Senior Therapy Assistant
Intermediate care is a multidisciplinary service that helps people to be as independent as possible. It provides support and rehabilitation to people at risk of hospital admission or who have been in hospital. It aims to ensure people transfer from hospital to the community in a timely way and to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospitals and residential care.
Reading Intermediate Care is a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a nurse, and senior therapy assistants, who treat people in their own homes to rehabilitate them to as high a level of independence as possible. This supportive multidisciplinary teamwork with patients across Reading in close communication with social services, voluntary agencies and GPs. The team also supports the hospital discharges /2 day pathway / falls / community physiotherapy pathways and provides support to patients at risk of hospital admission due to lack of equipment or care support.
The Senior Therapy Assistant will work with and support the clinicians by working with the patients to achieve their goals. They will also receive and process referrals, collect relevant data information and share information with the relevant services.
The post holder will support and teach practical skills to junior therapeutic and care assistants, students, patients, their relatives and/or carers.
Key Responsibilities
* Undertake initial safe assessments when a referral is received from Lead Referral Coordinators or community/acute hospital.
* Ensure patients are taken on through the appropriate service and have a clear care plan identifying their needs and ensuring appropriate actions are taken.
* Discuss patients and progress while on the service and review with the multi-disciplinary team as appropriate.
* Assist the patient in identifying their goals and recognise when these have been achieved.
* Holistically support the patient throughout the re‑ablement process and fulfil the needs of those unable to recover from ill health.
* Adopt a patient‑centred approach and liaise with Registered Nurses, Registered Occupational Therapists, Registered Physiotherapists and Care Managers/Social Workers to communicate changes in patients’ condition and to keep accurate and concise reports.
* Be the first point of contact for junior staff and elevate accordingly.
* Contribute and participate in professional development meetings.
* Collect information for triage of referrals and assess patients’ needs from the information collated and pursue the most appropriate action in a timely manner on behalf of the referrer or patient.
Qualifications / Must Haves
* Excellent communication skills.
* Car driver with ability and readiness to travel to multiple sites.
* Willingness to work alone and effectively manage comorbidities under the rehabilitation umbrella.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
* Caring for and about you is our top priority.
* Committed to providing good quality, safe services.
* Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions.
Benefits of Working for Us
* Flexible working options to support work‑life balance.
* 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell.
* Generous NHS pension scheme.
* Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
* ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles.
* Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services.
* Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants.
* Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality.
* Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave.
* Free parking across Trust sites.
FOR SECONDMENT ROLES ONLY – If the secondment role becomes permanent, the successful candidate may be offered the permanent position.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
This advert closes on Thursday 13 Nov 2025.
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