Senior Therapy Assistant

University Hospitals Dorset; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset is recruiting a Part-time Therapy Assistant (Band 3) for the Inpatient stroke therapy team at Bournemouth. The role involves helping with rehabilitation, promoting independence, and supporting the MDT in patient care.

A full driving license and basic IT skills are required, with weekend work on a 1 in 6 pattern. The post supports a highly collaborative environment with occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy, offering opportunities to

Qualifications

• NVQ III Care or equivalent required.
• Basic IT skills required for record keeping and communication.
• Ability to drive and travel between sites is essential.

Responsibilities

• Promote stroke recovery and carry out rehabilitation set by the MDT.
• Promote independence in daily activities and mobility.
• Support running of therapy groups and discharge visits.
• Assist with administration tasks and contribute to training programmes.
• Work across a 7 day rota to meet service demands.
• Collaborate with the wider MDT including OT, PT, and SLT.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Driving

Education

NVQ III Care or equivalent

Tools

Basic IT skills

Job description

Main area Therapy Assistant Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 34.5 hours per week (Includes weekend working) Job ref 153-SP06930

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Bournemouth Hospital Town Bournemouth Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 18/10/2026 23:59

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

We are delighted to be able to offer an exciting opportunity to come and work in our Inpatient stroke therapy Team as a Band 3 Therapy Asst. This rol e involves working closely with inpatient stroke patients to provide rehabilitation and promote independence.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to work in our team and applicants should be able to demonst rate a high level of professionalism and commitment in their wo rk . Good organisational and team-working skills are essential, as is the ability to work under pressure. The applicant will need to show exce llent communication skills and a high level of compassionate care, tact and empathy whil st working with patients , families and carers.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in a close multidisciplinary team alongside Occupational therapy, P hysiotherapy and S peech and language therapy and also the wider MDT , to help deliver therapy for each of these disciplines . They will be able to work both autonomously and jointly with colleagues. There will be many chances to develop knowledge and skills as part of this role.

The post-holder will need to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a car. It is also essential to have some basic IT skills. Experience of working in a hospital or healthcare setting is essential.

Working Hours : Part time , 34.5 hrs per week with a 1 in 6 weekend working pattern with allocated enhancements.

Interview Date: Monday 26th Oct 2026

Main duties of the job

• To promote stroke recovery and carryout rehabilitation set by the MDT.
• To promote independence including balance, mobility, arm function, communication, returning to everyday activities , personal care , and cognitive function.
• To support the running of groups
• To support discharge home visits to patients homes.
• To support the stroke team with administration tasks, service improvement projects and our education and training programme
• To work over a 7 Day rota period in order to meet the demands of the service

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not bereimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, DEN, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert

Person specification

Qualifications

• NVQ III Care or equivalent

Technical skills competences

• Use own initiative with guidance/supervision from therapists.
• Basic IT skills

Knowledge

• Awareness of holistic patient needs
• Understanding of the basic principles of rehabilitation
• Willingness to learn and complete the Competency Based Training.
• General knowledge of relevant medical conditions
• Basic rehabilitation techniques
• Basic life support skills

Other requirements specific to the role

• Ability to drive
• Ability to speak, understand and write in English to the required standard for the role.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to use time effectively
• Well motivated -Able to take direction from senior staff
• Empathy with older people
• Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role

Experience

• Previous work as a therapy assistant or equivalent
• Assessing individuals function and mobility
• Experience working in a hospital setting
• Working with older people or stroke/neuro

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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.