Job summary
We are pleased to announce we are recruiting for a Band 3 Senior Therapy Assistant post, supporting the Older Persons Therapy Team.
Within the hospital setting the Older Persons Therapy team assess and treat patients that present in the Emergency Department, the Older Persons Admissions Unit and the Older Persons Medical and Continuing Care wards. As a team we are passionate in ensuring that any older people presenting to our hospital receive the highest quality care from clinicians with a holistic approach and passion in caring for older people.
The post holder must be a car driver and have access to a car for work purposes, please make this clear in the supporting information of your application.
The key responsibilities would require you to work alongside the therapists on our Older Person's wards, supporting the team with acute rehabilitation of the older person and optimising their functional level with a home first approach.
Base Location: Poole Hospital - relocating to Royal Bournemouth Hospital as part of transformation (2026)
Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
You will be required to achieve a certain competency level for which the support and training will be provided to help you achieve. We have a structured in-house training programme and a supportive team of clinical staff.
The post will include 7 day working and therefore the post holder will be expected to participate in weekend working. The post holder will need to be able to speak English as necessary for the role.
About us
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define howwe treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates 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 about this at interview.
This service has a planned move from Poole Hospital site to Royal Bournemouth Hospital site in 2026.Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excessmileage reimbursement. Travel from the post holder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.
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.
For further information please liaise with Ruth Martin or Bethan Shelper on x 2108.
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.
For further information please liaise with Ruth Martin or Bethan Shelper on x 2108.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A qualification at NVQ 3/QCF or equivalent and relevant to working in a care setting. Failing this, those with relevant skills and experience need to demonstrate willingness to undertake equivalent training in the first year in post
Experience
Essential
- Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent (e.g. Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant, HCA, or another relevant role where direct patient care is involved).
- Assessing individuals function and mobility
Desirable
- Previous experience working in a hospital
- Previous experience working with the elderly
Technical skills and competencies
Essential
- Ability to work independently, on ward and/or in patient's homes, working on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff
- Effective time management skills
- Ability to manage own caseload with access to qualified staff.
Desirable
- Experience with a range of manual handling equipment e.g. hoists, stand hoists, samhall turner
- Methods of gait re-education
- Delivering exercise programs to individuals and groups
Knowledge
Essential
- General knowledge of relevant medical conditions, e.g Parkinson's disease, falls, Dementia and infections/conditions affecting the older person
- Desire to work with older adults
Interpersonal skills
Essential
- Demonstrates good verbal and non-verbal communication with an ability to establish a good rapport with a range of people. Able to speak English as necessary for the role.
- Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely demonstrating a good level of spelling and grammar.
- Basic teaching skills
- Team player
Personal attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude and ability to respond positively to change.
- Well motivated
- Able to take direction from senior staff
- Ability to recognise boundaries of own job role
Other requirements specific to role
Essential
- Ability to drive and hold a clean driver's license
- Ability to use a keyboard to access and input information from a computer based system
- Ability to move and handle patients and equipment using approved techniques, ability to cope with exposure to bodily fluids
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A qualification at NVQ 3/QCF or equivalent and relevant to working in a care setting. Failing this, those with relevant skills and experience need to demonstrate willingness to undertake equivalent training in the first year in post
Experience
Essential
- Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent (e.g. Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant, HCA, or another relevant role where direct patient care is involved).
- Assessing individuals function and mobility
Desirable
- Previous experience working in a hospital
- Previous experience working with the elderly
Technical skills and competencies
Essential
- Ability to work independently, on ward and/or in patient's homes, working on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff
- Effective time management skills
- Ability to manage own caseload with access to qualified staff.
Desirable
- Experience with a range of manual handling equipment e.g. hoists, stand hoists, samhall turner
- Methods of gait re-education
- Delivering exercise programs to individuals and groups
Knowledge
Essential
- General knowledge of relevant medical conditions, e.g Parkinson's disease, falls, Dementia and infections/conditions affecting the older person
- Desire to work with older adults
Interpersonal skills
Essential
- Demonstrates good verbal and non-verbal communication with an ability to establish a good rapport with a range of people. Able to speak English as necessary for the role.
- Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely demonstrating a good level of spelling and grammar.
- Basic teaching skills
- Team player
Personal attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude and ability to respond positively to change.
- Well motivated
- Able to take direction from senior staff
- Ability to recognise boundaries of own job role
Other requirements specific to role
Essential
- Ability to drive and hold a clean driver's license
- Ability to use a keyboard to access and input information from a computer based system
- Ability to move and handle patients and equipment using approved techniques, ability to cope with exposure to bodily fluids
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.
