Go back Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Therapy Assistant
The closing date is 20 August 2025
* Working as part of the medical / Surgical therapy team, to provide quality care through the delivery of specified assessment and treatment programs. As directed by the senior therapists in line with competency sign off.
* This will involve working unsupervised and at times will involve working with both qualified and unqualified staff including therapy assistants.
* To assess, treat and progress treatment of patients in line with competencies set, assessed, and signed off by senior therapist.
* To provide clerical and administrative support to qualified staff and students.
* To undertake delegated housekeeping and stock control tasks.
* To participate in audit/ data collection as directed by the service in line with governance and Trust process.
Main duties of the job
Clinical:
Following appropriate training and demonstration of competency to a specified level, work unsupervised in a range of wards. To assess patients, plan and undertake assessments and onward treatment management as directed by the qualified member of staff.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
* CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
* SAFETY that is of the highest standards
* COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
* SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
* PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
* Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
* Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
* Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job responsibilities
* To accurately assess range of movement, muscle power, sensation, sitting and standing balance and transfer abilities.
* To safely assess a patients ability on the stairs and correct technique as appropriate.
* To assess and progress patients mobility which may include issuing, training and the progression in using walking aids.
* To deliver specified treatments with empathy under the management of a therapist.
* Using own knowledge and reasoning to analyse the patients condition and needs and modify treatment accordingly.
* To monitor the effectiveness of the treatment plan and use clinical knowledge to progress the treatment programme within defined protocols while keeping the supervising physiotherapist informed of the patients progress.
* To identify the need for on-going rehab / support and liaise with the team to recommend appropriate ongoing management/ continuing rehabilitation.
* To maintain using accepted protocols accurate and contemporaneous treatment records including valid consent appropriate to the intervention.
* To ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
* To be aware of own limitation of knowledge in relationship to physiotherapy and to refer back to the supervising physiotherapist when appropriate.
* To work contracted hours within specific speciality.
* To participate in the weekend service/ 7 day service as service requires.
Communications:
* To communicate effectively with patients, to maximise rehabilitation potential through verbal and nonverbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, motivation, negotiation and reassurance face to face and virtually.
* To manage barriers to effective communication e.g. hearing loss altered perception, confusion, anxiety etc.
* To use written information/ diagrams/ models, to reinforce the understanding of the patients condition, and their involvement in the treatment process.
* To liaise with the designated Physiotherapist regarding the workload of the area.
* To liaise with Physiotherapy staff regarding all individual patients.
* To liaise with other health care professionals regarding patient care.
* To liaise with other physiotherapists and health care professionals regarding the ongoing care and rehabilitation of the individual patient.
* To liaise and where appropriate advice patients, carers and relatives regarding patient care.
* To liaise with members of the team and attend meetings as appropriate.
* To liaise with Community Equipment Stores and / or the Equipment Stores Person on behalf of individual patients and the service to ensure that appropriate equipment is available when needed.
Education and Training:
* To be appraised by the therapist or more senior therapy assistant, agree personal objectives and personal development plan.
* To complete all required mandatory and compulsory training and maintaining 100% compliance as per trust requirements.
* To be responsible, with guidance, for maintaining own competencies through a range of relevant CPD activities and maintenance of an appropriate portfolio.
* To attend relevant-service training programme.
* To participate in training by the occasional delivery of presentations to fellow assistants.
Organisation and Management:
* To prioritise and manage own patient workload, whilst keeping the supervising physiotherapist aware of any changes in workload.
* To be kept informed of and comply with Professional, Trust and Departmental policies.
* To propose ideas for developing the service.
* To maintain a safe environment at all times for patients, visitors and staff.
* To ensure safe use of all mechanical and electrical equipment or orthoses and appliances used in the care of patients.
* To act immediately to rectify any unsafe practices or environments witnessed and report adverse incidents or near misses according to Trust policy.
* To provide statistical information regarding own workload as required for managerial purposes
* To provide administrative support to the team e.g. appointment booking, stock control, monitoring the loan of equipment and data collection.
* To be responsible for maintaining a tidy working environment and ensuring that there is a satisfactory level of cleanliness in the designated area.
* To ensure appropriate quantities of mobility aids and PPE are maintained within the department.
Professional:
* To maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with Clinical Governance.
* To work within the Assistant Rules of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
* To share responsibility for maintaining own competence through reflective practice.
* To be legally accountable for all aspects of own work.
* To assist occasionally with research, audit and service development projects as required
Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Person Specification
Qualifictations
* NVQ or equivalent
* Willingness to undertake NVQ in health related subject if required
Knowldge and Experience
* Demonstrable experience within a personal care setting
* Awareness of confidentiality and data protection procedures in relation to the recording of patient information
* Knowledge of stock control and referral processes for therapy equipment
* Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
Skills & Abilities
* Understanding of information technology and administrative systems
* Good interpersonal skills with effective written and verbal communication skills
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team
* Ability to demonstrate problem solving approach but seeking guidance as required
* Demonstrate a professional approach to their duties
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.
Employer name
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
£24,937 to £26,598 a yearPer annum, pro rata
#J-18808-Ljbffr