportunity with the Trauma Therapies Inpatient Team.
Are you an experienced Band 3 NHS healthcare worker looking to develop your career to band 4 therapy assistant, seeking the opportunity to work within our Trauma Therapies multi‑disciplinary team?
We have an exciting opportunity to offer 1 full time band 4 role within the John Radcliffe, Trauma Therapies Team.
We are seeking a candidate that has previous NHS healthcare experience. Candidates must be highly motivated, proactive, enthusiastic & patient‑focused to join us. We seek individuals with passion for rehabilitation of patients with traumatic injuries. You must have excellent communication & interpersonal skills, with a caring, compassionate approach to patient care. This post would suit those who thrive in a team but are able to work alone with guidance and support of others.
The role has combined Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and administrative duties, supporting the trauma, plastics and major trauma centre patients across wards in the John Radcliffe hospital, predominantly in the trauma centre.
We offer a robust induction and training package, alongside regular training and supervisions for individual personal and professional development, as well as excellent provision for team involvement with service quality improvements & projects.
Interviews: Dates to be confirmed from 13.04.26 and 14.04.26.
2 part interviews = Values based & technical interview conducted face to face only.
Main duties of the job
* To work flexibly as a key member of the Trauma Therapy team and the wider trauma multidisciplinary team.
* To assist the Therapy team in rehabilitating patients following trauma/ polytrauma /spinal, plastics & MSK injuries that may require orthopaedic /spinal & plastic surgery to optimise patient recovery and outcomes.
* To support patient centred rehabilitation to facilitate timely, safe discharge, reflecting individual choice and maximising an individual’s independence.
* To establish & provide holistic interventions for patients without direct supervision, working to establish treatment plans for non-complex patients, apply appropriate protocols whilst always being accountable to a registered practitioner.
* To accurately record patient information utilising electronic patient records.
* To record and input patient notes & data onto IT systems as required.
* To maintain rehabilitation equipment in the department / wards.
* To support Band 3 therapy assistants.
* To contribute to the trauma therapies team in‑service training programmes.
* To complete the trusts’ care certificate and trauma therapies competencies for the role.
* To undertake quality improvement projects and developments within the trauma therapies team.
* To comply with trust policies including annual appraisal & monthly supervision sessions.
* To always uphold and promote trust values.
* To promote and uphold trust ED&I policy.
Working for our organisation
The therapies trauma team work within the specialist surgery ward & trauma unit based on the John Radcliffe site; a dedicated unit providing in patient care to patients with a range of orthopaedic traumatic injuries. We also host the Major Trauma Centre ward for patients with serious orthopaedic traumatic injury.
The team is a mixture of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapy assistants who together work to provide excellent rehabilitation and post‑operative mobilisation to our patients who range from the young adult to the very old.
We work closely as a multidisciplinary team with our nursing and medical colleagues and have an active programme of education, staff support and research.
Person specification
Education
* Good written and spoken English.
* Proven educational standard to GCSE in English and Maths (or the equivalent).
* IT skills using health care platforms.
* NVQ L3/ TI/ AP or equivalent training.
* Demonstrates interest/involvement & experience with research & evidence‑based rehabilitation.
* Attended courses for trauma conditions.
Experience
* Experience of working autonomously.
* Experience of working at band 3 within NHS or community health services with the adult client group.
* Experience of working with patients individually or in groups.
* Demonstrates a clear understanding of Health and Community Services related to Trauma.
* Experience working within Occupational therapy or Physiotherapy rehabilitation.
* Practical and teaching knowledge to NVQ3 level or equivalent.
* Technical instructor/assistant practitioner training.
* To be enthusiastic & dynamic with the ability to motivate self and others.
* Ability to work across a variety of hospital settings.
* Ability to manage time effectively to organise workloads.
* Ability to work effectively both in an MDT & autonomously & under the direction of others.
* Ability to make observations, gather accurate information and act appropriately.
* Ability to take responsibility & use own initiative.
* Ability to facilitate groups.
* Ability to assist in staff induction programmes & training courses & supporting students.
* To be able to concentrate/focus during unpredictable work patterns or interruptions and the need to meet deadlines.
* To have coping strategies to deal with stressful/unpleasant situations.
* Able to maintain confidential records & be able to supply safe and appropriate information relating to patients, rehab, equipment and supplies & services.
* Demonstrates strong patient centred, holistic approaches in line with trust values.
* To be able to move/ handle patients safely.
* Adherence to Royal College of Occupational Therapy or Chartered Society of Physiotherapists; and HCPC guidelines and codes of ethics and professional conduct for Therapy Assistants.
* Demonstrates ability to manage challenging behaviours.
* Demonstrates ability to approach work challenges flexibly.
* Experience with risk assessment in health care.
* Experience with training/ teaching in healthcare setting.
* Experience within Trauma specific rehabilitation in Occupational therapy services.
* Experience within Trauma specific rehabilitation in Physiotherapy services.
* Demonstrates eagerness to develop career in rehabilitation.
Equality & Diversity
* To demonstrate understanding and compliance with Equality and Diversity legislation and policies.
* Demonstrates ability to uphold trust values.
COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.
Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.
Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.
Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.
Next Steps: Please make sure that you read the job description and person specification, and that your supporting statement reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted after the short‑listing process, usually within 2 weeks. (Please note that shortlisting times vary when applying for a Medical position within the Trust). The majority of correspondence will be via the e‑recruitment system; therefore you should check your emails regularly including junk mail folders in web‑based email products.
No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Please note that this job advertisement will close automatically once the application limit is reached, regardless of whether this occurs before the advertised closing date.
Band 5 Nurse and Band 2 Healthcare Support Worker recruitment is centralised, meaning when you apply you will be considered for a number of roles across the Trust. If you have any questions please email:nursing.careers@ouh.nhs.uk.
#J-18808-Ljbffr