Therapy Assistant - MSK Therapy Outpatients

Transformation Unit; Christchurch; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Therapy Assistant to join the MSK Outpatient Therapy Team at Christchurch Hospital. You will support physiotherapists and occupational therapists with exercise sessions, monitoring progress, and assisting with administrative tasks; training on continuous passive motion machines will be provided.

This permanent, part-time role offers a pro rata salary of £25,760–£27,476 with 18.75 hours per week, and is based in a coastal town near

Qualifications

• NVQ III Care/Promoting Independence or Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support or equivalent qualification.
• Previous Therapy/Care Assistant role with direct patient care.
• Experience with patients with physical or cognitive impairment.
• Understanding of rehabilitation in a physical setting.

Responsibilities

• Assist with exercise groups and one-to-one rehabilitation sessions.
• Support physiotherapists and occupational therapists in daily tasks.
• Monitor stock, order consumables, and maintain records.
• Provide general administrative support to the department.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisation

Caseload management

Education

NVQ III Care/Promoting Independence/or Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support or equivalent qualification

Job description

Main area MSK Outpatient Therapies Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 18.75 hours per week (Full Flexibility Required) Job ref 153-SP06378-A

Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Christchurch Hospital Town Christchurch, Bournemouth Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pa/pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 25/11/2026

Therapy Assistant - MSK Therapy Outpatients

Band 3

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

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic MSK Outpatient Therapy Team at Christchurch Hospital.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Therapy Assistant

The Team provides a high quality, patient centred outpatient service with specialities in Hand Therapy, Spine, Pelvic Health, Upper and lower limb rehabilitation. Supporting the Physiotherapists and Occupational therapists, your role will include supporting exercise groups in the gym, one to one sessions with patients to implement a pre prescribed programme of rehabilitation. Training will be provided on the use of continuous passive motion machines. Stock monitoring, ordering of consumables, recording some notes and other general administrative tasks also form part of this essential role, supporting the smooth running of the department.

You will have excellent communication skills, be highly organised and have the ability to manage a busy clinical caseload.

We work in a modern, largely air conditioned environment.

This is a permanent position for 21.5 Hours per week.

Interview Date: November 25th

Main duties of the job

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

Working for our organisation

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.

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

Other

• Ability to drive a manual car and hold a clean driver’s license

Qualifications

• NVQ III Care/Promoting Independence/or Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support or equivalent qualification

Experience

• Previous work as Therapy/Care Assistant, where direct patient care is involved
• Working with patients with Physical Impairment and/or Cognitive dysfunction
• Previous experience in generic therapy role

Knowledge

• The effects of physical and cognitive impairment, on skills, abilities and lifestyle.
• The role of Therapy in a physical setting
• Basic rehabilitation techniques

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.

Name Pete Webster Job title MSK Outpatient Therapy Operational Team Lead Email address [e-mail]