Therapy Assistant (Medical Rehabilitation) | Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Isleworth; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust is seeking a Band 3 Therapy Assistant at West Middlesex University Hospital to support Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists in providing therapeutic care. The role involves assisting with patient rehabilitation, managing documentation, and ensuring a high standard of communication with patients and healthcare professionals. Candidates should have previous experience in health or social care and be ready to work in a dynamic hospital environment. Flexible working arrangements may be considered.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience working in a healthcare setting.
• Ability to assist with patient rehabilitation.
• Competence in administrative tasks related to therapy.

Responsibilities

• Support Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists in patient care.
• Maintain treatment areas and assist with documentation.
• Communicate effectively with patients and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Teamwork

Education

Experience in Health or Social Care

Job description

Overview

Therapy Assistant - (Medical Rehabilitation) at West Middlesex University Hospital. There is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Health or Social Care support worker to join our acute therapy service as a Band 3 Therapy Assistant at West Middlesex University Hospital. This is an ideal next step for someone considering a career in Allied Health Professions.

You will be working in the Medical Rehabilitation Therapies Team which consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy Assistants. We provide therapy to adults who are in hospital as a result of an acute illness, assisting them to regain mobility and independence with day to day tasks.

You will require some background and experience in a health care setting or working alongside Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, as this post requires you to work in a busy hospital environment with patients, families and other professionals.

We are looking for someone who can work full time hours (37.5 hours a week Monday to Friday, working 8.30am to 4.30pm).

The job description provides details on the clinical, administrative and communication requirements and responsibilities of this post. However, the key role will be to support the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to deliver therapeutic care to the patients following admission to hospital.

Responsibilities

• Delegated administration duties for individuals and the clinical team in which you are working
• Liaison and communication with therapists and other professionals
• Dealing sensitively with patients and their families
• Maintaining treatment areas and equipment
• Maintaining accurate documentation and written feedback of therapy sessions

Organisation

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Clinical

• To carry out the appropriate procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the therapist with the appropriate level of competency. It is the joint responsibility of the therapy assistant and the supervisor to ensure the assistant is competent and confident in carrying out the required intervention and duties. These may involve mobilising and transferring patients, assisting with functional tasks, cognitive rehabilitation programmes set out by a therapist, undertaking home visits, assisting with groups, carrying and installing equipment and supervising exercise programmes.
• To provide patients and carers with direction and guidance on a range of rehabilitation activities as directed by the physiotherapist or occupational therapist. This may incorporate encouraging patients and carers to actively become involved in regaining and maintaining their independence.
• To carry out access or joint home visits with patients, supervising and assisting patients with treatment programmes as directed by the therapists.
• Setting up equipment for use by therapists during treatment sessions or for use in the home environment to assist patient’s independence.

Administrative

• To participate in the smooth running of work areas by undertaking administrative tasks e.g. making appointments, telephone calls and other clerical activities.
• To keep regular and up to date records written or electronically data and assist the therapists as necessary with departmental statistics.
• Maintain appropriate levels of stock within the therapy team.
• Arranging transport for patients.

Communication

• To liaise with the occupational therapist /physiotherapist regarding patient care and report to the supervising therapist any change in the patient’s condition.
• To communicate with other members of the multidisciplinary team, carers, external agencies and those related to the patients care. To use effective communication with patients or relatives who have barriers of understanding or communicating. e.g. visually impaired, cognitive impairment, hearing or speech disability and to be aware of any device e.g. hearing aids which may hinder communication.
• To deal sensitively with patients and carers who have a high level of anxiety or aggression due to for example, pain, fear or failed expectations.
• To work on a daily basis with patients/carers/relatives who have a high level of emotional stress due to awareness of diagnosis or poor prognosis

Working Conditions

• May be exposed to confined working conditions within patients homes or within hospital environment.
• There may be daily exposure to unpleasant working conditions for example, body fluids including urine, faeces and sputum and hazardous substances such as contaminated body fluids and chemotherapy. There may also be contact with patients who have highly infectious conditions e.g. multi resistant Tuberculosis.
• To work in an environment where the work pattern may be disrupted by frequent demands from staff, patients, students, relatives and telephone calls.
• To comply with the trust manual handling policy at all times.

The advert closes on Monday 22 Sep 2025.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.