Senior Therapy Support Worker- Band 4 (fixed term)

NHS Jobs; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Therapy Support Worker (Band 4) for a fixed-term role based in Cheltenham. The position supports Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy teams across hyper-acute and acute stroke pathways, including discharge planning and liaison with community colleagues.

The post involves weekend rota duties and working across hospital sites. Candidates should have NHS experience, strong communication, and the ability to work within a

Qualifications

• Evidence of good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in NHS or UK care setting as therapy support worker or equivalent.
• Ability to work within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Supervise less experienced staff, including appraisal and training.
• Induct new staff into the clinical area.
• Support supervision of students and contribute to training programmes.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers using verbal and non-verbal tools.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

NHS experience

Driving license

Organisational skills

Education

GCSE Maths and English

Foundation degree or NVQ3

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Go back Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Therapy Support Worker- Band 4 (fixed term)

The closing date is 08 October 2026

A fantastic and exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and proactive Senior Therapy Support Worker to join our dynamic stroke therapy team for a fixed term until 14th November 2027. We are looking for candidate with relevant prior experience working as an Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy support worker or equivalent in a healthcare setting in the UK.

The successful candidate will be joining a supportive integrated therapy team consisting of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy Support Workers alongside the opportunity to work alongside a wider multidisciplinary team. We are looking for an individual who is motivated with their development, enthusiastic and flexible in their approach to work. Excellent communication skills are essential, as well as the ability to work well as part of a team.

You will have the opportunity to work with patients throughout the hyper-acute and acute stroke pathway based at Cheltenham General Hospital. The post involves completing assessments, formulating and delivering treatment plans, discharge planning and close liaison with community colleagues.

There will be a requirement to contribute to the therapy service weekend working rota

Main duties of the job

- To use the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and client-centered way, to promote independence, improve function and facilitate safe discharge. This will be achieved by implementing treatment plans and facilitating rehabilitation within agreed limitations through exercise, physical modalities and the use of occupation

- The post holder will expect and be willing to work across both hospitals sites and off-site locations, as required.

- To assess patients, identifying patients' problems, potential complications and contraindications and escape for assessment by a registered practitioner/MDT, when necessary.

- To identify and organise/undertake appropriate treatment within a delegated framework of responsibilities, reporting back to a registered practitioner/MDT and referring on to other agencies, when necessary.

About us

Join a forward-thinking, compassionate, and high-performing integrated Therapy Service at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate and skilled individual to make a meaningful impact within a supportive and collaborative environment, while developing a fulfilling career.

As a member of the Therapy Service, you will play a vital role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care across a range of specialties.

What sets the service apart is our strong multi-disciplinary team culture and collaborative working with other colleagues. You'll benefit from excellent professional development opportunities, including access to structured supervision and educational frameworks, and the chance to be involved in innovative service improvement projects that shape the future of care.

By choosing Gloucestershire Hospitals Therapy Service, you are joining a team that truly values its people. We are proud of our supportive and inclusive culture through our compassionate leadership and our ongoing investment in staff wellbeing and development.

Job responsibilities

- To be responsible for the supervision of less experienced support workers including appraisal and training.

- To take a lead role in the induction of new staff into the clinical area.

- To support the supervision of less experienced staff and undergraduate students. To contribute to the training programme in the clinical area, passing on specialty specific knowledge to others.

- To use verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers. This may include education, motivation, persuasion, and empowerment, including patients/carers

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE level C / 4 or equivalent Maths and English
• Completed or working towards a Foundation Science degree (or equivalent); or NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) with CPD evidence demonstrating clinical reasoning, professional conduct, initiative, and leadership.
• Valid full UK Driving License

Experience

• Proven experience as a physiotherapy or occupational therapy support worker working in the NHS or other care setting in the UK, and demonstration of skills by evidence e.g. portfolio
• Working knowledge of basic software packages e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook
• Experience of providing training to other healthcare workers

Knowledge

• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and non-verbal and written when interacting with staff, patients, relatives and carers
• Excellent organisation skills, time management and prioritisation skills.
• Produce accurate and legible documentation of treatments
• Evidence of initiative and leadership
• Demonstrate an ability to act on own initiative when working independently in challenging environments.

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.

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide (Both Gloucester and Cheltenham)

£28,392 to £31,157 a year(pa, pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-26-T0632

Job locations

Trustwide (Both Gloucester and Cheltenham)