Physiotherapy Assistant/Plaster Technician

OUH; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Physiotherapy Assistant/Plaster Technician (NHS AfC: Band 3) for the paediatric therapy team in Oxford. The role is a part-time, permanent position (19.5 hours per week) with duties including assisting with plaster cast removal and application and providing support under supervision of a physiotherapist.

Applicants should have good communication and organisational skills; prior experience in a similar hands-on setting is

Qualifications

• Good communication and organisation skills.
• Experience in similar paid or voluntary work (e.g., casting) is advantageous.
• Full training will be given.

Responsibilities

• Support clinical practitioners to deliver direct patient care in a children's plaster cast service, including pre- and post-op casting.
• Attend to patients, therapy colleagues, consultants and referrers in person or by phone, acting as a frontline representative of the service.
• Maintain a clean, tidy clinic environment and casting equipment.

Skills

Communication

Organisation

Plaster casting experience

Job description

Physiotherapy Assistant/Plaster Technician

NHS AfC: Band 3

Main area Therapy Assistant Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 19.5 hours per week Job ref 321-NOTSS-8127260-B3

Site Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre Town Oxford Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pro rata per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 14/10/2026 23:59

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

Many of our recruitment programmes useValue Based Interviewingto identify those who have the skills we seek, who share our values and who are able to deliver compassionate excellence from the outset. We know that this makes a significant difference to your job satisfaction and above all the outcomes and experience of our patients and their families. For more information about our Values and Value Based Interviewing please visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/about/vision-and-values

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly, enthusiastic and professional children's outpatient therapy team. The post holder will be directly involved in patient care, assisting physiotherapists with treatments such as plaster cast removal and application, and seeing some patients independently under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Prior experience of similar paid or voluntary work, e.g. casting or other "hands-on" technical work or hobbies would be an advantage, although full training will be given. The successful applicant will have good communication and organisation skills as this post is pivotal in the smooth running of the department, taking responsibility for ordering plaster supplies and mobility equipment.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties:

• To support clinical practitioners to deliver direct patient care in a children's' elective plaster cast service. This includes pre-and post-op casting (including minor wound and skin care), and casting for therapeutic goals such as stretching / walking pattern
• To provide efficient and effective indirect clinical support to the department: attending to patients, therapy colleagues, consultant surgeons and referrers to the service, both in person in clinic and on the telephone, promptly and courteously at all times and be a worthy frontline representative of the high quality service.
• To maintain a clean and tidy clinic environment, including cleaning of casting equipment
• To support the physiotherapy service in maintaining supplies of equipment and stock - monitoring stock levels, placing and receiving orders, maintaining a tidy equipment store
• To complete effective and timely patient notes as required
• To be able to assist therapists as necessary with the management of patients requiring more than one person. This may require the use of moderate physical effort.
• To carry out in-direct clinical tasks as required by the department e.g. appointment administration, direct patient/family telephone communication, maintaining department logs.
• To be able to work clinically with patients with indirect supervision from the physiotherapy team

Working for our organisation

• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To work with children of all ages and their families, understanding the nature of their attendance and assisting practitioners in therapeutic goals.

• To assist staff with the management of patients referred to the department. To include:

  • Assisting with the management of orthopaedic surgery patients, to include application and removal of casts, sometimes with indirect supervision, and sometimes requiring basic wound care

  • Assisting with the application and removal of casts for non-surgical treatments
  • Assisting in the management of babies being treated for hip dysplasia
• To work flexibly within the team, providing support to professional colleagues and the multidisciplinary team, and provide cover for other areas within paediatrics during annual leave, busy periods and where there is an imbalance of work.
• To assist in the maintenance of the department plaster supplies and equipment stocks
• To help maintain a clean and safe working environment, in particular the plaster room and store, and casting equipment
• To arrange appropriate appointments by person, telephone or letter and co-ordinate specialist requests, liaising with clinicians and administrative teams.

To deal proactively and efficiently with telephone enquiries from patients, carers and other service users professionally, ensuring, where possible, that the caller’s needs are met or they are transferred to the most appropriate person.

To carry out data collection as required by the therapy team, including entering data onto the computer data collection system.

Responsibilities

To attend all mandatory training as required by the Trust – particularly Fire, Manual Handling, Basic Life Support and complete Information Governance training on-line

To maintain good working relationships with the multi-disciplinary teams in the outpatient department and other colleagues within the Children’s therapy team

To ensure effective communication and documentation with the therapy team, other health professional and patients/parents/guardians.

To participate in the departmental induction and training of new or temporary staff and continued training of existing staff.

Attend all statutory training for Health & Safety, and attend training sessions and meeting which are appropriate to the post.

To ensure that Trust Data Quality procedures are adhered to at all times.

To participate in meeting infection control standards of equipment used by Children’s Therapy team.

To undertake any other activities as required by the Therapies team.

Communication

To be able to communicate effectively with the wider multidisciplinary team, attending meetings and providing handover and feedback as necessary.

To communicate effectively and sensitively to patients and their families/ guardians face to face and via telephone.

• To be able to use written communication in electronic patients records and ordering systems

To be able to use email and telephone to contact patients/ parents/ guardians

Person specification

• GCSE or equivalent passes in English Language and Maths
• Experience of operating administrative and IT systems and procedures
• Experience working with patients/those with a health need
• Knowledge of office and IT systems.
• Articulate - required to liaise effectively with patients and all staff groups.
• Able to respond professionally and courteously
• Good organisational skills and an ability to prioritise own workload
• To be fun and approachable to help engage children in therapeutic activities
• Ability to take initiative when appropriate.
• Good telephone manner and ability to communicate effectively at all levels
• Flexible and adaptable Enthusiastic People-centred approach Conscientious Honest and reliable

Shortlisting

• Previous experience of patient care

Sexual Safety Charter : In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit tothe ten core principles

Oxford University Hospital's promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Visa and Immigration: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is able to offer Certificates of Sponsorship for all eligible roles for a Skilled Worker Visa without exception, provided the role meets the minimum salary and skill level criteria set by the Home Office (UKVI). All eligible candidates will be considered with equal consideration at all stages of the application and recruitment process. Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers / Work in the UK - GOV.UK

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

To note: Applicants must write their own applications. If AI tools are used, the application may be rejected as this document is crucial for assessment. This does not prevent you from seeking support via AI with applications for the purposes of any disability and/or long-term health conditions.

When using AI to help write your application, it is important to personalise it, especially your supporting statement. While AI can simplify the process, it will not fully understand the job's requirements and/or be able to showcase your skills, knowledge, and experience. Write your statement to show why you are interested in the role and how you would be a valued member of the team/OUH employee.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.

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.

Application numbers

Please note that this job advertisement will close automatically once the application limit is reached, regardless of whether this occurs before the advertised closing date.

Band 5 Nurse and Band 2 Healthcare Support Worker recruitment is centralised, meaning when you apply you will be considered for a number of roles across the Trust.

Vacancies with our PFI partners

Domestic / catering / porteringservices at theJohn Radcliffe Hospitalare provided byMitie.

Domestic / catering / portering / maintenance engineerservices at theChurchill HospitalandNuffield Orthopaedic Centreare provided byG4S.

Maintenance engineer services at the John Radcliffe Hospital are provided by Equans.

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