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Therapy Assistant Practitioner
The closing date is 01 March 2026
An exciting opportunity to join the Interim Care Assessment Team as a Therapy Assistant Practitioner.
Our highly regarded team is an early supported discharge to assess service based at Christchurch Hospital. We support patients home who are medically ready to leave the acute hospital setting but who require additional support to regain and optimise their independence. We are a therapy‑led service and you would be working alongside Nurses and Occupational Therapists. You would support with the supervision of senior therapy assistants.
Interview Date: 9th March 2026
Main duties of the job
* To provide assessment & therapy interventions to a caseload of patients discharged from the acute hospitals to facilitate effective recovery from acute illness and trauma.
* To modify and update care and therapy goal plans to reflect patient needs.
* To provide induction, core training and clinical supervision to a small number of therapy assistants to support the team to deliver a high quality service.
* To lead on audits as requested by the clinical lead including audits to review compliance with medication administration chart protocols and documentation standards.
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.
* If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
* 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 manage a community caseload of patients requiring a supported home from hospital assessment service.
* To carry out community care reviews with non‑complex patients to modify and update their goal and care plans and determine their needs of the service.
* To refer on patients with more complex problems or issues to the registered therapist or nurse as required.
* To carry out functional assessments to determine the patients level of independence and aid basic clinical decision making within agreed protocols. These assessments will include, but not be limited to: Personal care assessments (washing, dressing, grooming). Functional Mobility Transfers: bed, chair, toilet and car. Domestic Activities. Environmental home falls assessments.
* To complete assessments requested by a registered clinician. These may include but will not be limited to: Mood assessments, Clinical observations, Cognitive assessments, Environmental home falls assessments, Gait, strength and balance assessments, Pressure sore risk assessments, Nutritional screening.
* To assess for, demonstrate & issue routine aids and equipment to patients using the most appropriate teaching techniques to enable independence.
* To ensure equipment ordered is safely and correctly fitted in a timely manner.
* Deal appropriately with unforeseen clinical and practical difficulties and use problem solving skills to resolve issues as quickly as is practical.
* To provide personal care to patients as required using trust infection control processes and personal protective equipment.
* To write and check medication administration records in line with the trust operating policy.
* To provide patients with information and advice regarding issues of health and social care to ensure patients needs are met once discharged.
* To document the results of Therapy intervention following Trust and departmental guidelines, to ensure continuity of care.
* Access patient information from the available health and social care information systems to inform therapy process.
* To identify patients where social care issues are a problem and refer them to the appropriate services to ensure a holistic approach to treatment.
* All of the above is to be completed under the guidance/supervision of a qualified therapist and if identified patients have more complex needs they should be handed over to a qualified Therapist/nurse to continue their assessment/treatment/discharge plan.
* To keep up to date with clinical knowledge and skills by undertaking self‑directed study, attending formal training as available, and liaising with registered clinical staff.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Foundation Degree in health or assistant practitioner diploma qualification equivalent to level 4.
* Attainment of competencies gained from multi‑professional team working. Trained to deliver OTAGO balance exercises.
Experience
* Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent (e.g., Exercise Physiologist, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physiotherapy Assistant) where direct patient care is involved in a healthcare environment. Working with adult patients with chronic disease or multiple pathologies.
* Previous experience working in an acute and community setting, working within a multidisciplinary team, and experience of evaluation, standard setting and evidence based practice within a healthcare/rehabilitation setting.
* Ability to assess a patient with specific objective assessment tools, without supervision. Ability to work independently on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff, mainly at a distance. Effective time management and organisational skills. Basic driving skills. Basic computer literacy and standard keyboard skills. Ability to act on own initiative, e.g. responding to an emergency situation.
* Ability to fit / adjust basic equipment such as toileting and transfer aids and mobility equipment.
Knowledge
* General knowledge of Elderly care pathologies. The effects of physical and cognitive impairment on skills, abilities and lifestyle. Basic rehabilitation techniques. Exercise prescription and monitoring (e.g., physiological signs during exercise). Health and safety responsibilities. Data protection and patient confidentiality.
* General knowledge of relevant medical conditions. Risk assessment. Audit. Project and change management.
Other requirements specific to the role
* Ability to drive, hold a clean driving license and access to a car for work purposes. Ability to move and handle patients and equipment using approved techniques.
Personal Attributes
* Flexible attitude. Well motivated. Able to work independently when required with rational, safe clinical reasoning skills. Able to take direction from senior staff and work well within a team. Empathy with older people. Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role. Highly organised with excellent time management skills and able to organise own workload on a day to day basis. Good verbal communication skills both face to face and over the telephone. Ability to document results of interventions clearly and concisely. Ability to establish rapport. Basic teaching skills. Ability to engage, motivate and inspire patients. Confident in dealing with difficult situations e.g. aggressive behaviour, conflict.
Language requirement
* 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.
Employer name
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
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