Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner - Cardio-Respiratory and Surgery

NHS; Gorleston-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Gorleston-on-Sea is seeking a Therapy Assistant Practitioner to support patients in their rehabilitation journey. You will manage your own caseload and assist in discharges, gaining experience across various clinical environments. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and a passion for service development. This role offers opportunities for continuous professional development and a supportive team culture.

Benefits

Opportunities for learning

Supportive working environment

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience working in health and therapy teams.
• Understanding of therapy role and concepts.
• Good level of general health and physical fitness.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of patients providing therapy and rehabilitation.
• Gather information to understand patients' circumstances.
• Liaison with appropriate agencies for patient care.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills

Therapeutic and rehabilitation skills

Ability to work independently

Basic IT skills

Education

Degree/Foundation Degree or equivalent knowledge

NVQ III in Health and Social Care

Job description

Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner - Cardio-Respiratory and Surgery (CRS)

The closing date is 30 November 2025

An exciting opportunity has become available for a Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our supportive, forward‑looking Therapy Team. We are seeking individuals to provide delegated treatment and rehabilitation to patients and support them in their discharge from the acute hospital in a timely manner. You will have your own clinical caseload and undertake assessments under the direction of both Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. You will gain experience across our Respiratory, Surgical and Cardiac wards and work with a wide multidisciplinary team.

We are an innovative team and always looking at how we can improve what we provide to our patients and improve our services. We are looking to expand how the team deliver lung ultrasound to our patients and develop new roles within the Intensive Care Unit. This gives a great opportunity for our Therapy Assistant Practitioners to support and grow within their clinical role and scope on the wards as part of the team. We are particularly interested in candidates who share our passion for service development and increasing the profile of Therapy Assistant Practitioners to improve patient outcomes.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for positive, proactive candidates who want to work as part of a dynamic team in a busy clinical environment. You would play a key role in gathering information from patients and their relatives/carers to understand their social, environmental and living circumstances, and the impact of their illness or surgery on daily activities. You will be responsible for managing a caseload of patients, providing therapy and rehabilitation following a range of conditions which may impact patients physically and psychologically. You will plan and implement functional and cognitive interventions to support patients in achieving their goals, providing adaptive equipment and aids, and evaluating outcomes of treatments.

You will also support flow throughout the hospital with timely assessments and planning discharges as part of each individual patient's recovery journey to prevent delay. This will include liaison with and referring onto appropriate agencies as needed. You will also undertake administrative duties to support the functioning of the department.

In return, we would strive to offer suitable candidates a supportive, friendly working environment within a team who are open to new ideas. Opportunities for learning and working with the wider multidisciplinary team will be available and strongly encouraged.

Core working hours are 8.00 am‑4.00 pm but flexibility can be discussed, and you will work as part of our seven‑day roster.

About us

James Paget is a vibrant university hospital providing the best possible care to the people of east Norfolk and north Suffolk. Situated on the coast with beautiful beaches and the Broads National Park on the doorstep, we are within commuting distance of Norwich City. Onsite parking is also available.

We know that development and wellbeing are key to the success of your work, and you will receive regular one‑to‑one supervision to discuss your progress, and any service evaluation and ideas. We are committed to service development, with many projects currently underway. We are forging strong links with the Research and Development Department and the University of East Anglia, and it is a really exciting time to join the Trust as these processes gain momentum. We thoroughly encourage attendance at courses and offer time and funding for innovation activity to widen personal knowledge base and bring new skills to the teams to keep our approach fresh and current. Our team have represented the Trust at CSP, RCOT and BOA conferences and support future staff to do this. In addition, we have an embedded flexible working policy with flexible hours to enable a better work/life balance but still meet the needs of the service.

We are an Integrated Therapies Department and also have close working relationships with the community teams. The profile of Therapies is growing, and our voice and opinions are heard and valued at all levels, so this is a brilliant time to join us.

Job responsibilities

• Applicants ideally possess a Degree/Foundation Degree or evidence of equivalent knowledge and skills in a similar post. For those who do not meet this criteria, the minimum qualification requirement is an NVQ III in Health and Social Care or equivalent, with the ability to complete the Foundation Degree being a condition of employment. In this instance, Annex 21 would be applied and there would be a variation in the salary offered during the training period.

Please see the attached job description for more details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

Contact Julie Power via [e-mail] to find out more or to arrange a visit.

Education and Qualifications

• Degree/Foundation Degree or equivalent knowledge and skills in a similar post. If not met, a requirement to complete a Foundation Degree.
• NVQ III in Health and Social Care or equivalent – minimum qualification for consideration.
• Numeracy/literacy skills – Level 2 or Grade C at GCSE.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience working in health and therapy teams / with people.
• Experience working as a therapy or rehabilitation assistant.
• Clear understanding of therapy role/concepts of therapy and the enabling approach.
• Understanding of the health system and acute care.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

• Good verbal and written communication skills / basic IT skills.
• Therapeutic and rehabilitation skills.
• Ability to work independently and use own initiative.
• Team worker, confident, able to recognise self‑limitations.
• Role requires ability to travel within the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area. Should hold a full current driving licence or be able to make own travelling arrangements to fulfil duties, including visits to patients' homes, delivery of equipment, etc.

Other

• Good level of general health and physical fitness to practice manual handling techniques with patients.
• Evidence of motivation for the Therapy Assistant Practitioner role.
• Professional demeanour and appearance.
• Ability to take on responsibilities and additional duties.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) will be required to check for any previous convictions.

James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust