Job summary
Senior Therapy Assistant - Fixed Term 12 months (Maternity Cover, Working Part time: 30 hours per week
Are you looking for new challenge? Would you like to enhance your skills in post-operative Orthopaedic rehabilitation? This is an exciting opportunity to work as a Senior Therapy Assistant within our Orthopaedic therapy team at the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust.
Our teams provide therapy to a range of specialities including orthopaedics, frailty, medical and respiratory services at the Countess of Chester hospital. You will be working alongside an experienced therapy team within the Inpatient Orthopaedic Therapy service, which includes both trauma and elective wards. The role includes working closely with our Multidisciplinary team to ensure we achieve best patient care.
Good communication, adaptability and team working skills are essential for this post. Experience of working with adults in a care setting is essential for the role. We offer a friendly and supportive environment for learning.
As part of the Therapies and Integrated Community Care Division we have a Practice Development Therapist who supports the department with learning and development activities, offering a supportive and nurturing environment for our unregistered staff with an interest and passion to progress.
You will be expected to work weekends and Bank holidays on a rota basis.
Main duties of the job
Main Duties
To provide support to the therapists in the assessment and treatment of patients and to implement therapy programmes, predominantly post-surgery for hip fracture. You well also have an active role in the development of pre-operative assessment for patients admitted following trauma.
You will be a positive individual with a can-do attitude who can learn and adapt quickly and is flexible.
Effective communication with excellent organisational skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.Applicants should always have a professional and pleasant manner and be enthusiastic about the service provided by the Orthopaedic Therapy Team.
Comprehensive training will be provided for all aspects of the work expected by the post holder.
About us
The Trust's services are provided from three locations:
o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ level 4 or equivalent
- ECDL or CLIAT qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience working in a health or social care setting, working as a therapy assistant.
- Experience of delivering therapy programmes to patients with complex needs.
- Supervisory experience.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ level 4 or equivalent
- ECDL or CLIAT qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience working in a health or social care setting, working as a therapy assistant.
- Experience of delivering therapy programmes to patients with complex needs.
- Supervisory experience.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
