County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Therapy Associate Practitioner
The closing date is 01 June 2026.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated organisations in the country, providing hospital and community services to a population of over 650,000. We are an ambitious and innovative organisation with a talented workforce of over 7,000 colleagues. Our vision is to be right the first time, every time, and our mission is to provide safe, compassionate and joined up care to the population of County Durham and Darlington.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.
We are looking for an Associate Therapy Practitioner to join our Community Countywide Neuro Rehab Team. The post will be based at Chester‑le‑Street Community Hospital or Sedgefield Community Hospital, working alongside physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapy assistants.
Main duties of the job
1. The post holder will predominantly work independently in the community setting with adults referred to the team who present with a range of neurological conditions.
2. Be responsible for independently managing a caseload of non‑complex patients, completing assessments independently, setting short‑term therapy goals and treatment plans, completing timely reviews, and discharging patients from the service.
3. The successful candidate will be expected to complete documentation at point of care and be able to use a lone worker system in compliance with Health and Safety.
Job responsibilities
* Plan and organise clinical activity, with appropriate time scheduling to complete all clinical and administrative duties.
* Actively engage and be responsible for own supervision with a senior member of staff.
* Maintain clinical record‑keeping in accordance with the guidelines for documentation and legal requirements.
* Use the physical environment safely and allocate resources appropriately.
* When working in the community setting, work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a Senior Therapist if required.
* Ensure all mandatory training is kept up to date and participate in professional development including in‑service training.
Person Specification
Special Requirements
* Valid full UK driving licence.
* Experience of working in a community setting.
* Experience of audit / research.
Statutory Registration
* Knowledge of HCPC and accountability.
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Evidence of team working.
* Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
* Good organisational and problem‑solving skills.
* Ability to observe and record physical and social changes of a patient and report immediately.
* Ability to act alone in an emergency.
* Ability to prioritise work daily to meet service demands.
* Confident in the use of email and basic IT skills.
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
* Foundation degree in health and social care or willingness to work towards.
* Teaching certificate or equivalent.
Experience
* Experience of clinical supervision.
* Therapy specific role with extensive experience of working within a rehabilitation environment with physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous convictions.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Salary
£28,392 to £31,157 a year, pro rata.
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