Community Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust; Wymondham; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

An outstanding community health organization in Wymondham is seeking a Community Therapy Assistant Practitioner to work 37.5 hours/week across South Norfolk. The role involves supporting patients with long-term conditions and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to facilitate early discharge from hospital. Applicants should possess NVQ 3 or equivalent experience, strong communication skills, and be motivated. Additional training will be given. This position requires transport for travel to patient homes and care homes.

Qualifications

• Good baseline knowledge of therapy; additional training provided.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and support function along the Falls Pathway.
• Effective communication with patients and ability to adapt to their needs.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to therapy for patients with long-term conditions.
• Work to facilitate early discharge from hospital.
• Prevent unnecessary admissions by working within the integrated team.

Skills

Compassion

Creativity

Excellent communication skills

Motivation

Team player

Education

NVQ 3 or equivalent

Foundation degree programme or equivalent

Job description

Go back Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Community Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 05 January 2026

Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you want to work in the first Community Trust to be awarded 'Outstanding' in the most recent CQC inspection? Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust are an integrated NHS and Social Care Trust offering opportunities for a Community Assistant Practitioner in the therapy team in South Norfolk.

We have an opportunity to work in the community within the therapy team based at Wymondham Health Centre, with an expectation to work across the South Locality if and when required. This will be a part time substantive post of 37.5 hours per week. The area you will cover is in the picturesque rural Norfolk countryside, working alongside a friendly supportive multidisciplinary team.

If this post interests you, we look forward to receiving your application. we would also strongly encourage you to discuss any aspects of this post by contacting us.

Clinical support will be provided by the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy registered staff, along with attendance at and contribution to in-service training. There is also support and development through regular appraisals, a personal development plan and regular formal supervision.

Main duties of the job

We would welcome applicants with a 'can do' attitude who reflect the values (compassion, creativity and community) and behaviours of the organisation. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and have a varied caseload, supporting functions along the Falls Pathway, long term condition management, progressive neurology management, prevention of admission and early supported discharge from hospital to patients in their own homes and care homes. The successful candidate will have a good baseline knowledge of therapy and additional training can be given for various aspects of the role.

You will also be expected to work at the Hub in Wymondham on a regular basis gaining experience in triage duties alongside community work.

About us

You will be required to work 5 days per week, between Monday and Friday, and be motivated, with excellent communication skills. There will be a need for you to provide your own transport to and from your home to your base and patient's homes and care homes.

NCHC have electronic patient records and there is an expectation that you will be a mobile worker using a laptop to enable you to work with your patients and record their care during the clinical consultation where appropriate. You will receive support and training to enable you to use this functionality.

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title

Job responsibilities

Key Areas of Responsibility1. To contribute to the delivery of therapy for patients with long term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation needs for example, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.2. To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital.3. To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital4. To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIESClinicalThe post holder will:

1. Assess patients with straightforward requirements based on predetermined department protocols.
2. Prepare for, carry out and monitor assessments and treatments in specified clinical areas, and discharge in line with predetermined department protocols.
3. Apply competency-based treatment techniques/care to patients with specific conditions under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
4. Modify and progress intervention / treatment using own clinical reasoning, notifying a qualified practitioner accordingly.
5. Prepare for and develop individual/group activities to meet defined intervention needs.
6. Monitor patients and promptly alert a qualified practitioner when there are unexpected changes.
7. Demonstrate problem solving, and contribute to the solution, working with colleagues.
8. Make basic judgements on patients response to prescribed treatment, and report findings to a qualified practitioner.
9. Plan and prioritise own visits to delegated patients and ensure these are documented in personal work diary.
10. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
11. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.
12. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients cooperation in their treatment/care/management plan.
13. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately.
14. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.
15. Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy.
16. Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with colleagues, patients, carers and other health care professionals.
17. Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important, e.g., taking blood sugars, venepuncture, supervising transfers, passive exercises.
18. Be responsible for ensuring equipment is used safely, following appropriate training, and that it is maintained appropriately.
19. Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.
20. Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner.
21. Work with qualified practitioners with group work/clinics as required.
22. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent and gain consent as appropriate following department policy.
23. Share responsibility for maintaining store cupboards, pool cars, cleaning specialist equipment and general housekeeping tasks.
24. Share responsibility for indirect patient contact tasks, such as, answering telephones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data.
25. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.
26. Demonstrate basic IT and standard keyboard skills.

ProfessionalThe post holder will:

1. To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and participation in staff meetings, training sessions, courses and reflective practice.
2. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee, maintaining a dynamic personal development plan.
3. To demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situations.
4. To provide peer support to other carers.
5. To develop competencies to enhance practice and ability to meet needs of patients and the service.

Communication1. To establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, incorporating motivation, encouragement and confidence building.
2. To demonstrate an ability to communicate with patients/carers with complex needs, using clear and effective verbal/non-verbal communication.
3. To gather and collate information to enable co-ordinator to plan interventions/liaison with others.
4. To provide direct feedback to professionals as appropriate, and in a clear and concise way.
5. To contribute to accurate and timely patient records, including data collection.
6. To communicate and share information with DNs, GPs and SWs as necessary.
7. Be able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives with communication difficulties i.e., deafness, blindness, learning difficulties.
8. To provide feedback to co-ordinator in a clear and concise way.

OrganisationalThe post holder will:

1. Undertake mandatory training as required.
2. Participate in a Personal Development Review process.
3. Undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members.
4. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.
5. Follow Trust policies, and local procedures.
6. Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy.
7. Contribute to clinical audit as required.
8. Complete the staff survey as required.
9. Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or equivalent knowledge and experience
• Foundation degree programme, or equivalent demonstrable knowledge and skills acquired through training and experience
• Experience of working in a health or social care setting

Experience

• Experience of working with people, in the statutory/voluntary/private sector
• Evidence of ongoing learning
• Experience of lone working / decision making
• Experience of working with people at the End of life
• Experience of working in people's homes

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Knowledge of additional specialist areas through in-house training & short courses
• Highly motivated
• Knowledge of multi-disciplinary team roles
• Experience of working in a community setting

Communication

• Tact & diplomacy
• Empathy & sensitivity
• Ability to use own initiative
• Able to communicate effectively using the English language in both verbal and written forms

Personal and People Development

• Ability to manage stressful situations
• A team player
• Awareness of own limitations
• Good organisational skills
• Open to change and development

Personal Attributes / Behaviours

• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults
• Able to show initiative
• Able to work alone

Other

• Be able to kneel, bend & stoop, and work in cramped environments
• Able to manoeuvre limbs of around 5-6kg
• Able to manoeuvre patients using handling aids
• Be reliable
• Must have a full UK driving license and have access to a vehicle

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

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust