Trainee/ Assistant Practitioner | East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Nelson; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is seeking a Trainee Assistant Practitioner for their Community Rehabilitation Therapy Service. This role offers the chance to complete a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care through an apprenticeship. Candidates should have NVQ level 3 in a relevant field and experience in rehabilitation settings. Responsibilities include assisting qualified therapists with patient management and performing administrative tasks. Access to a vehicle is essential for patient visits. This position is offered full-time across Monday to Friday.

Benefits

In-house training and mentorship

Qualifications

• Background in health and social care essential.
• Previous experience in a rehabilitation setting preferred.
• Access to a vehicle for patient visits required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the delivery of rehabilitation supporting qualified therapists.
• Manage an independent caseload for assessment and treatment.
• Support with general administrative procedures including referrals.

Skills

Motivated and enthusiastic

Competent in IT systems

Education

NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a Trainee Assistant Practitioner / Qualified practitioner to join our Community Rehabilitation Therapy Service. The position gives you the opportunity to complete a Foundation Degree in Health and social Care (Assistant Practitioner) via an apprenticeship route. On successful completion of the 2-year course you will move into a band 4 position.

If you an qualified Assistant Practitioner then you would start at band 4

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic candidate, preferably someone who has previously worked within the rehabilitation setting, studied to NVQ level 3 in health and social care or at an equivalent academic level, and you must be competent in IT systems.

You will be working supporting Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists treating patients in the community based Community Hospital. Access to a vehicle is essential to commute between patient visits.

Qualified Assistant Practitioners are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• You will assist in the delivery of rehabilitation supporting qualified therapists in assessing and treating patients. You will be delegated your own caseload for assessment and treatment.
• You will be required to undertake skilled support work from referrals screened by a member of the rehab team. This may include gathering information for assessments, implementing treatment programmes, and recommendations for equipment and minor adaptations.
• You will use technical and creative skills in the provision of therapeutic activities for individual patients and will be responsible for evaluating and amending treatment programmes and interventions with guidance from the therapist.
• Assistant Practitioners take responsibility for their own caseload within a broad framework laid out by a qualified therapist. The post holder will be responsible for delivering defined therapy input without direct supervision; but will have immediate access to a therapist for advice and direction as required.
• The work will take place in a variety of settings including care homes and patient’s own homes. The post holder may work as a lone worker in the community therefore will need to follow the lone worker policy.
• You will be required to support with general administrative procedures such as collecting patient information, completing referrals onto other services, ordering equipment and other tasks delegated by therapists within the team.
• As part of the MDT you will also support the team in the delivery of other therapy sessions such as group work or virtual therapy sessions.

Qualifications & Development

• Background in health and social care, NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
• Competent in IT systems.
• Access to vehicle for patient visits.
• As part of the Community rehabilitation team, you will be based at one of our locality bases. Our team works across East Lancashire visiting patients in a variety of settings.
• Robust supervision and annual appraisal structure with in-house training to support clinical development.
• As a trainee AP you will have an assigned mentor who will provide support over the 2-year foundation degree programme.

This post is over 5 days, Monday- Friday.

This advert closes on Friday 19 Dec 2025.