Assistant Practitioner - Stroke / Neurology

Integrated Care System; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent health service provider in Ipswich is seeking an Assistant Practitioner to join their Stroke/Neuro team. The role involves supporting rehabilitation programs and working with patients directly under supervision. Candidates should have a relevant qualification and experience in a healthcare setting. The position offers a supportive approach to personal development and various employee benefits including flexible working options and generous leave.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave

Access to NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Experience as a Therapy assistant or related field.
• Knowledge of stroke and functional needs within clinical area.
• IT literate.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based, person-centred interventions.
• Support delivery of rehab programmes for stroke patients.
• Assist in discharge planning and therapy sessions.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Organisational ability

Time management

Flexibility

Teaching skills

Education

NVQ/Diploma Level 3 or equivalent

Job description

Go back East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Practitioner - Stroke / Neurology

The closing date is 08 August 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate to join our Integrated Occupational and Physiotherapy Therapy team in Stroke / Neuro as an Assistant Practitioner.

This post will be pivotal in supporting delivery of rehab programmes, re-ablement and intensity of practice to patients with diagnosis of stroke. Group work and semi supervised practice is key for us to reach our national stroke targets so innovative solutions and individual approaches to fit patients' needs are required. Strong communication and organisational skills are also essential along with a passion for delivery excellent care to our patients.

Experience of working in an acute hospital setting or working alongside an occupational therapy or physiotherapy team would be an advantage. As we operate a seven-day service there will be a necessity to complete Saturday/Sunday shifts and bank holiday cover on a rota basis.

There will also be requirement to support the Neuro team, and the rest of the integrated therapy team as required

We offer a very supportive approach to personal development and the opportunity to be a key part of shaping the future of how therapy services are delivered.

Main duties of the job

Our Therapy Assistant Practitioners are vital members of our rehabilitation service in the stroke and neuro therapy team at Ipswich Hospital. Working under the supervision of registered Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, the post holder will be responsible for providing evidence-based, person-centred interventions to support with their rehabilitation and discharge planning. Following the National Stroke Guidelines, we strive to provide 3 hours of motor related therapy and 45 minutes of psychological therapy a day. Assistant Practitioners play a pivotal role in helping the team to deliver this to a high standard. Therefore, you will be expected to have the skills, flexibility and initiative to work safely and effectively without direct supervision from registered colleagues.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience as a Therapy assistant or experience at a similar level in a related field of health /social or fitness
• Demonstrable experience of delivering tailored personal care with an associated level of senior responsibility
• Knowledge of stroke and functional needs within this clinical area.
• Knowledge of community resources and whole systems/ pathways approach to stroke care
• Experience of working across and liaising with variety of teams and professions
• IT literate
• Completion of Integrated Therapies assistant core and/or specific competencies
• Experience of running group work

Qualifications

• Can demonstrate intermediate level of theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills acquired through coursework, in-house training and experience to NVQ/Diploma Level 3 or equivalent
• Assistant member of CSP / RCOT

Knowledge

• Knowledge of specific treatment protocols for acute stroke
• Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision
• Able to maintain clinical records and complete validated assessments
• Ability to provide and receive complex and sensitive information appropriately to MDT, patients, relatives.
• Ability to manage communication difficulties/barriers
• Understanding of impact of illness and disability on individuals/families
• Ability to evaluate patient's condition and context, and identify functional needs for safe discharge.
• Understanding of the role and application of occupational therapy and physiotherapy
• Knowledge of occupational therapy and physiotherapy within the Acute Care or Community care settings.
• Experience of group work with patients.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills to overcome barriers of understanding and cognitive impairment
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Flexibility to meet service needs
• Organisational ability and time management of self
• Confident, competent manner and professional presentation of self
• Motivational and persuasive skills
• Ability to demonstrate empathetic approach to patients/carers
• Able to recognise personal and role limitations and seek assistance accordingly
• Adaptable
• Teaching skills for use with patients / carers / students

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

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust