Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Home First Health & Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 18 January 2026

Job summary

The Home First Service provides clinical interventions (including intravenous therapy), by a team of Nurses, Paramedics, Physio and Occupational Therapists alongside reablement support following an assessment of needs, to support Pathway One discharges following a hospital admission.

Operating 365 days per year, the service receives referrals from a range of health and care professionals and triages, assesses, and delivers care to the patient over several days to ensure the patient can remain safely at home.

As a Health and Therapy Assistant the post holder is to work across the disciplines of nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy, carrying out assigned tasks involving direct care to patients as part of the community based multi-disciplinary team. This role will involve working with patients in their homes within the policies,proceduresand philosophy of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, in support of and supervised by registered nurses and therapies staff.

The post holder will be aware of own competency and be willing to develop knowledge and skillsin order todeliverhigh standardsof care to patients. The post holder will be expected to work as part of a 7-day a week rota.

Main duties of the job

  1. To work in a multidisciplinary team with qualified nurses, therapists, social workers, medical and other support staff.

  1. To report all incidents/accidents involving patients and staff to a qualified health professional and toassistin any enquiries.

  1. Toassistin the on-going recording of patient information under the supervision of qualified Staff.

  1. Toparticipatein clinical supervision sessions as directed.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staffo Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Details

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

150-GM2343-UPC

Job locations

Sackville House

Brooks Close

Lewes

BN7 2FZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To undertake in-house ,across disciplinary training, induction and assessment in practical nursing, physiotherapy, occupationaltherapyand other professional related practice.

2. To carry out care of patients in their own homesin accordance withindividual nursing,physiotherapyand occupational therapy care plans without the direct supervision of registered nursing and AHP staff.

3. Toassistthemultidisciplinary team in delivering high quality individualised care to patients with a focus on rehabilitation and improvingfunction and independence with activities of daily living

4. To assist the Home First based therapy team to implement treatment plans in patients own home which could involve supervision of exercises and indoor or outdoor mobility practice, Transfer practice, washing and dressing, and kitchen observations, interviewing to gather background information and visits to patients property under the guidance of a qualified Therapist.

5. Toassistwith provision of assistive/mobility and ADL equipment.

6. Toobservepatients' performance and report in writing onSystmOne(S1) and verbally to the registered professional who holds responsibility for the delegated care.

7. Toassistin the safe moving,handlingand assessment of patients onceappropriate traininghas been given.

8. Toassista registered health professional in supporting a patient to get up off the floor using the raiser chair.

9. Toassistpatients with eating and drinkingin accordance witha care plan and report any observations toa registeredprofessional.

10. Toassistpatients with personal and oral hygiene as instructed and in accordancewith a care plan.

11. Toassistpatients with taking their medicationin accordance witha care plan.

12. Monitoring and recording of dietary and fluidintakein accordance witha care plan.

13. Collecting and testing urine and stool specimens and recording resultsin accordance witha care plan. Monitoring and recording output and appropriately reporting any abnormalities to the nurse in charge.

14. To provide venepuncture support to the servicein accordance witha care plan or on instruction from a registered health professional.take specimen todesignatedcollection point.

15. Taking and recording of temperature, blood pressure, pulse,respirationsand other screening toolsin accordance witha care plan or on instruction froma qualifiednurseor otherregistered professionals recording the results appropriately on S1 and reporting back.

16. To support in the care of wound management under the supervision of the registered nursein accordance witha care plan.

17. Toassistin the care of the dying and in supporting carers according to the trust policy

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To undertake in-house ,across disciplinary training, induction and assessment in practical nursing, physiotherapy, occupationaltherapyand other professional related practice.

2. To carry out care of patients in their own homesin accordance withindividual nursing,physiotherapyand occupational therapy care plans without the direct supervision of registered nursing and AHP staff.

