Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner

NHS; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare institution in Newcastle upon Tyne seeks an experienced Associate Practitioner to join its pulmonary rehabilitation team. The role involves delivering exercise and education to patients, performing assessments, and ensuring high-quality patient care. Successful candidates will need strong communication skills and a relevant qualification, along with the ability to work independently.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of clinical conditions and application of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation programmes.
• Previous experience as a Physiotherapy assistant/Technical instructor.
• Experience working as a Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner.

Responsibilities

• Carry out telephone calls with patients.
• Independently able to carry out assessments of patients.
• Deliver exercise to a group of patients and evaluate progress.

Skills

Highly developed communication skills

Ability to work using own initiative

Plan and provide clinical programmes

Monitor patient progress

Time management skills

Valid UK driving license

Education

Foundation Degree or NVQ level 4

Sound general education inclusive of literacy and numeracy

Job description

Overview

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 12 October 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our accredited pulmonary rehabilitation team on a temporary basis as an Associate Practitioner. This post will support the physiotherapy led team to deliver pulmonary rehabilitation to patients across the city of Newcastle upon Tyne both in the community (Kenton Park Sports Centre) and on the various hospital sites (mainly Freeman hospital). We are a team of physiotherapists and associate practitioners who are passionate about delivering high quality care to our patients. Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidenced based treatment that is proven to improve quality of life using exercise and education. This is an ideal opportunity if you are an experienced rehabilitation or therapy assistant looking to further develop your knowledge and skills. Basic knowledge of this client group and experience of carrying out exercise programmes in a group setting is essential. Experience of delivering basic education to a group of patients will also be beneficial. Part of your role will be to carry out one to one assessments of these patients both over the telephone and face to face. The post holder will be expected to spend time on the telephone building rapport with patients and delivering treatment so strong communication skills will be required.

Responsibilities

Main duties of the role will include but are not limited to:

• Ensuring correct use of confidential information in line with Caldicott and Information Governance
• Carrying out telephone calls with patients
• Ordering of equipment
• Following the standard operating procedures written by the team
• Independently able to carry out assessments of patients face to face and over the telephone
• Delivering exercise to a group of patients and independently evaluate progress and adapt where required
• Delivering education to a group of patients
• Independently carrying out discharge assessments
• Carrying our aspects of administration, the use of Word, Excel and the NUTH electronic records for note writing and letters
• Inputting data into a national database and our own in-house databases
• Attending and delivering teaching and training to the team
• Attending team meetings where applicable to the team
• Taking on own QI projects and work with the team on larger projects to ensure ongoing development of the service
• Be responsible for own training needs and learning
• Work alongside students who come to work within the team

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS. We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under "Documents to download" or "Supporting documents".

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

There is a clinical administration component to this role. Those with confident IT skills in Word and Excel would be encouraged to apply. A valid UK Driving License is essential to this role as you will be expected to cross sites from a hospital setting to the community venue. Full training is available, and competencies will be carried out by the pulmonary rehabilitation team.

Days of working would be Wednesdays and Fridays.

• 13 hours/week

• Applicants are advised to read all information before applying for the vacancy.

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.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job requirements

To undertake specific skilled support work to aid the Physiotherapy team in the efficient and effective delivery of Physical Rehabilitation to patients within the speciality area within the framework of clinical governance. To accept a patient caseload referred by a physiotherapist according to specific criteria. To treat patients according to set protocols, monitoring patient progress, modifying and progressing patient treatment programmes as required, with referral back to physiotherapists as/when appropriate. To carry out basic assessment and treatment of non-complex patients as delegated by the physiotherapist (to include basic chest physiotherapy and mobility protocols). To provide and deliver individualised exercise programmes. To accurately record rehabilitation progress as per Trust documentation / database including physiotherapeutic outcome measures. To undertake a clinical caseload within the speciality area, without supervision for at least 50% of the time within protocols and guidelines set by the designated physiotherapist. To coordinate, supervise and teach junior therapy assistants.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of clinical conditions and application of Physiotherapy Rehabilitation programmes for patients within the speciality area
• Knowledge of physiotherapy outcome measures
• Knowledge of Physiotherapy Specialist Treatment adjuncts
• Clinical governance
• Associate member of Physiotherapy

Skills

• Highly developed communication skills
• Ability to work using own initiative and manage own caseload
• Plan and provide clinical programmes of therapeutic activity within framework
• Monitor patient progress and make modifications
• Report risks and progress to the therapist
• Work as a member of a team
• Manage own caseload effectively and prioritise referrals
• Highly developed Moving and handling skills
• Time management skills and prioritisation of workload
• Current valid driving license for the UK if applicable to role
• Training others

Experience

• Previous experience as a Physiotherapy assistant/ Technical instructor in acute care/ related speciality
• Effective team working
• Previous experience as a Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner within speciality area

Qualification

• Foundation Degree or NVQ level 4 or NVQ level 3 with additional training in the speciality field or equivalent evidence of underpinning knowledge
• Sound general education inclusive of literacy and numeracy

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.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust