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Therapy Assistant Practitioner
The closing date is 28 December 2025
The Community Therapy Team for Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch are looking to recruit an experienced and motivated Therapy Assistant Practitioner. The role will involve patient assessment, goal setting, implementation of evidence based treatment and management strategies, and autonomously managing your own caseload. This is open to both internal and external applicants looking to develop their skills, knowledge and responsibilities.
We offer employment in a dynamic team, of Rehabilitation Assistants, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, including a Band 7 Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Neurology, Falls, Trauma and Orthopaedics, and 2 Band 7 Team Leads. We are a supportive and close team and also have areas of defined specialisms; Neuro-Medical Therapists, and Falls, Trauma, and Orthopaedic (FTO) Therapists which enables highly specialist knowledge, therapy and skills throughout the community.
This is a full time post of 37.5 hrs per week. The post holder may be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service are able to present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.
Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will gain knowledge and experience alongside a range of colleagues, within a mutually supportive team. They will benefit from regular in-service training, and support through supervision and annual Professional Development Reviews, and contribute to the training and supervision of rehabilitation assistants.
You will be required to carry a clinical caseload of patients with orthopaedic health conditions including falls and trauma, ensuring that patients benefit from high quality, evidence based interventions, which you will deliver and record according to professional standards and legal requirements.
This is an ideal opportunity if you have clinical interest in community therapy, and a strong motivation to develop skills and expertise and provide patient centred, evidenced based therapy.
You will require a car for use at work, to enable you to work autonomously in the community to visit patients, whilst adhering to local and Trust guidance on lone working.
About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.
We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.
Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.
Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.
Job responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over-reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net.
Person Specification
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TRAINING
* Completion of or working towards the Therapy Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship (NVQ 3) OR demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills and experience
* Completion of or willingness to complete the Care Certificate
* Experience of working as an Assistant at an advancing level
JOB SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE
* Recent previous experience within a comparable role
* Experience of undertaking defined clinical or therapeutic interventions appropriately delegated by a Registered Practitioner
PERSONAL QUALITIES/ATTRIBUTES
* Experience of communicating effectively at different levels of the organisation and with staff, patient/service users, visitors or external organisations both verbally and in writing in the exchange of complex, sensitive or contentious information which may require the use of negotiating and/or persuasive skills.
BUSINESS TRAVEL
* Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.
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.
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