Children's Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust; Stevenage; Remote; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust seeks a dynamic Children’s Therapy Assistant Practitioner to support Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy teams at Danestrete Clinic in Stevenage, covering Stevenage and North Hertfordshire.

You will assist OTs and PTs in clinics and interventions, participate in CPD, supervision, and appraisal, and contribute to a child-focused pathway across early years to education settings.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 4 or equivalent relevant to the role
• Knowledge in movement and anatomy, normal child development
• Understanding of disorders and delays of child development

Responsibilities

• Support OTs and PTs in delivering clinics, workshops and therapeutic interventions
• Carry out home assessments and advise on equipment, housing adaptations and rehousing
• Promote continuing professional development with training, supervision and appraisal
• Observe and shadow team during induction and establish effective communication with the team
• Work with therapists/assistants to deliver interventions for children/young people

Skills

Communication

Clinical reasoning

Organisational skills

Team player

Autonomy

Education

NVQ level 4 or equivalent

Tools

Computer systems

Job description

Children's Therapy Assistant Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 4

Main area Children's Therapy Assistant Practitioner Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 30 hours per week Job ref 812-26-KWCYP26

Site Danestrete Clinic Town Stevenage Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 01/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 09/10/2026

Job overview

We are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic and creative Therapy Assistant Practitioners to be a part of our well-established Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physiotherapy (PT) team. This role involves supporting OTs and PTs in the service, and the delivery of clinics, workshops, and therapeutic interventions. This post is based at Danestrete Clinic covering Stevenage and North Hertfordshire.

You will be joining an innovative and forward-thinking CYP Therapies (CYPT) service that is dedicated to providing high-quality interventions to transform lives. Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust provides integrated Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and Physiotherapy Services for families across the county. Our CYPT 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.

*Interviews will be on 9 October 2026 in Welwyn Garden City.*

Previous applicants from the last 6 months need not apply.

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.

Working for our organisation

We’re delighted that you’re exploring a career with HCT. As an organisation, we’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and rewarding work environment — one where you’ll feel valued and empowered to make a real difference.

At HCT, we put patients, their families, and carers at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is simple yet powerful:Outstanding Services and Healthier Communities. Our dedicated staff take pride in beingCaring, Pioneering and Inclusive, working together to turn this vision into reality.

Working with us comes with a host of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and work-life balance:

• Generous annual leave (27 days rising to 33 with long service)
• Flexible working arrangements to help balance personal and professional life, including up to 5 days of carers leave (pro rata)
• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 confidential support for personal or work-related issues
• Cycle to Work and Car Lease Schemes
• Blue Light Card and NHS Discounts
• Health and wellbeing support , including free flu jabs, Physiotherapy referrals, eye care vouchers
• Enhanced sick pay above statutory entitlements

We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds, ages, and communities to apply.

You’ve taken a fantastic first step by considering HCT. We’re excited about the possibility of welcoming you to our team and taking the next step in your journey with us.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see Job Description attached, which details the responsibilities within this post.

The successful candidate will have 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. They must be a team player but be able to work autonomously and have the ability to champion the needs of patients.

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).

Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud

The use of AI is monitored and if you have used it then you are required to declare this, as well as what type of AI tools you have used and for what purpose. We reserve the right to further test your individual knowledge and skills in relation to the requirements for the post through robust and thorough interview and assessment.

HCT will prioritise recruitment of workers living in England under the new immigration rules for care workers effective from 9 April 2025. Employers must first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so.

Person specification

Qualification and knowledge MAX 300 WORDS

• What is your specific, relevant experience of working with children or as a therapy assistant practitioner delivering physiotherapy and occupational therapy
• Documented evidence of formal knowledge and training to NVQ level 4 or equivalent relevant to role including knowledge in movement and anatomy, normal child development, and disorders and delays of child development.
• Demonstrate your understanding of Health and Safety, manual handling and risk awareness and the impacts of these on your work

Experience - MAX 350 WORDS

• Describe experiences you have in working with other professionals to support a child/young person
• Tell us how you have used patient record systems, programmes and computer systemsin your work
• Describe what experience you have in assisting with carrying out therapeutic techniques as delegated by the qualified therapist, including using medical equipment
• What is your experience of handling children and babies in a therapeutic manner, including using manual techniques

Skills and Abilities - MAX 200 WORDS

• Tell us how you have adapted your communication skills in order to work effectively with children, families or professionals
• Describe how you manage your workload and prioritise tasks
• Describe how you use problem solving skills to reach an appropriate solution or manage a situation.

Additional

• Have you previously worked within an NHS or educational environment? (YES/NO)
• Hold a full, valid UK driving licence and have access to a car unless the staff member has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010

We will communicate any interview arrangements with applicants via e-mail so it is advisable that you check the email address you give on your application on a regular basis.

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band. All new appointments (excluding Medical & Dental roles) are subject to a 26 week probation period.

We are proud to be an armed forces friendly employer and support the employment of the armed forces community, including veterans, spouses and partners. For more information, contact [e-mail]

Applications from qualified job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications, subject to you meeting minimum criteria of the role and salary threshold.

If applicable to the role, staff are required to hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use with business insurance (unless the member of staff has a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

In submitting an application form, you authorise Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record Inter Authority Transfer process should you be appointed to the post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.