3. Toassistthemultidisciplinary team in delivering high quality individualised care to patients with a focus on rehabilitation and improvingfunction and independence with activities of daily living

4. To assist the Home First based therapy team to implement treatment plans in patients own home which could involve supervision of exercises and indoor or outdoor mobility practice, Transfer practice, washing and dressing, and kitchen observations, interviewing to gather background information and visits to patients property under the guidance of a qualified Therapist.

5. Toassistwith provision of assistive/mobility and ADL equipment.

6. Toobservepatients' performance and report in writing onSystmOne(S1) and verbally to the registered professional who holds responsibility for the delegated care.

7. Toassistin the safe moving,handlingand assessment of patients onceappropriate traininghas been given.

8. Toassista registered health professional in supporting a patient to get up off the floor using the raiser chair.

9. Toassistpatients with eating and drinkingin accordance witha care plan and report any observations toa registeredprofessional.

10. Toassistpatients with personal and oral hygiene as instructed and in accordancewith a care plan.

11. Toassistpatients with taking their medicationin accordance witha care plan.

12. Monitoring and recording of dietary and fluidintakein accordance witha care plan.

13. Collecting and testing urine and stool specimens and recording resultsin accordance witha care plan. Monitoring and recording output and appropriately reporting any abnormalities to the nurse in charge.

14. To provide venepuncture support to the servicein accordance witha care plan or on instruction from a registered health professional.take specimen todesignatedcollection point.

15. Taking and recording of temperature, blood pressure, pulse,respirationsand other screening toolsin accordance witha care plan or on instruction froma qualifiednurseor otherregistered professionals recording the results appropriately on S1 and reporting back.

16. To support in the care of wound management under the supervision of the registered nursein accordance witha care plan.

17. Toassistin the care of the dying and in supporting carers according to the trust policy

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • General standard of education to GSCE level or equivalent
  • NVQ level 2 or equivalent (in health and social care applicable subject), or be willing to undertake
  • Evidence of consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a health or social care setting
  • Experience of working as a care assistant either with nursing or therapy services
  • Experience of working with adults in the community

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Basic understanding of statutory health and social services
  • Basic numeracy and ability to write simple reports
  • Able to work with minimal supervision either in isolation or as a member of the team
  • Able to use time effectively and prioritise work through good organisational skills
  • Able to maintain confidentiality and deal with sensitive information
  • Able to use of IT systems and keyboard skills including accurate data recording skills
  • Able to use strong interpersonal skills and appropriate empathetic and tactful manner
  • Able to communicate effectively with customers, carers and health and care specialist services and colleagues
  • Able to work effectively as individual but also as part of larger team

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Car driver (Valid Driving License for use in the UK)
  • Access to a vehicle for work purpose
  • Willingness to undertake training to develop within the role
  • Flexible approach to working
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • General standard of education to GSCE level or equivalent
  • NVQ level 2 or equivalent (in health and social care applicable subject), or be willing to undertake
  • Evidence of consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a health or social care setting
  • Experience of working as a care assistant either with nursing or therapy services
  • Experience of working with adults in the community

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Basic understanding of statutory health and social services
  • Basic numeracy and ability to write simple reports
  • Able to work with minimal supervision either in isolation or as a member of the team
  • Able to use time effectively and prioritise work through good organisational skills
  • Able to maintain confidentiality and deal with sensitive information
  • Able to use of IT systems and keyboard skills including accurate data recording skills
  • Able to use strong interpersonal skills and appropriate empathetic and tactful manner
  • Able to communicate effectively with customers, carers and health and care specialist services and colleagues
  • Able to work effectively as individual but also as part of larger team

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Car driver (Valid Driving License for use in the UK)
  • Access to a vehicle for work purpose
  • Willingness to undertake training to develop within the role
  • Flexible approach to working

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sackville House

Brooks Close

Lewes

BN7 2FZ


Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sackville House

Brooks Close

Lewes

BN7 2FZ


Employer's website

https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

Alice Coutinho

sc-tr.homefirst-msandw@nhs.net

01273242297

Details

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

150-GM2343-UPC

Job locations

Sackville House

Brooks Close

Lewes

BN7 2FZ


Supporting documents

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