Job summary
We are pleased to announce we are recruiting for a full-time 6 month fixed-term temporary Band 3 rotational therapy assistant post within the acute therapy team at Bournemouth hospital.
Within the acute setting the acute therapy team assess and manage patients across different specialities including front door admissions, gastroenterology, respiratory, endocrine, cardiac, haematology, surgical, vascular and critical care. The post is likely to have a focus within the medical team including the areas of gastroenterology, respiratory, endocrine, cardiac, haematology.
As a team we are passionate in ensuring that any individual presenting to our acute hospital receive the highest quality care from clinicians with a holistic approach and passion in caring for people.
Previous experience of working within an acute hospital or community setting would be desirable.
The key responsibilities would require you to work alongside the therapists on acute wards, supporting the team with rehabilitating patients and enabling them to return to their pre-admission level of independence and function.
The applicant will require a valid driving licence to support with equipment deliveries and home visits.
Base Location: Cross site working between Poole and Bournemouth Hospital
Interview Date: 13th January 2026
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.
Some administrative responsibilities will be required within this role.
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.
In some cases this means that a 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.
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
- NVQ III Care/Health and Social Care/PromotingIndependence/Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support, or A qualification of this level or above and relevant to working in a care setting
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
- Promoting independence
Desirable
- Previous experience working in a hospital
- Previous experience working with the elderly/or disabled
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
- Basic rehabilitation techniques
- Manual Handling Techniques
Interpersonal skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate verbally
- Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
- Basic teaching skills
- Ability work as part of a team
- Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
- Ability to work independently, on ward and/or in patient's homes, working on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff
Personal attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude
- Well motivated
- Able to take direction from senior staff
- Empathy with older people
- Ability to recognize 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 work in confined spaces
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ III Care/Health and Social Care/PromotingIndependence/Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support, or A qualification of this level or above and relevant to working in a care setting
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
- Promoting independence
Desirable
- Previous experience working in a hospital
- Previous experience working with the elderly/or disabled
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
- Basic rehabilitation techniques
- Manual Handling Techniques
Interpersonal skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate verbally
- Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
- Basic teaching skills
- Ability work as part of a team
- Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
- Ability to work independently, on ward and/or in patient's homes, working on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff
Personal attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude
- Well motivated
- Able to take direction from senior staff
- Empathy with older people
- Ability to recognize 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 work in confined spaces
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.
