Physiotherapy Assistant

NHS; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Physiotherapy Assistant to join the MHSOP inpatient team in York. In this role, you will deliver physiotherapy support to service users with mental health conditions, participate in quality improvement, and maintain effective communication. The ideal candidate will need NVQ Level 3 in care or equivalent and experience working with individuals with mental health conditions. This role, based in a dynamic rehabilitation environment, seeks someone dependable, enthusiastic, and committed to promoting independence.

Qualifications

• Experience of paid or voluntary work with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.
• Experience working alongside physiotherapists.

Responsibilities

• Provide physiotherapy support to service users with diverse mental health conditions.
• Engage service users compassionately to achieve their goals.
• Promote independence and well-being among service users.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Dependability

Flexibility

Approachability

Enthusiasm

Education

Relevant NVQ Level 3 in care or equivalent

Numeracy, Literacy, and ITQ Level 2 or equivalent

Job description

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

Physiotherapy Assistant

The closing date is 14 December 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the MHSOP inpatient team at Wold View at Foss Park Hospital, York.

The team's caseload consists of service users with organic mental health illnesses, alongside complex long term health conditions. As the physiotherapy assistant, after a period of training you will be expected to hold your own caseload and deliver group exercise classes on the ward. This work follows a set physiotherapy intervention plan which is developed by the band 6 physiotherapist. You will also be expected to work closely with the qualified physiotherapist to deliver specialist physiotherapy input.

You will be expected to attend team meetings/huddles as required and the successful candidate will also have some administrative duties e.g. order equipment, collecting and recording statistics, filing.

This will be a challenging and rewarding role in which the physiotherapy assistant will be expected to work in a dynamic environment, have strong communication skills, interpersonal skills and be dependable, approachable, flexible and enthusiastic. The successful candidate will participate with peer support and education of staff, students and carers within the service.

You will be expected to liaise with other healthcare services e.g. orthotics, wheelchair services on behalf of the physiotherapists, acting as a conduit between mental health and other healthcare providers.

Main duties of the job

The ethos of the service is to work collaboratively with service users and carers in the completion of assessments, treatment, intervention planning and rehabilitation to enable a person-centered recovery-focused approach to care, meeting their needs in a holistic manner.

To work with delegated service users who remain the responsibility of the Registered Physiotherapist on an older persons mental health ward.

You must demonstrate good verbal and written skills, be honest and trustworthy and be able to work independently on delegated tasks under the direction of qualified staff as well as under direct supervision.

You will be involved in delivering physical interventions on a 1-1 basis and educational presentations to groups of service users.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

Job responsibilities

To work with delegated service users who remain the responsibility of the Registered Physiotherapist, often working without direct supervision in an inpatient setting.

To provide physiotherapy support to service users who have a range of mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities.

To engage service users and their carers in therapeutic programmes of care and encourage them in a compassionate manner, to support them in achieving their identified goals to promote independence and well-being.

To provide the best possible experience for service users and carers.

To show commitment to and participate in quality improvement activities.

To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

To promote at all times a positive image of the Physiotherapy Service and Wider Trust.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Relevant NVQ Level 3 in care or equivalent (or willingness to undertake within agreed timescale)
• Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ level 2 or equivalent

Experience

• Experience of paid or voluntary work with people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities
• Experience working alongside physiotherapists

Skills

• Ability to communicate information effectively in a manner that is appropriate to the individual and the situation.

Knowledge

• Awareness of needs of service users with mental health conditions or learning disabilities.

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.

Jon Sunley - Physiotherapy Lead can also be contacted for discussion about the role on 01904 717762.

Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust