Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 17 December 2025

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and reliable individual to join our friendly and dynamic Therapies team as a Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioner. The role is for 23 months, fixed term 2 days a week (preferably Wednesday and Thursday).

The role covers different clinical areas and provides experience in treating a range of patients with cardio-respiratory conditions both independently and with the support of registered therapists. Caseloads will include pre- and post- surgery patients, both within an intensive care and inpatient ward setting as well as patients with long term respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis.

With the support of registered therapists, the successful candidate will complete a full in-house training programme including a comprehensive clinical competency document. The successful candidate will be committed to personal development and have good communication and interpersonal skills, along with the ability to use their initiative when working within a team.

Candidates must have a foundation degree or a NVQ3 with relevant short courses and experience in healthcare or health related science. Experience of working in a Therapies department or as a Rehabilitation support worker/assistant is essential. This post would suit exercise physiologist/practitioners or sports therapists/scientists with relevant experience.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy ahead of closing date if sufficient applications received.

Main duties of the job

To work without direct supervision, but under the direction of Registered Therapists in the performance of specific tasks for an individual/or group of patients with a range of clinical presentations and prognoses, as part of their treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Duties may include:

- Initial assessment of patients and treatment planning

- Carrying own caseload of non-complex patients

- Implementation of treatment plans and evaluating patients' treatment / progress

- Assessing performance of activities of daily living

- Teaching use of walking aids

- Independently progressing patient's rehabilitation

- Discharging patients including liaising with external Agencies and relatives for ongoing rehabilitation needs

- Direct assistance to Registered Therapists with more complex patients

- Goal setting with patients, both short term and longer-term planning

- To maintain accurate documentation according to Departmental and Trust standards

Demonstrate empathy with patients, their families, and carers, and to be aware at all times of the needs of patients during illness or disability and to promote and encourage independence and restoration of function. Including the use of different methods of communication with individuals and their families/carers to educate, facilitate and promote desired change.

To effectively manage own clinical caseloads on a daily basis and to prioritise workload support from senior staff.

About us

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital, delivering care to more than 50,000 patients a year in its new state-of-the-art hospital in Cambridge. We perform the most heart and/or lung transplants in the UK and carried out the UK's first successful heart transplant in 1979. It also offers emergency heart attack treatment, sleep centre care and is one of just five centres nationally for those in severe respiratory failure.

Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe the Trust is at the heart of treatments of the future. Royal Papworth became the first hospital trust in the country to be rated outstanding in all five areas assessed by the Care Quality Commission - a rating it still holds today. The Trust holds its values of compassion, excellence & collaboration at its core, and all colleagues joining the team are expected to uphold these in their day-to-day roles & interactions. Royal Papworth is proud of its diverse workforce and encourages people to embrace their individuality.

The Trust values difference and welcomes all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity, race, religion & belief, sex and sexual orientation. Providing they meet the minimum post criteria, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview.

For a street view tour: https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/virtual-tour

Date posted

26 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

23 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

175-2526-PS1514

Job locations

Royal Papworth Hospital

Papworth Road

Cambridge Bio Medical Campus

Cambridge

CB2 0AY

Job description

Job responsibilities

On this page you will find a Role Profile which provides information about the hospital and full details about the role. We recommend that you review this and refer to it as you complete your application. Please include how you will meet the Trust Values Compassion, Excellence and Collaboration. If you would like more information about the role or working at Royal Papworth Hospital, please get in touch with the contact for this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Diploma or equivalent appropriate qualification, e.g. foundation degree; or NVQ3 level qualification plus short courses or relevant experience to diploma level

Experience

Essential

Experience of working as a Therapies or Rehabilitation Support Worker/ Assistant and managing own caseload of non-complex conditions.
Knowledge of basic medical and rehabilitation terminology, cardiorespiratory conditions and associated surgery.
Good interpersonal and communication skills showing empathy and sensitivity to the needs of patients, carers, staff and colleagues.
Demonstrable organisation skills. Ability to prioritise workload and work independently. Experience of self-directed working/ability to prioritise tasks.
Ability to work flexibly across the Therapies teams and be a team player.
Ability to use own initiative, multitask and problem solve, but recognises own limitations, and when to seek qualified advice.
Demonstrates understanding of the meaning of confidentiality and the requirement for this to be maintained.

Desirable

Experience with documentation in Electronic Patient Records.
Experience of using MS Teams

Additional Criteria

Essential

Evidence ability to uphold the Trust's values Compassion Excellence Collaboration and associated behaviour standard at all times.
Highly motivated and committed to personal and service development at Royal Papworth Hospital
Able to demonstrate professionalism, resilience and reflection.
Ability to undertake manual handling tasks.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Diploma or equivalent appropriate qualification, e.g. foundation degree; or NVQ3 level qualification plus short courses or relevant experience to diploma level

Experience

Essential

Experience of working as a Therapies or Rehabilitation Support Worker/ Assistant and managing own caseload of non-complex conditions.
Knowledge of basic medical and rehabilitation terminology, cardiorespiratory conditions and associated surgery.
Good interpersonal and communication skills showing empathy and sensitivity to the needs of patients, carers, staff and colleagues.
Demonstrable organisation skills. Ability to prioritise workload and work independently. Experience of self-directed working/ability to prioritise tasks.
Ability to work flexibly across the Therapies teams and be a team player.
Ability to use own initiative, multitask and problem solve, but recognises own limitations, and when to seek qualified advice.
Demonstrates understanding of the meaning of confidentiality and the requirement for this to be maintained.

Desirable

Experience with documentation in Electronic Patient Records.
Experience of using MS Teams

Additional Criteria

Essential

Evidence ability to uphold the Trust's values Compassion Excellence Collaboration and associated behaviour standard at all times.
Highly motivated and committed to personal and service development at Royal Papworth Hospital
Able to demonstrate professionalism, resilience and reflection.
Ability to undertake manual handling tasks.

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

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Papworth Hospital

Papworth Road

Cambridge Bio Medical Campus

Cambridge

CB2 0AY

Employer's website

https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/working-here (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Papworth Hospital

Papworth Road

Cambridge Bio Medical Campus

Cambridge

CB2 0AY

Employer's website

https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/working-here (Opens in a new tab)