Band 4 Senior Therapy Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sutton Coldfield; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training on the job

Professional development opportunities

Career development support

Staff training

Job summary

Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield is seeking a Senior Therapy Assistant to join the therapy team in Healthcare of Older People. The role involves supporting physiotherapy and occupational therapy, assisting with assessments, planning rehabilitation, and accompanying therapists on home visits.

Hours vary by area with weekend cover included. The post requires prior OT/PT/generic therapy support experience and NVQ 3 or equivalent, with trainees encouraged to pursue the Care Certificate if

Qualifications

• GCSE English and maths at grade C or equivalent.
• NVQ 3/4 or equivalent with care setting experience.
• Care Certificate or willingness to work towards it.

Responsibilities

• Support the physical, psychological and functional maintenance, treatment or rehabilitation of patients.
• Assess patients with the MDT to decide on treatment and discharge destinations.
• Plan and prepare home visits and accompany therapists on them.
• Maintain patient records and communicate with patients, carers and relatives.
• Participate in weekend cover rota with hours varying by area.
• Carry out delegated clinical interventions under supervision.

Skills

Therapy support

MDT collaboration

Communication

Clinical reasoning

Organisation

IT skills

Keyboard skills

Education

GCSE English & Maths

NVQ 3 or equivalent

NVQ 4 or equivalent

Care Certificate or open to work towards

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

This Senior Therapy Assistant post sits in the therapy team within Healthcare of Older People at Good Hope Hospital, working under the supervision of qualified therapists. The work combines physiotherapy and occupational therapy support, from helping assess patients and plan rehabilitation and discharge to accompanying therapists on home visits. It is a full‑time role with a weekend cover rota, and hours vary by area. Fit depends on prior experience as an OT, PT or therapy support worker and an NVQ 3 or equivalent.

What the job involves

• Use specialist technical skills to support the physical, psychological and functional maintenance, treatment or rehabilitation of patients
• Work within the MDT to assess patients and decide on treatment, rehabilitation and discharge destination
• Assess patients to prevent admission or limit length of stay in hospital
• Facilitate discharge or transfer of care to a more appropriate setting
• Carry out delegated clinical interventions, working without direct supervision
• Accept patients referred by therapists for treatment
• Give feedback to registered therapists on patient progress and report any problems
• Plan and prepare home visits and accompany registered therapists on them
• Maintain appropriate patient records
• Communicate information and instructions to patients, carers and relatives
• Take part in the weekend cover rota, with hours varying by area

Qualifications

• GCSE grade C or above in English and maths, or equivalent, with demonstrated competence in both
• A level, NVQ 4, BTEC or equivalent, or NVQ 3 plus substantive care setting experience
• Care Certificate, or willingness to work towards it

Experience

• Comprehensive experience as an OT, PT or generic therapy support worker, supporting therapists in a relevant clinical setting
• Comprehensive experience delivering acute inpatient rehabilitation programmes, with MDT collaboration and hospital discharge planning

Skills & knowledge

• In-depth understanding of therapy areas, the effects of illness and disability on function, and rehabilitation aims
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection in healthcare
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including formal feedback to the MDT and representing therapies internally and externally
• Good clinical reasoning and problem‑solving, with ability to contribute own ideas
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation and time management
• Good IT and keyboard skills

Other

• Communicate with patients, carers and relatives, including those with communication difficulties or English as a second language
• Physical fitness, dexterity and coordination for manual handling and treatment
• Work independently and as part of a team and interdisciplinary team, under pressure and flexibly, including weekend and evening day case cover
• Reliable, trustworthy and empathetic, committed to patient-centred care, and able to cope with potentially upsetting clinical situations

Nice to have

• Evidence of recent healthcare‑related education or personal development
• Proactive continuing professional development
• Experience communicating with and motivating patients who have communication difficulties
• Experience working in an acute hospital setting
• Good understanding of the working environment, whether healthcare, NHS, acute or community
• Able to demonstrate and teach practical skills to others, including safe use of equipment
• Willingness to take part in and at times lead departmental activities such as group supervision, course development and training delivery

What’s offered

• Support with any training needed to do the role
• Training opportunities on the job and from outside the team
• Commitment to continued professional and career development
• Opportunities to extend scope of practice within the teams