MSK Rehabilitation Assistant | Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust; Crawley; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an MSK Rehabilitation Assistant based at Crawley Hospital. The role covers 1:1 sessions, group classes, and hub events, with involvement in audit and data collection to monitor outcomes.

The ideal candidate has rehab experience, a Level 3 PT/fitness qualification, and GCSEs in Maths/English. Training and development will support progression to Band 4.

Qualifications

• Experience as a physiotherapy/rehabilitation assistant or in a sports/rehabilitation setting.
• Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training or Fitness Instruction preferred.
• GCSE Maths and English Grade C or above essential.
• Ability to tailor exercise prescription to help patients achieve goals.
• Commitment to compassionate patient care and continuing development.
• Healthcare experience desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess and treat simple orthopaedic/post-operative conditions.
• Undertake rehabilitation programmes for complex cases under supervision.
• Manage class/logistics, bookings, and patient queries.
• Support monthly hub and community appointment days at multiple sites.
• Provide 1:1 and group patient care, in person and virtually where needed.
• Maintain IT systems and stock management for department needs.

Skills

Rehabilitation experience

Communication skills

Exercise prescription

Education

Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training or Fitness Instruction

GCSE Maths and English (Grade C+)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

MSK Rehabilitation Assistant | Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

The varied duties of this role involve both administrative, and clinical aspects; including coordinating and conducting rehabilitation programmes within 1:1 sessions and group exercise classes and also at our regular hub events. Involvement in data collection and audit will be important in this role in order to monitor patient outcomes in the classes and measure the effectiveness of the rehabilitation programmes. This role will be primarily based at Crawley hospital but may require you to work at Horsham Hospital and occasionally at other community based sites.

The ideal applicant will have prior experience as a physiotherapy/ rehabilitation assistant or within a sports and rehabilitation setting. It would suit someone with a Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training or Fitness Instruction, with experience in tailoring exercise prescription to help people achieve their goals. GCSE Maths and English Grade C or above is part of the essential criteria for this role. Applicants should be able to demonstrate commitment to individualised and compassionate patient care, alongside willingness in personal and professional development. Experience in healthcare is desirable but not essential. Applicants must have good communication skills.

To independently assess and treat simple orthopaedic / post-operative conditions.

To undertake rehabilitation programmes for more complex conditions under the supervision of a physiotherapist / osteopath in 1:1, class and hub environments.

To manage administrative elements to the role including logistics of class running, booking and answering patient queries. Additionally the post-holder will be responsible for stock management, ordering, and deputising for reception staff as required.

To support at the monthly hub and community appointment days. This may require travel to different sites and off site locations in the community.

To be responsive and flexible to cover the needs of the service as required

Starting band and pay will be determined by knowledge and experience. Successful candidates will be supported to upskill in any areas required through our competency programme, to achieve and operate at Band 4 level.

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our values—Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

To undertake the independent assessment of patients with simple post-operative / orthopaedic conditions such as TKRs, THRs, and fractures.

To work towards formulating an individualised management and/or treatment plan, using clinical reasoning skills, and utilising both rehabilitation skills and manual therapy as required. To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required, dependant on banding status.

To undertake exercise plans and rehabilitation progressions / regressions of more complex MSK patients including amputees, referred by, and supervised by a qualified clinician.

To utilise appropriate goal setting and objective markers with all patients.

To provide patient care both 1:1 and in group settings, face-to-face and virtually via telephone or video.

To use a variety of treatments supporting improvement of balance, mobility and strength.

To support at the monthly hub and community appointment days which includes patient rehab and conversations around personalised care. This may require travel to different sites and off site locations in the community.

To undergo appropriate training and to subsequently manage ordering or new equipment for the Crawley/ Horsham Department. This will be managed by stock checking both independently and via liaison with colleagues.

To demonstrate proficient IT skills to operate computer systems required for the role, including booking and patient systems alongside basic MS Office programmes.

To provide support when called upon for the admin team. This may include administrative projects and tasks, or operating on the front desk, taking calls, queries and bookings.

To attend and occasionally present at in-service training programmes, staff meetings, training sessions/courses (internal and external)

To know all emergency procedures and attend statutory and mandatory training sessions.

To be actively involved in audit activity via the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.

To use evidence based practice, audits and published research to inform practice.

To assist in the training of new members of junior staff, and students, alongside involvement in work experience and shadowing sessions.

To identify objectives for personal development through the Trust’s Personal Development Record (PDR).

To participate in supervision (clinical and non-clinical) following the department’s guidelines for clinical supervision.

To participate in clinical and departmental audits.

Be aware of Health and Safety aspects of work, and implement any policies which may be required to improve the safety of the work area. This may include the prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment used is safe.

To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out department duties, and to adhere to departmental equipment policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

Demonstrate physical ability and appropriate skills to carry out musculoskeletal assessment and intervention including manual therapy techniques, therapeutic handling and manual handling equipment.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management.

To maintain open and effective communication with colleagues, promoting safe and effective working.

This advert closes on Sunday 22 Nov 2026