University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Therapy Assistant - Older Persons Team

The closing date is 13 February 2026

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: 18/02/2026

We will consider full time and part time applicants.

About us

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.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, 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.

Details

Date posted

30 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

153-SP05579

Job locations

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Castle Ln E,

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

Other requirements specific to job

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

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.

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

Other requirements specific to job

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

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.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Castle Ln E,

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 Ln E,

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 Leads Band 7

RBH OPS Clinical Leads

uhd.rbhopstherapyclinicalleads@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

30 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

153-SP05579

Job locations

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Castle Ln E,

Bournemouth

BH7 7DW


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)