Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Main area: Mental Health and Learning Disabilities

Grade Band: 4

Contract: 12 months (Fixed term / secondment until 31/03/2027)

Hours: Full time / Part time

Job ref: 100-ACS041-0226

Employer: Hywel Dda University Health Board

Employer type: NHS

Site: Block 4, Hafan Derwen, Town: Carmarthen

Salary: £27,898 - £30,615 Per annum pro rata

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 01/03/2026 23:59

Interview date: 10/03/2026

Job overview:

This is a fixed term/secondment vacancy until 31/03/2027 due to meet the needs of the service. If you are a Hywel Dda University Health Board employee and are applying for this post as a secondment, agreement for the secondment is needed from your current manager prior to application.

We wish to recruit a Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our innovative, psychology-led Dementia Wellbeing Service, supporting people living with dementia in community and care home settings, as well as their staff and families. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that is committed to evidence-based practice, high-quality care and improving people’s lives. We focus on what matters to individuals, helping them feel understood, supported and respected. We use psychologically informed, person-centred care, emphasising understanding behaviour, supporting communication and promoting wellbeing. Human rights shape all aspects of care.

You will work as part of a large, supportive multidisciplinary team, with Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians and Psychologists, with your work mainly guided by a Speech and Language Therapist. There will be opportunities to work closely with Mental Health Nurses, Research and Behaviour Practitioners, Assistant Psychologists, Dementia Practice Development Coaches, Admiral Nurses, Non-Medical Prescribers and Advanced Practitioners.

Main duties of the job:

• Deliver evidence-based interventions for people living with dementia, under the guidance of a Speech and Language Therapist and in collaboration with other AHPs.
• Support individuals on a 1:1 and group basis, using communication, cognitive, functional and wellbeing-focused strategies.
• Support provision of post-diagnostic support for people living with dementia in collaboration with AHPs.
• Support delivery of rehabilitation for people living with dementia in collaboration with AHPs.
• Provide education, coaching and practical support to care home staff, families and carers to build confidence and consistency in dementia care.
• Promote care that is person-centred, meaningful and rights-based, recognising each person’s history, preferences and lived experience.
• Take responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of individuals during interventions, working within agreed care plans and risk assessments.
• Prepare and adapt therapy resources and equipment, using IT and digital tools where appropriate.
• Maintain clear and accurate records and contribute to outcome monitoring, service evaluation and quality improvement.
• Work closely with colleagues and partner organisations to ensure coordinated, ethical and effective care.

Working for our organisation:

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties. We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services. We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire.
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings.
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers.
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

This is a community role in people’s homes and care homes, delivering evidence-based interventions, education and training after induction—both independently and with clinicians. Varied, rewarding and responsive to individual needs. You will be joining a highly skilled, welcoming and forward-thinking team that values reflection, learning and innovation. Our psychology-led service includes Psychologists, a dedicated Research Practitioner, Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapists, Dietitian, Nurse, Dementia Practice Development Coaches and Administrative staff. We are a team that is passionate about collaboration, reablement and meaningful engagement. We thrive to protect and promote the rights of people living with dementia. We strongly believe in using research and evidence to guide practice. Having a Research Practitioner within the team means staff have opportunities to be involved in service evaluation, outcome measurement and research-informed care, helping to shape and improve the service.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is committed to staff development and wellbeing. You will be supported to grow your skills in dementia care, communication support and psychologically informed practice, while working in a service that values compassion, collaboration and fairness. If you are an experienced, motivated Band 4 practitioner who wants to work in a psychology-led, evidence-based and values-driven service, we would be delighted to hear from you.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 10/03/2026.

Person specification:

Qualifications and Knowledge:

• Evidence of Level 3 qualification relevant to workplace OR other equivalent training, qualifications or experience (e.g. Psychology Degree, Dementia Care Coach; Skills to Care).
• Level 4 education OR equivalent experience with completion of relevant Level 4 qualification within a specified timescale after successful appointment.
• I.T skills with good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office applications.
• Numeracy and literacy to at least level 2 (GCSE level grade C or above).
• Good knowledge of rehabilitation through acquired experience and/or training.
• Knowledge of the roles of other staff groups in health and social care.
• Evidence of role related CPD activities.
• Trusted Assessor training in equipment and adaptations.
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance, including research and audit.
• Knowledge of Health Board and priorities and practices.
• Knowledge/awareness of a range of rehabilitation interventions across all therapies.

Experience:

• Clinical experience of working within a therapy service or care home setting.
• Experience of working with a variety of people with differing needs.
• Experience of managing own time and prioritising activities.
• Experience of self-development and learning.
• Experience of contributing to improving services.
• Experience of working independently.
• Experience of working in group settings.
• Experience working in a community service.
• Experience of working in a variety of teams.
• Welsh speaker (Level 1).

Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh; any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked. To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.

By submitting your application to NHS Jobs/Trac, you are giving your consent for elements of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems in order to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation; to be used by Recruitment for purposes of checking your Professional Registration online (where applicable). These processes are in line with Fair and Lawful processing in line with current Data Protection Legislation especially those in relation to your personal or sensitive personal data.

If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK. If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

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.