Specialist Therapy Assistant

Find out about the current vacancies available at the Trust and take the next step in your career with us.

Main area: Therapies

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 3

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Cover)

Hours: Part time - 17.5 hours per week (inclusive of weekend and bank holidays as required)

Job ref: 345-COM6913156

Site: University Hospital of North Tees

Town: Stockton

Salary: £24,071 - £25,674 pro rata, per annum

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 04/02/2025 23:59

Job overview

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Band 3 member of staff to join the Acute Therapy Services. The successful candidate will be part of our orthopedic trauma therapy team. We are looking for applicants who are dedicated yet flexible in their approach and possess the aptitude to adapt quickly to new situations. The post is a 12-month fixed-term position for maternity cover for 17.5 hours a week.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be expected to work as part of a multidisciplinary acute therapy team on our orthopedic trauma wards assisting with the delivery of therapy and to facilitate safe discharge from hospital. The post holder will work under the direction of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to implement the planned interventions either within the hospital or in the appropriate community setting; this may include simple environmental assessments and the prescription of simple equipment (as deemed within competence) or practice of specific therapeutic interventions/techniques. The post holder will communicate effectively with community services to assist in the planning of safe and effective discharge. The post holder will assist therapists in carrying out administrative duties associated with the delivery of service. As this is a Trustwide post, the successful candidate may be required to work between the Stockton and Hartlepool localities, but will be predominantly based in University Hospital of North Tees.

Working for our organisation

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high-quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience. We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition – a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars, and Service Awards. We actively encourage staff involvement with staff networking events and staff surveys. “Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool”

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work under the supervision of registered therapists to support and rehabilitate patients to enable their safe return home or to ensure they are placed in a safe environment where continued rehabilitation/care is provided. This will be achieved through improved integrated discharge pathways and working collaboratively with discharge liaison and the patient flow teams. To confidently implement the prescribed therapy plan including mobility/functional interventions to enable people to leave hospital.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Additional training such as short courses to diploma level or equivalent.
• Certificate in Health Care Studies, Foundation Degree, or relevant qualification.

Experience

• Demonstrate sound basic knowledge and understanding of a broad range of medical conditions/pathologies, particularly those affecting older people.
• Experience of prescribing and fitting less complex equipment/adaptations required to meet people's needs under the supervision of a therapist.
• Clinical experience of working in therapies.
• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

• Able to prescribe and fit less complex equipment/adaptations required to meet people's needs under the supervision of a therapist.
• Able to work autonomously with arms-length supervision.

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.

For an informal discussion in relation to this post, please contact Kathy Butler at 07768025138.