Senior Therapy Support Worker
The closing date is 25 February 2026
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to fill our Therapy Support Worker vacancy joining our Trauma and Orthopaedic therapy team. You should have relevant experience within T&O; working in a healthcare setting in the UK, knowledge of Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy, or equivalent roles in supporting discharge planning. You will have the opportunity to work with T&O patients on the wards supporting assessment, discharge planning and rehabilitation.
The successful applicant will join our experienced integrated therapy team, working alongside occupational therapists, physiotherapists, therapy support workers and the wider multidisciplinary team.
We are looking for an individual who is motivated, enthusiastic and flexible in all areas of care and their approach to work. The ability to work well with all members of the multi‑disciplinary team is essential. You will need to have excellent communication skills, have a positive attitude, compassionate, and be able to work as part of a team. Being able to motivate and encourage patients in an active way to regain and maintain their independence is important. This senior therapy support worker post will initially be based at Cheltenham General Hospital, but will involve cross‑site working between Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
You will be required to contribute to the orthopaedic weekend/extended working hours rota. Being able to drive to support with access and home visits is desirable.
Main duties of the job
* To use the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and client‑centred way, to promote independence, improve function and facilitate safe discharge. This will be achieved by implementing treatment plans and facilitating rehabilitation within agreed limitations through exercise, physical modalities and the use of occupation.
* The post holder will expect and be willing to work across both hospitals sites and off‑site locations, as required.
* To assess patients, identifying patients’ problems, potential complications and contraindications and to raise for assessment by a registered practitioner/MDT, when necessary.
* To identify and organise/undertake appropriate treatment within a delegated framework of responsibilities, reporting back to a registered practitioner/MDT and referring to other agencies, when necessary.
About us
Join a forward‑thinking, compassionate, and high‑performing integrated Therapy Service at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate and skilled individual to make a meaningful impact within a supportive and collaborative environment, while developing a fulfilling career.
As a member of the Therapy Service, you will play a vital role in delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred care across a range of specialties.
What sets the service apart is our strong multi‑disciplinary team culture and collaborative working with other colleagues. You’ll benefit from excellent professional development opportunities, including access to structured supervision and educational frameworks, and the chance to be involved in innovative service improvement projects that shape the future of care.
By choosing Gloucestershire Hospitals Therapy Service, you are joining a team that truly values its people. We are proud of our supportive and inclusive culture through our compassionate leadership and our ongoing investment in staff wellbeing and development.
Job responsibilities
To use clinical reasoning skills to agree functional goals and develop and evaluate the treatment plan. To implement and progress treatment programmes in order to promote physical / functional independence. To include the instructing of patients on functional exercise, the assessment and issuing of equipment for activities of daily living in hospital and in the home. Assessing and instructing patients in the safe use of mobility aids and equipment for activities of daily living, and practice activities of daily living such as mobility, safety on the stairs, dressing and bathing.
To provide a collaborative assessment and treatment approach to reduce repetition of information and provide a seamless pathway of rehabilitation from assessment through to discharge, with appropriate follow‑up intervention post discharge. To improve the discharge planning process by communicating as a key member of the multidisciplinary team.
To exercise autonomy in the management of the caseload in the clinical area, to include making decisions about allocation of work to other staff, both registered and non‑registered. To undertake specific unaccompanied work and organise own caseload comprising of patients with predictable and unpredictable conditions.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* GCSE Level C/4 or equivalent Maths and English
* Completed or working towards a Foundation Science degree (or equivalent); or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) with CPD evidence demonstrating clinical reasoning, professional conduct, initiative, and leadership.
* Valid full UK Driving License
Experience
* Proven experience as a physiotherapy or occupational therapy support worker working in the NHS or other care setting in the UK, and demonstration of skills by evidence e.g. portfolio
* Working knowledge of basic software packages e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook
* Experience of providing training to other healthcare workers
Knowledge
* Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and non‑verbal and written when interacting with staff, patients, relatives and carers
* Excellent organisation skills, time management and prioritisation skills.
* Produce accurate and legible documentation of treatments
* Form professional relationships with clients who may need motivating and encouraging, in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
* Manage appropriately in difficult emotional or physical environments e.g. upset patients/relatives and difficult physical environments e.g. home circumstances
* Evidence of initiative and leadership
* Work flexibly in response to the changing demands of the service.
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.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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