We are looking for a motivated and driven therapy assistant with an interest in rehabilitation to support our occupational therapy and physiotherapy colleagues to deliver a high standard of care and rehabilitation across our intermediate care beds in Dudley.
The post holder will be responsible for treating patients under guidance with a wide range of clinical needs and conditions, including orthopaedic, neurological, medical and surgical, as well as frail elderly co-morbidities.
We welcome applicants with previous therapy experience, or those with previous health and/or social care experience looking to start their career in this rewarding profession.
Main duties of the job
The Therapy Assistant role provides support and assistance to the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapist during multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment of patients within the clinical team. The role requires excellent communication skills to be able to liaise with patient, families and their carer, as well as the immediate clinical and the wider multidisciplinary team. The role works clinically under the supervision of Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists and Assistant Therapy Practitioners for all aspects of patient care and treatment, equipment provision and documentation.
Working for our organisation
At the Dudley Group our patients and staff are at the heart of all that we do and that is to provide a world class service that aligns with our vision of “excellent health care, improved health for all”. We are seeking to recruit staff who share our vision and values of making Dudley Group an incredible workplace.
As part of the NHS People Promise, your wellbeing is our priority, and we are committed to ensuring our employees achieve a healthy work-life balance supported by our and by making reasonable adjustments where possible. We believe no-one should have to sacrifice family, friends, or their personal interests for work. We are a modern employer able to attract and retain high quality staff through our commitment to the NHS People Promise.
As an employer, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best. We want to ensure that our workforce is representative of the population we serve. More information - inclusive practice people promise.
Dudley Group offer many opportunities for our staff to develop and grow within their roles through our Learning & OD Team. These include topics such as communication, wellbeing, team development, cultural competency, and values.
Please click below to view our EDI page: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion - The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (dgft.nhs.uk)
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see separate job description and person spec.
Please note job may close early is high number of applications are received.
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
1. NVQ Level 3 Health + social Care or equivalent relevant qualification
2. NVQ level 2 with experience of working as a therapy support worker or equivalent
3. GCSE (A-C) – Math's & English or equivalent including functional skills level 2
4. IT Training / knowledge
Knowledge and Training
Essential criteria
5. Basic administration/IT knowledge/training. Ability to show evidence of basic computer skills
6. Evidence of working with people in a care/health setting
7. Knowledge of the roles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
8. Awareness of the value of team working
Experience
Essential criteria
9. Experience of working with people in a care/health setting
10. Previous NHS/Care setting role
Desirable criteria
11. Previous experience working in OT/Physio setting
Communication & Relationship Skills
Essential criteria
12. Good written and verbal communication skills across all media
13. Ability to work flexibly, as part of a team and respect colleagues and patients at all times
14. To show willingness to learn and develop
15. To effectively work and liaise with patients and families
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Essential criteria
16. To work with qualified and senior staff to feedback patient information
17. To report incidents as required with qualified staff as necessary
18. To understand basics of patients' conditions in relation to therapy/rehabilitation
Planning & Organisational Skills
Essential criteria
19. To be able to organise self and work with team as directed
20. To work flexibly, to be able to soundly prioritise time
21. To book leave in a timely manner and in accordance with Trust policies
Physical Skills
Essential criteria
22. To be in a good state of health to complete moving and handling of patients
23. To be able to travel to meet the needs of this community post
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Trust Values
Essential criteria
24. Able to provide safe, caring, and effective services
25. Values and behaviours that reflect the Trust values of Care, Respect and Responsibility
26. Commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination and where people feel they belong and their contribution is valued
Using AI for jobs applications:
Whilst we encourage the use of technology to help manage time and support innovation. However, it is your responsibility to ensure your application is personalised and clearly reflects your own skills and experiences. While AI can assist with drafting, it should only be used as a support tool. The content must be your own work and accurately represent your knowledge, abilities, and values. Over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in your application being rejected. A common issue arises when we receive multiple applications with identical or overly generic language.
The use of AI during assessments, including interviews, is not permitted unless it has been pre-approved as part of a reasonable adjustment. For digital interviews, you may be asked to provide a 360-degree view of your surroundings on camera and confirm that no additional devices are present. If we suspect AI is being used during an interview, we may pause the process to clarify or adjust our approach to questioning.
Caring for patients demands integrity, honesty, and accountability. We expect your application and participation to be authentic and a genuine reflection of your own experiences and values.
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK) are welcome and will be considered, dependant upon Job Role and Salary needed to meet the criteria for sponsorship, alongside all other applications. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK.
It is vital that you provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa.