Trainee/Assistant Practitioner: Community Rehabilitaion | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Accrington; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Accrington is offering an exciting opportunity for a full-time Trainee Assistant Practitioner. Join the Integrated Stroke Rehabilitation Therapies Team and undertake a 2-year apprenticeship leading to a band 4 position. Flexible working hours and comprehensive training provided. The ideal candidate will have NVQ level 3 in health and social care or equivalent and must be a car driver.

Benefits

Robust supervision and training support

Annual appraisal structure

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a rehabilitation setting preferred.
• Competence in IT systems mandatory.
• Must hold a valid driving license.

Responsibilities

• Support Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists in treating patients.
• Implement treatment programmes and recommend equipment adaptations.
• Evaluate and amend treatment programmes under therapist guidance.
• Manage a personal caseload with supervision by a qualified therapist.
• Deliver therapy in diverse settings including homes and care facilities.

Skills

Motivated and enthusiastic

Competent in IT systems

Experience in a rehabilitation setting

Car driver

Education

NVQ level 3 in health and social care or equivalent

Job description

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a full‑time Trainee Assistant Practitioner to join our Integrated Stroke Rehabilitation Therapies Team. The position gives you the opportunity to complete a Foundation Degree Assistant Practitioner via an apprenticeship route. On successful completion of the 2‑year course you will move into a band 4 position.

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate, preferably someone who has previously worked within a rehabilitation setting, studied to NVQ level 3 in health and social care or an equivalent academic level, and who is competent in IT systems. A car driver is essential. Qualified Assistant Practitioners are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Work across the stroke therapies pathway supporting Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Speech and Language Therapists treating patients on the acute stroke unit at Blackburn Hospital, inpatient stroke rehab and the community stroke team based at Pendle Community Hospital.
• Provide highly skilled and specialised support work supervised by a member of the Community Rehabilitation Therapy Team. This includes gathering information for assessments, implementing treatment programmes, and making recommendations for equipment and minor adaptations.
• Use technical and creative skills in the provision of therapeutic activities for individual patients and evaluate and amend treatment programmes and interventions under therapist guidance.
• Take responsibility for your own caseload within a broad framework laid out by a qualified therapist.
• Deliver therapy in a variety of settings, including care homes and a patient’s own home; work as a lone worker in the community.
• Support the delivery of other therapy sessions such as group work or virtual therapy sessions and administer general administrative procedures (collecting patient information, completing referrals, ordering equipment, etc.).
• Organise and deliver a complete episode of therapy intervention as screened and delegated by a qualified therapist, as defined by rehabilitation pathways.
• Formulate appropriate treatment goals with the patient and work towards these goals.

Learning & Development

The apprenticeship is a 2‑year academic programme in partnership with UCLAN. Applicants attend university 1 day per week and undertake up to 20 hours of additional study in their own time. You will be assigned a mentor who will provide training and support throughout the foundation degree programme. We offer a robust supervision and annual appraisal structure, along with in‑house training to support clinical development.

Working hours & flexibility

The role requires working 08.30 to 16.30, currently over 5 days a week. You will need to be flexible and change base in line with service need and demand.

About us

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is a large integrated healthcare organisation established in 2003. We provide high‑quality acute secondary healthcare to the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, treating over 700 000 patients a year. We employ over 8 000 staff and pride ourselves on safe, personal and effective care.

How to apply

For further information contact Gemma Gumbley, Operational Lead for Stroke & Neuro Rehabilitation Therapies, 079 441 90780. For further details on the position please refer to the attached job description.

Closing date

This advert closes on Tuesday 2 Dec 2025.