Specialist Therapy Assistant

Transformation Unit; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 4 Specialist Therapy Assistant for a temporary 7-month contract in the community across South and East Sheffield. The role involves working with Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to assess and support patients aged 16+.

It is a part-time post (30 hours/week) with weekend rotas and a 7-month fixed-term contract. Applicants should have NVQ III in diagnostic and therapeutic care or Health & Social Care and relevant

Qualifications

• Diploma level education or equivalent with core literacy and numeracy skills.
• Level III NVQ in diagnostic and therapeutic support/ Health and Social Care or equivalent.
• Commitment to lifelong learning evidenced by a personal development file.
• Later Life Training qualification or equivalent experience.
• IT training/qualification to ECDL level or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Assist therapists by carrying out assessments and managing own patient caseload.
• Work with Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists under supervision and receive training.
• Provide community-based rehabilitation for patients aged 16 and above.
• Maintain baseline observations and support clinical activities as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Education

Diploma level or equivalent (literacy & numeracy)

Level III NVQ in diagnostic & therapeutic care/ Health & Social Care

Later Life Training qualification or equivalent

IT training/EC DL/ IT qualification

Job description

Main area Community Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 Contract Fixed term: 7 months (All existing NHS staff will only be considered on a secondment basis.) Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (22.5 - 30 hours. Weekend cover on rota basis, 10-6 shift on rota basis) Job ref 190-3069-DIR

Employer Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Lightwood House Town Sheffield Salary £28,392 - £31,157 pa/pro rata for part time staff Salary period Yearly Closing 01/11/2026 23:59

Specialist Therapy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 4

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.

Job overview

An exciting temporary opportunity has arisen within Integrated Care Team -Therapy for AfC Band 4 Specialist Therapy Assistant in the South and East of Sheffield. The team is based in the community.

The Team assess and treat people referred from various sources: the Hospital, GPs, District Nurses, other Health and Social Care teams. ICT Therapy treat people from the age of 16 to older adults with a variety of conditions and therapy needs in their home environment.

Main duties of the job

Specialist Therapy Assistants work with Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, to carry out assessments and manage their own patient caseload. They are supported by the team and have regular training and supervision.

The successful applicant will be expected to have relevant experience working as a Therapy Assistant in rehabilitation (in the Community Setting), have NVQ III in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care or Health and Social Care (with therapy specific units) or the equivalent experience.

This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for a maximum period of twelve months due to maternity leave of the substantive post holder. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts and statutory maternity provisions. Please note all existing NHS staff will only be considered on a secondment basis. This must first be agreed with your current line manager.

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Evidence of formal education to diploma level or equivalent knowledge with achievement of core literacy and numeracy skills.
• Level III NVQ in diagnostic and therapeutic support/ Health and Social Care or equivalent experience
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning supported by evidence in the format of a personal development file.
• Later Life Training qualification or equivalent experience
• IT training/qualification to ECDL level or equivalent.

Experience

• In order to undertake the duties of the post it is expected the successful candidate will have relevant experience of working as a therapy assistant with both Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists with relevant experience at Band 3 level in a community setting.
• To have worked with patients who have a range of mobility, balance, and long-term conditions.
• To have managed own clinical caseload and worked independently of a qualified therapist.
• Experience of liaising with other agencies, services, and professional colleagues.
• Experience as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of coaching/ mentoring/training of other staff.
• Knowledge of the duty of, and the STH’s policy regarding confidentiality.
• Experience of supervising staff
• To have knowledge of health and social care policies relating to the care of older people.
• Able to demonstrate skills in assessment planning and implementing treatment programmes. To have completed un-complicated mobility and functional assessments.
• Able to adopt effective coping strategies and demonstrate the ability to motivate people.
• Able to demonstrate prioritisation skills, the ability to manage own workload independently.
• Awareness and experience of using reflective practice.
• Moving and handling skills.
• Basic computer skills to use e-mail, internet and Word.
• Due to the requirement to undertake visits and transport non-portable equipment, the post holder is required to be either a car driver with a valid UK driving licence, or have access to an alternative means of transport.
• Innovative and flexible approach.
• Awareness of cultural diversity.
• To be able to take baseline observations
• Experience of delegating work to other staff.

Please note that in order to comply with the UK Government’s rules on Skilled Worker sponsorship, any applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements or concessions on salary thresholds under the Skilled Worker visa will not be eligible to receive sponsorship from the Trust. Please keep this in mind when submitting your application. Further details on these concessions, and who qualifies for them, can be found here .

If you are offered employment at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals your information will be transferred from the Trac recruitment system into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. In addition, in submitting an application form, you authorise our Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed.

Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email sent via the Trac recruitment system, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

The Trust is committed to its obligations in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, and we positively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Should you require any assistance in applying for the position please contact the General or Medical Human Resources Departments on the number identified on the NHS Jobs page for the organisation.

Job Share applicants are welcome for all full time posts unless indicated but cannot be guaranteed. In addition for Fixed Term Contracts, internal secondments may be considered, please seek the approval of your current line manager before applying for the position.

All employment with the Trust is subject to a number of NHS Employment Checks being met to a satisfactory standard including verification of identity, eligibility to work in the United Kingdom, references and qualifications in addition to professional registration, a disclosure and barring records check and occupational health check if these are deemed to be a requirement for the position to be undertaken.

For more information about our organisation and the opportunities available, please visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook

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

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointed.