Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner (AP) in Elective Orthopaedics at Broadgreen Hospital. You will manage a caseload, deliver direct therapy, and work within the MDT to ensure smooth patient pathways across a 7-day service.

The post requires flexible working and AP apprenticeship if not already qualified. We value autonomy within a supportive team, with opportunities to train, audit, and contribute to service development.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years' therapy experience in a health care setting.
• Knowledge of orthopaedics and discharge planning desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential to complete comprehensive assessments.
• If AP qualification not held, support to complete AP apprenticeship with NVQ level 3 and Maths/English at level 2.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for own caseload providing direct Therapy intervention for an identified patient group under supervision of a registered practitioner.
• Be accountable for own clinical practice whilst undertaking assessment and treatment/intervention within agreed parameters and defined protocols of care.
• Work independently within the multidisciplinary team setting, reporting back patient progress and informing therapists of any problems.
• Support registered staff in the administrative duties required for the functioning of the Therapy Department.
• Participate in and contribute to training, audit and service development.
• Support new Band 3 Therapy Assistants to achieve their competencies.

Skills

Therapy experience

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Discharge planning knowledge

Education

NVQ Level 3 in health care

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner (AP) in Elective Orthopaedics at Broadgreen Hospital. The team deliver pre and post op care for patients undergoing planned orthopaedic surgery over a 7 day service, working collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure seamless pathways of care., The post is subject to 7-day shift working pattern, staff are required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.

• To take responsibility for own caseload providing direct Therapy intervention for an identified patient group under the supervision of a registered practitioner.
• To be accountable for own clinical practice whilst undertaking the assessment and treatment/intervention of identified patient group within agreed parameters and defined protocols of care.
• To work independently within the multidisciplinary team setting, reporting back patient progress and informing therapists of any problems.
• To support registered staff in the administrative duties required for the functioning of the Therapy Department.
• To participate in and contribute to training, audit and service development.
• To support new Band 3 Therapy Assistants to achieve their competencies

The post is full time, however requests for part time and flexible working patterns will be considered.

Candidates who do not already hold the Assistant Practitioner (AP) qualification or equivalent will be required to undertake the Assistant practitioner apprenticeship. Salary will be remunerated (Annex 21) to reflect the training element of the post and will only be transferred to a band 4 pay scale on successful completion of the AP apprenticeship.

If unsuccessful at interview for this position; there may be other opportunities to offer within the Care Group. This may include working on an alternative Hospital site.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

1. To establish a therapeutic relationship with patients and assess their needs according to agreed protocols and within defined sphere of practice
2. To plan and implement treatment / intervention for specified patient group, utilising individual, or group activities / rehabilitation programmes, as required.
3. To monitor the progress of patients and adjust interventions where necessary, liaising with registered practitioners as required
4. To obtain informed consent prior to undertaking any intervention and to develop and agree individual goals with the patient, their carers and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
5. To record and report findings sensitively, accurately, and appropriately, following the standard procedure used by the department.
6. To liaise with and within agreed parameters initiate referrals on to other members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and external agencies to support the effective management of patients care.
7. Where appropriate to undertake intervention in the community, within the patients own home or other settings as appropriate
8. To ensure that the dignity and respect of patients and their carers is maintained at all times
9. To assess for, provide, fit and demonstrate defined items of adaptive equipment according to local guidelines and evidence of competency
10. To assess for and refer on appropriately for minor adaptations under supervision of a Registered Therapist
11. To provide information and advice to patients and their carers on a range of services provided by local health, social care and voluntary agencies as required, including any relevant information regarding criteria or exclusions that may be in place.
12. Within all aspects of practice adopt strategies to identify and combat potential and actual barriers to understanding.

We are looking for a motivated, adaptable, compassionate, and dedicated individual to take on this key role within the team.

You should have a minimum of two years' therapy experience in a health care setting. Knowledge of orthopaedics and discharge planning is desirable.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential to complete comprehensive assessments and to support and motivate patients to participate in therapy programmes.

If you do not have the AP qualification, foundation degree or equivalent, you will be supported to complete the AP apprenticeship programme. For this, you will need an NVQ level 3 in health care along with both Maths and English qualifications at level 2 (GCSE equivalent grade C or above).

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.