Therapy Assistant

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Seaham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Therapy Assistant to support therapists in delivering high-quality patient care within community services. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and flexibility, aiding in rehabilitation for patients in diverse settings. Responsibilities include providing care and maintaining documentation. This position requires a UK driving license and the ability to travel across various sites.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in physical rehabilitation including recent general rehabilitation and community rehabilitation.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Evidence of NHS experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide therapy care to patients and their families following assessment.
• Assist in the delivery of core programmes of clinical care.
• Communicate with clients, including those with speech and hearing difficulties.

Skills

Flexible approach

Team player

Good communication skills

Ability to manage complex situations

Education

Maths and English GCSE/equivalent

NVQ 3/equivalent knowledge or experience

Recognised relevant academic qualification

Tools

System One for documentation

Job description

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 03 October 2025

To provide support to Therapists in a variety of settings inthe provision of high quality interventions to meet the needs of patientsrequiring physiotherapy and occupational therapy within community servicescovering the East Locality of County Durham.

To provide holistic care for clients without directsupervision but accountable at all times to the responsible therapist.

Must have a flexible approach to working and be a team player. Must also be able tomanage in complex situations. Good communications skills are essential and thesuccessful post holder will be required to fit low level equipment withinpatients homes and various care settings.

Primary base is Spectrum 8 in Seaham countydurham, however may be required to work across sites as and when required tomeet the needs of the service.

Main duties of the job

Responsibilities:

To assist in the delivery of core programmes of clinicalcare and participate in service improvement and development initiatives.

To work within amulti-agency, multi- disciplinary framework of nursing, social work,therapy, residential, administrative and support staff.

Client Group: Comprehensive portfolio ofrehabilitation, and case management services to primarily housebound andrehabilitation patients requiring support in the community or communitysettings including wards

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Job responsibilities

Provide therapy care to patients, their families and carersfollowing assessment of their health and health related needs, undertaking arange of clinical care duties.Demonstrate the ability (with training if necessary) to undertake basicclinical activities such as venepuncture, simple wound dressings, blood glucosemonitoring (this list is not exhaustive.

Report to a registered therapist any variation in thecondition of the patient that might indicate a change in the patients healthstatus and subsequently require further assistance.

Support user/patient involvement and participation in areasof responsibility.

To always endeavour to promote independence and motivateclient choice within their limitations.

To support / enable clients to achieve their optimumfunctional level and assist clients with all aspects of personal hygiene andgrooming; preparation of meals and monitoring of eating habits and foodconsumption. To be aware of the clients dietary requirements.

To carry out home visits independently for the fitting andadjustment of a range of equipment. You will be responsible for teachingpatients and carers in the safe and appropriate use of equipment and reinforcerehabilitation aims.

To be responsible for own safe and appropriate use ofequipment. To maintain equipment in a clean and safe condition.

To communicate with all clients including those who may havespeech, hearing, learning difficulties or a mental health illness.

Within the boundaries of delegated responsibility andcompetency provide care and perform interventions that will contribute to thedelivery of the patients care needs.

Evaluate personal performance in a reflective manner toensure continued personal development and the maintenance of an up to dateknowledge base.

Accurately record all clinical interventions and patientrelated activity in line with the organisational policies on record keeping.

Clinical Quality

Promote and support the effective implementation of allOrganisational Policies and Procedures.

Support the development and maintenance of a learningenvironment within the integrated team that is appropriate for the developmentneeds of all members.

Participate in health promotion and informed patient choiceso that these are encouraged and developed to their maximum potential, withinthe available resources.

Participate in an integrated approach to clinical qualityissues.

Participate in appropriate clinical teaching packages forstaff across both Health and Social Care teams.

To practice in accordance with organisational policies andprocedures.

Resources

Support efforts to ensure effective partnership workingbetween Health and Social Care colleagues as well as other key services andagencies.

Supports an effective system of annual appraisal andpersonal development plans for all staff within the team in order that thedevelopment needs of both the individual and the team are identified and met.

Support an effective two-way network of communication bothwithin and without the team that ensures that all members are appropriatelyinformed of salient community/team issues.

Support and promote a team culture which actively encouragesempowerment thereby supporting and facilitating change.

Support the provision of a high quality, value for money andeffective service within available resources.

Supports the effective utilisation of information technologysystems to ensure the provision of accurate clinical and statistical data.

Development

To support an environment that enables the achievement ofthe desired philosophy of care through a multidisciplinary/multi agencyapproach.

To participate in clinical supervision.

To contribute in identifying own development needs on anannual basis in line with the Trusts appraisal scheme.

To develop a self-awareness of interpersonal skills inrelation to cultural values and beliefs of others.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Maths and English GCSE/equivalent
• NVQ 3/ equivalent knowledge or experience
• Continuing Professional Development Diary including evidence of reflective practice, training and clinical experience
• Recognised relevant academic qualification
• An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS FT, its culture, strategic direction achievements and NHS standing

Experience

• Relevant experience in physical rehabilitation including recent general rehabilitation and community rehabilitation.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
• Evidence of communication skills within a wide variety of settings
• Experience in working in a variety of settings with evidence of generic transferrable assessment and treatment skills between physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
• Evidence of NHS experience.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• An understanding of legal responsibilities within the profession
• Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to organise and prioritise
• Ability to maintain high levels of concentration
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities
• Innovative approach to working life
• Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery
• Presentational skills
• Evidence of working across professional boundaries
• Knowledge of system one for documentation.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis to fulfil the requirements of the post.
• Must hold a UK driving licence and have access to a car.
• For overseas applicants you must have the appropriate paperwork/ visa to work in the UK, sponsership via the trust is not applicable given the hours of the post.
• Ability to travel and carry small items of equipment on a daily basis to fulfil the requirements of the post.
• Ability to meet the travel requirements of this post.

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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust