Senior Therapy Assistant
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Christchurch, BH23 2JX
Salary
£25,760 to £27,476
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
6 September 2026
6 days left
Job description
Are you passionate about caring for others? We are looking for a Therapy Assistant to join our Interim Team. The Interim service was set up in 2013 an...
- To provide care and rehabilitation and fitting of equipment to patients discharged from UHD to enable patients to leave the acute hospital as soon as they are suitable to.
- To work in the community under the clinical supervision of the team Occupational Therapists.
- To ensure each patient contact is therapeutic and as per the care plan to ensure patients are supported through their recovery and enabled to regain their independence.
- To have a knowledge and understanding of assistive equipment, techniques and supportive services available to support our patients and their families.
- To support the Interim team with administration tasks, service improvement projects and our education and training programme
- To work over a 7 Day rota period in order to meet the demands of the service
- To support end of life patients when required
The Senior Therapy Assistants (STA) provide a 7 day service 7am-10pm to enable patients from the acute hospital to return home through a discharge to assess approach.
The STA can visit each patient from OD to QDS depending on their care needs. They assess, support and rehab patients in activities of daily living which include; personal care, meal preparation, transfers, toileting and medication.
The first visit, meet & greet, is usually completed by a STA where they check they are presenting as referred, settling at home and checking medication.
They are supervised and supported by a MDT which includes Occupational Therapists, nurses, Therapy Assistant Practitioners and coordinators.
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not bereimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women's, DEN, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ III Care or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Recent experience working in a health or social care setting
- Experience of working with older people at Band 3 level.
Desirable
- Evidence of recent study relevant to the role.
- Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent where direct patient care is involved.
- Experience in working with palliative and end of life patients.
- Experience of working within a team
Technical skills competences
Essential
- Use own initiative with guidance/supervision from therapists.
- Manage own caseload with support from therapists
- Basic IT skills
Desirable
- Experience with IT programs such as outlook, excel and word.
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of holistic patient needs
- Understanding of the basic principles of rehabilitation
- Manual Handling Techniques
- Willingness to learn and complete the Competency Based Training.
Desirable
- General knowledge of relevant medical conditions
- Basic rehabilitation techniques
- Basic life support skills
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
- Ability to drive, potentially spending prolonged periods driving as a part of the role across South Dorset and West Hampshire.
- Use of own car for job role
- Prepared to work on a shift basis including weekends
- Ability to speak, understand and write in English to the required standard for the role.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude
- Ability to use time effectively
- Well motivated -Able to take direction from senior staff
- Empathy with older people
- Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role
- Patience
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
27 August 2026
Last checked
31 August 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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