Job overview
Come and join our dynamic Acute Therapy Team and play a key role in supporting patients at a crucial stage of their hospital journey. We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our busy and forward‑thinking Urgent Medicine Team.
We are seeking a passionate, highly motivated, and proactive individual who thrives in a fast‑paced clinical environment. As part of our well‑established therapy service, you will contribute to delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred care that makes a real difference to people’s lives.
In this role, you will carry out assessments and provide therapeutic interventions aimed at improving patients’ functional abilities, supporting safe and timely discharge, and ensuring each person transitions to the right place at the right time. You will work closely with — and be fully supported by — experienced Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who will guide your development and help you grow your clinical skills.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a collaborative, enthusiastic team committed to excellent patient care and continuous service improvement.
Main duties of the job
To accept patients referred to by the ward staff, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist and hold responsibility for own caseload, mainly working without direct supervision but with regular liaison with the Therapist. At these times, access to advice and support from a Therapist is available if required. All clinical work is routinely evaluated and monitored by an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist on a regular basis
To accept patients referred by the Multi-disciplinary Team and relay all necessary information to the Therapists to allow timely interventions.
To treat all patients according to set treatment protocols, monitor progression and make alterations as required within agreed parameters.
To develop and maintain competencies through continuing professional development (CPD)
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
1. As a highly skilled support worker, assist the Occupational Therapists and/or the Physiotherapists in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of patients in order to maximise their potential.
2. To hold delegated responsibility for the therapy management of a discrete area of the service.
3. To Carry out individual programmes as established and delegated in broad terms by the Therapist, having the ability to teach and demonstrate specific exercises and techniques to patients and assist the patient in regaining independence in respect to activities of daily living.
4. To obtain a daily hand-over report of current and new patients within the designated areas from the appropriate source.
5. To screen and prioritise new referrals for discussion with the Therapists. To screen and prioritise daily caseload for ward areas as necessary.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
6. Education to GCSE standard or equivalent to include English at grade C or above
Desirable criteria
7. Foundation Degree
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Wide ranging and comprehensive experience as Technical Instructor/ Independent Support Worker (Band 3) within relevant speciality e.g. frailty, orthopaedics, neurology, community rehabilitation
9. Experience of manual handling and issuing equipment.
10. MDT experience
Desirable criteria
11. Experience of rapid assessment and discharge from ward areas
12. Rapid assessment and discharge from ward areas
13. Managing own caseload, making decisions in a fast paced environment e.g. Acute Medicine / ED
Knowledge
Essential criteria
14. Knowledge of issues of confidentiality and safeguarding within the healthcare environment
15. Sound knowledge of a range of common illnesses, injuries and conditions relevant to the specific area of work
16. Sound working knowledge of a broad range of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy treatment and rehabilitation techniques e.g. falls, neurology, fracture management, frailty.
Desirable criteria
17. Understanding of quality issues and their implications for services, including clinical audit
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
18. Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and where there may be barriers to understanding
19. Able to communicate and disseminate complex information in a group environment and to Senior members of the MDT e.g. Consultants.
20. Able to keep accurate and legible patient notes
21. Ability to work effectively to deadlines in a fast-paced work environment
22. Ability to travel within the community, and move and handle equipment within a domestic situation
23. Be able to undertake moderate physical effort throughout day
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.