University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Therapy Assistant - Older Persons Team

The closing date is 22 July 2025

Job summary

We are pleased to announce we are recruiting for a permanent full time Band 2 Therapy Assistant post supporting the Older Persons Service (OPS) Therapy Team.The OPS Therapy team assess and manage patients that present in the Emergency Department, the Older Persons Assessment Unit and Inpatient wards around the Hospital.As a team we are passionate in ensuring that any older people presenting to our acute hospital receive the highest quality care from clinicians with a holistic approach and passion in caring for older people. The key responsibilities would require you to work alongside the Therapy team (Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapists and Therapy Assistants) on our Older Persons Medicine wards, supporting the team with rehabilitation preventing hospital associated physical and cognitive deconditioning, as well as supporting qualified staff with home visits and administrative duties such as equipment ordering and general organisation.You will be required to achieve a certain competency level which we will give you support and training to help you achieve. We have a in house training programme and a supportive team of clinical staff.

Main duties of the job

The post will include 7 day working and therefore the post holder will be expected to participate in weekend working. You also need to hold a valid UK driving licence.Some administrative responsibilities will be required within this role.Previous experience of working with older people, in an acute hospital or community setting would be desirable.

Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Interview Date: TBC

We will consider full time and part time applicants.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview

Details

Date posted

09 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year pa/pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

153-SP04328-A

Job locations

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Castle Lane East

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Job description

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Education to GCSE level
  • Basic skills: evidence of literacy and numeracy skills.

Desirable

  • NVQ 2 in care or other relevant qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Previous work with people where good communication skills were required.
  • Interest in working with older adults

Desirable

  • Previous experience working in a hospital/care environment
  • Previous experience working with the elderly

Technical Skills Competencies

Essential

  • Ability to work independently with daily guidance/supervision from qualified staff
  • Effective time management skills
  • Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Good observational skills
  • Ability to maintain and promote patient safety.

Desirable

  • Moving and handling of patients and equipment
  • Food hygiene

Knowledge

Essential

  • Effect of illness and injury on individual's lifestyle which may come from life experiences rather than previous work role.

Interpersonal skills

Essential

  • Ability to communicate verbally and establish rapport
  • Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
  • Ability to work as part of a team.

Other requirements specific to

Essential

  • Ability to drive and hold a clean drivers license.
  • Ability to use a keyboard to access and input information from a computer based system.
  • Ability to move and handle patients and equipment.
  • Ability to work in confined spaces

Desirable

  • Access to own car for work purposes

Peronal attributes

Essential

  • Flexible attitude
  • Well motivated
  • Able to take direction from senior staff
  • Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role

Language Requirements

Essential

  • Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Education to GCSE level
  • Basic skills: evidence of literacy and numeracy skills.

Desirable

  • NVQ 2 in care or other relevant qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Previous work with people where good communication skills were required.
  • Interest in working with older adults

Desirable

  • Previous experience working in a hospital/care environment
  • Previous experience working with the elderly

Technical Skills Competencies

Essential

  • Ability to work independently with daily guidance/supervision from qualified staff
  • Effective time management skills
  • Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Good observational skills
  • Ability to maintain and promote patient safety.

Desirable

  • Moving and handling of patients and equipment
  • Food hygiene

Knowledge

Essential

  • Effect of illness and injury on individual's lifestyle which may come from life experiences rather than previous work role.

Interpersonal skills

Essential

  • Ability to communicate verbally and establish rapport
  • Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
  • Ability to work as part of a team.

Other requirements specific to

Essential

  • Ability to drive and hold a clean drivers license.
  • Ability to use a keyboard to access and input information from a computer based system.
  • Ability to move and handle patients and equipment.
  • Ability to work in confined spaces

Desirable

  • Access to own car for work purposes

Peronal attributes

Essential

  • Flexible attitude
  • Well motivated
  • Able to take direction from senior staff
  • Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role

Language Requirements

Essential

  • Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

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

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Castle Lane East

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Employer's website

https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Castle Lane East

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Employer's website

https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead Physiotherapist

Carla McCarthy

carla.mccarthy@uhd.nhs.uk

03000196191

Details

Date posted

09 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year pa/pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

153-SP04328-A

Job locations

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Castle Lane East

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Supporting documents

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