Children's Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Job Summary

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and creative Therapy Assistant Practitioner (TAP) to be a part of our well-established Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy based at Bull Plain Clinic in Hertford. You will be joining an innovative and agile Children and Young People's Therapy (CYPT) Service committed to delivering high quality intervention and transforming lives.

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides integrated Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our CYPT integrated service provides opportunities for collaborative working, joint training and shared learning amongst each profession. Our service is commissioned by health, social care and education, allowing us to provide a seamless pathway from early years through to home, school and further education settings, to enable a child to meet their full potential in participating in activities of daily living.

Proposed interview date: 24 April 2025

Main duties of the job

Children's Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy is based on a 3 Tier model of service delivery, with provision at Universal, Targeted and Specialist tiers. We offer assessment and treatment to children and young people with a wide variety of conditions, including cerebral palsy, autistic spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder. We also carry out home assessments and advise on equipment, housing adaptations and rehousing. The team works closely with colleagues in the wider multiagency team supporting children, young people and their families to achieve their maximum potential.

Continuing Professional Development is actively supported through access to training, regular supervision, peer support meetings and staff appraisal scheme.

We Can Offer

• Regular supervision, managerial supervision and a well-established appraisal system
• CPD opportunities, including in-service masterclasses
• Opportunities to work alongside other therapists/assistants to deliver intervention to children/young people requiring support
• An initial induction period where you will have the opportunity to observe and shadow your team.

About us

A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff. We put our patients, their families and carers at the centre of our vision - Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our staff are proud to be Innovative, Caring and Agile in their work to help achieve the Trust vision. We welcome diversity in our workforce and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds.

We don't want you to miss out so we'd like you to know that if we have a high level of interest in this role, the vacancy may close prior to the advertised closing date, so please make your application as soon as possible - Apply now

You've made a great decision to apply to join to HCT - we're looking forward to taking the next steps of the journey with you.

Date posted: 08 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 4

Salary: £26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum (pro rata)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: 812-25-KWCYP16

Job locations:
Bull Plain Clinic
Bull Plain
Hertford
SG14 1DX

Job Description

Job responsibilities

The successful candidate will have some experience of working with therapists and/or with children and must be computer literate and able to demonstrate good working knowledge of a variety of computer systems and programmes. They will need to be enthusiastic and motivated, and have good communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of your patients.

If you are keen to be part of our well established and professional therapy team, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us for an informal chat and further details about this opportunity.

A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have some experience of working with therapists and/or with children and must be computer literate and able to demonstrate good working knowledge of a variety of computer systems and programmes. They will need to be enthusiastic and motivated, and have good communication, clinical reasoning and organisational skills. You must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of your patients.

Person Specification

Physical Skills Essential

• To administer therapeutic techniques as delegated by the qualified therapist including using medical equipment and manual techniques
• To handle children and babies in a therapeutic manner.

Qualifications Essential

• Documented evidence of formal knowledge and training to NVQ level 3 or equivalent
• Documented evidence of formal training, knowledge and experience of specific childhood conditions and therapy practices relating to these conditions e.g. cerebral palsy, DCD, various syndromes and disorders leading to developmental delay

Experience Essential

• Documented evidence to indicate skills and knowledge in movement and anatomy, Normal child development, therapy techniques, disorders and delays of child development
• Knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety, manual handling and risk awareness, safeguarding children
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of computer systems and programmes and e-mail systems

Skills & Aptitudes Essential

• To be able to use knowledge, skills, experience to make sound judgements and informed decisions.
• To be able to analyse problems and use problem solving skills to reach an appropriate solution
• To be able to effectively provide and receive complex information from/to children, families and other professionals (health, social care, education and voluntary organisations).

Other Requirements Essential

• Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

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 details

Employer name: Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Address: Bull Plain Clinic
Bull Plain
Hertford
SG14 1DX

Employer's website: https://www.hct.nhs.uk