Senior Therapy Assistant - Falls in Bedford

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Falls Physiotherapy Team as a Senior Physiotherapy Assistant, working 25 hours per week on a part-time basis. Over recent years, the team has expanded and embraced innovative approaches to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. This role will support the continued development of the service by contributing to the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients at risk of falls. The post holder will play a key role in the delivery of group exercise programmes and individual interventions, working alongside the multidisciplinary team to help patients improve their mobility, independence, and quality of life.

As a Senior Physiotherapy Assistant, you will support the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of older people who have experienced, or are at risk of, falls. Working under the supervision of registered physiotherapists, you will deliver interventions in group classes, outpatient clinics, and patients' homes, while supporting the efficient running of the service.

You will join a friendly and supportive Falls Physiotherapy Team dedicated to helping older people improve their mobility, independence, and quality of life. The team works across hospital and community settings, delivering high-quality, patient-centred care through collaborative and innovative practice. We are committed to supporting your learning and development.

To succeed in this role, you will need the skills and experience outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification. In particular, we are looking for someone who:

• Has excellent communication skills and can adapt their approach to meet the needs of patients, families, and carers.
• Enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team and is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care.
• Is able to travel independently across the locality for community clinics, exercise groups, and home visits, and is able to transport and set up equipment when required.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available. We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Manage your own workload effectively, working closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive coordinated, person-centred care. Deliver agreed treatment and rehabilitation programmes under the guidance of registered physiotherapists, supporting patients to achieve their individual goals. Prioritise patient needs on a daily basis and adapt treatment plans in response to changes in clinical presentation or progress. Select and deliver appropriate therapeutic interventions, taking into account each patient's functional ability, clinical condition, and any contraindications to treatment. Provide patients, families, and carers with clear guidance and education on prescribed exercises, mobility, positioning, and safe manual handling techniques. Monitor and evaluate patients' progress, reporting changes or concerns promptly to the supervising physiotherapist and recognising the limits of your own competence to ensure safe and effective practice.

Qualifications:

• Good general education to GCSE or equivalent
• Attended internal and external courses as an Assistant
• Been assessed as achieved KSF competencies to specified level

Experience:

• Experience in working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Theoretical and practical training to NVQ III level or equivalent
• Experience as Therapy Assistant
• Basic competency training e.g progression of mobility, individual exercise programmes etc
• Good basic working knowledge of patient related conditions

Knowledge:

• Excellent communication skills and good use of the English language
• Ability to cope with stressful situations/environments and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers
• Empathy, able to communicate with patients, relatives, carers and external agencies

Personal Skills:

• Open/Reflective/Warm
• Enthusiastic and self-aware
• Creative and Flexible
• Team focussed
• Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the-art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.