University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Physiotherapy Assistant Practitioner for In-Patient Frailty Team

The closing date is 10 February 2026

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 role within Frailty. We are looking to recruit an experienced Assistant Practitioner who is looking to progress their career and take on a dynamic, challenging and progressive new role within this busy in-patient team. This band 4 role will have increased responsibility for assessing and treating more complex patients, progressing these patients through pathways of care include comprehensive involvement in discharge planning. Other responsibilities will include service development work, and a role in the support, training and development of students, band 3 colleagues and apprentices.

Main duties of the job

Provide skilled and insightful aid in the Rehabilitation of patients.

Conduct a full episode of care from assessment to discharge for a specified designated clinical caseloadindependently.

Manage a patient caseload and treat appropriately; being able to make alterations when required by assessment of patient progressionor regression.

Work in varied and unsupervised settings, with personal or telephone access to qualified Physiotherapist.

Provide non-clinical services to thephysiotherapyteam e.g. administrative duties,maintaininga safe environment andmaintainingequipment.

Undertake relevant service development projects.

Undertake the assessment and discharge of a range of patients.

Provide educational support to patients, carers, and less experienced staff in unsupervised settings.

To be able to assess and discharge a range of patients including patients withFrailty, Dementia, Parkinsons, Complex social history, multiple comorbidities.

To have a clear understanding ofcommon conditions such as Dementia, Delirium, Parkinson, Frailty, Fractures in the elderly,patients with falls history.

To be experienced indischarge options for elderly frail patients.

Tobe responsible forBand 2apprenticeswithin the team.

To be prepared to participate in future 7-day service provision if applicable.

About us

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7732371-JAN26

Job locations

Worthing Hospital

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Communication

To have active participation in physiotherapy department and team safetyhuddlei.e.leading discussions and togain awareness of prioritising and delegating to others.

  • Work collaboratively with relevant Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g. Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy, Nursing staff, Doctors) to assistachievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patients potential.
  • Communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties, and for people who do not have English as their first language, on a one-to-one level and to enable the patient to integrate in group activities.This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools.
  • Communicate effectively, in a variety of adaptable ways to optimise communication with patients with dementia and/or cognitive impairment.
  • Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g. therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition.
  • To effectively communicate the individuals mobility needs and methods you have found of assisting that patient, to the MDT members that will be able to enhance the patients mobility and functional needs.
  • Use advanced empathetic, tactful, and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling.
  • Ensure that individual practice is patient centred and incorporates patients views into treatment planning whilst following department pathways.
  • Assistin relevant areas ofinductionprocess fornew staffmembers and students.
  • To provide an orientation to the ward to all less experienced staff such as rotational band 5s, students, and non-registered staff.
  • Support with work experience students both within the physiotherapy department and wider MDT.
  • Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.
  • Liaise with other team members on day-to-day issues and ward management e.g. staff shortages, increased patient caseload.
  • Keep accurate and comprehensive documentation of all patient contact.Initiate documentation for assessment, transfer and discharge and be conversant with multi-professional documentation.
  • To be able to manage potentially stressful, sensitive, upsetting situations in an empathetic manner and escalate to seniors as appropriately.
  • To be able to communicate clearly and efficiently with external organisations regarding staff members under their supervision i.e. linking with college tutors during apprenticeship.

Service delivery and improvement

Comply withthe organisational and departmental policies and procedures.

Actively involved in the evaluation of currentpractice, discussions, data collection, audit and relevant projectsregardingservice evaluation and development be able to contribute to suggestions for change.

Identifyingand adapting tonew work and working indifferent ways.

People management and development

To have good knowledge of Frailty and associated conditions and to be able to providebasic education to others (staff,patientsand relatives) on these conditions.

Participate in the planning, administration and delivery of IST and other relevant courses offered to relevant staff from own and other departments and trusts e.g.band 5 team core in service training,band 3 core in service training,team general training.

Responsibleforor contribute significantly to thesupervision, training, and appraisal of less experienced staff e.g. physiotherapytechnicianstaff& apprentices.

Responsiblemaintainingown competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, review of current research and relevant literature, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses asidentifiedwithin a personal development plan.

Responsible for carrying out duties in line with the Trusts e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning.

Patient care delivery

To work flexiblyacrossthe Frailty wards and other inpatient areas in the physiotherapy department asrequired.

Involved in the Rehabilitation of patients using knowledge of the patients pathology, exercise-based therapy, and other relevant therapy techniques.

Take responsibility for ongoing assessment, treatment, and evaluation ofappropriate patientssome of which may be more complex in nature.

Assistnursing staff and therapists asrequiredregardingday-to-day care of patients, e.g. toileting needs, transfers,maintaininghygienic environment.

Be able to work holistically withcognitively impairedpatients considering their wider needs.

To be able toidentifywhen physiotherapy intervention is not being effective or is no longerappropriateand discuss with MDT and relatives/carers.Identifywhen requiresseniorsupport with decisions with more complex cases or complex communication.

Correctly apply various therapeutic aids asappropriate e.g.orthotics,walking aids, resistance bands, sliding boards.

To beable to read and interpretmonitoredinformation to ensure Patient and Therapist safety during therapy session e.g. BP, HR,NEWS, Hb, Temperature, SpO2in the inpatient setting.

Tounderstand, and be able toidentify, a deteriorating patient including how to manage these situationse.g. escalating care to a senior for input andsupport.

Read, monitor and safely manage equipment (02, drip stands, catheters and NG tubes) to enable therapeutic treatment to take place in an appropriate setting.

  • To undertake and monitor effect of skilled techniques as indicated e.g.exercise instruction, gaitre-educationandfunctional transfers with individuals.

    Accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in linewith national and trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist, to own competency level.

    Work collaboratively with relevant Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals(e.g.health care assistants, occupational therapy, nursing staff,Doctors)toassistachievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patientspotential.

    Facilitate patient progression through care pathways which may involve cross therapy working followingappropriate traininge.g. NOF, Stokeor ITU pathways.

    Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g. therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition.

    Ability to manage potentially complex situations where patients, relatives or colleagues have voiced concerns, or where there is confrontation. To be able to manage situation sensitively andin accordance withtrust policies, seeking senior support whererequired.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Communication

To have active participation in physiotherapy department and team safetyhuddlei.e.leading discussions and togain awareness of prioritising and delegating to others.

  • Work collaboratively with relevant Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g. Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy, Nursing staff, Doctors) to assistachievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patients potential.
  • Communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties, and for people who do not have English as their first language, on a one-to-one level and to enable the patient to integrate in group activities.This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools.
  • Communicate effectively, in a variety of adaptable ways to optimise communication with patients with dementia and/or cognitive impairment.
  • Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g. therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition.
  • To effectively communicate the individuals mobility needs and methods you have found of assisting that patient, to the MDT members that will be able to enhance the patients mobility and functional needs.
  • Use advanced empathetic, tactful, and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling.
  • Ensure that individual practice is patient centred and incorporates patients views into treatment planning whilst following department pathways.
  • Assistin relevant areas ofinductionprocess fornew staffmembers and students.
  • To provide an orientation to the ward to all less experienced staff such as rotational band 5s, students, and non-registered staff.
  • Support with work experience students both within the physiotherapy department and wider MDT.
  • Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.
  • Liaise with other team members on day-to-day issues and ward management e.g. staff shortages, increased patient caseload.
  • Keep accurate and comprehensive documentation of all patient contact.Initiate documentation for assessment, transfer and discharge and be conversant with multi-professional documentation.
  • To be able to manage potentially stressful, sensitive, upsetting situations in an empathetic manner and escalate to seniors as appropriately.
  • To be able to communicate clearly and efficiently with external organisations regarding staff members under their supervision i.e. linking with college tutors during apprenticeship.

Service delivery and improvement

Comply withthe organisational and departmental policies and procedures.

Actively involved in the evaluation of currentpractice, discussions, data collection, audit and relevant projectsregardingservice evaluation and development be able to contribute to suggestions for change.

Identifyingand adapting tonew work and working indifferent ways.

People management and development

To have good knowledge of Frailty and associated conditions and to be able to providebasic education to others (staff,patientsand relatives) on these conditions.

Participate in the planning, administration and delivery of IST and other relevant courses offered to relevant staff from own and other departments and trusts e.g.band 5 team core in service training,band 3 core in service training,team general training.

Responsibleforor contribute significantly to thesupervision, training, and appraisal of less experienced staff e.g. physiotherapytechnicianstaff& apprentices.

Responsiblemaintainingown competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, review of current research and relevant literature, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses asidentifiedwithin a personal development plan.

Responsible for carrying out duties in line with the Trusts e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning.

Patient care delivery

To work flexiblyacrossthe Frailty wards and other inpatient areas in the physiotherapy department asrequired.

Involved in the Rehabilitation of patients using knowledge of the patients pathology, exercise-based therapy, and other relevant therapy techniques.

Take responsibility for ongoing assessment, treatment, and evaluation ofappropriate patientssome of which may be more complex in nature.

Assistnursing staff and therapists asrequiredregardingday-to-day care of patients, e.g. toileting needs, transfers,maintaininghygienic environment.

Be able to work holistically withcognitively impairedpatients considering their wider needs.

To be able toidentifywhen physiotherapy intervention is not being effective or is no longerappropriateand discuss with MDT and relatives/carers.Identifywhen requiresseniorsupport with decisions with more complex cases or complex communication.

Correctly apply various therapeutic aids asappropriate e.g.orthotics,walking aids, resistance bands, sliding boards.

To beable to read and interpretmonitoredinformation to ensure Patient and Therapist safety during therapy session e.g. BP, HR,NEWS, Hb, Temperature, SpO2in the inpatient setting.

Tounderstand, and be able toidentify, a deteriorating patient including how to manage these situationse.g. escalating care to a senior for input andsupport.

Read, monitor and safely manage equipment (02, drip stands, catheters and NG tubes) to enable therapeutic treatment to take place in an appropriate setting.

  • To undertake and monitor effect of skilled techniques as indicated e.g.exercise instruction, gaitre-educationandfunctional transfers with individuals.

    Accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in linewith national and trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist, to own competency level.

    Work collaboratively with relevant Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals(e.g.health care assistants, occupational therapy, nursing staff,Doctors)toassistachievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patientspotential.

    Facilitate patient progression through care pathways which may involve cross therapy working followingappropriate traininge.g. NOF, Stokeor ITU pathways.

    Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g. therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition.

    Ability to manage potentially complex situations where patients, relatives or colleagues have voiced concerns, or where there is confrontation. To be able to manage situation sensitively andin accordance withtrust policies, seeking senior support whererequired.

Person Specification

Experience/ Qualifications

Essential

  • Therapy level workingexperience inan inpatient acute hospital settingegBand 3 physiotherapy technician
  • Completion ofBand 3Physiotherapy Techniciancompetencies or equivalent

Skillsnon-clinical

Essential

  • Evidence of managing and prioritising own caseload of patients daily
  • Evidence of managing complex discussions with patients and relatives

Skills clinical

Essential

  • Experience of treating Frailty patients and associated conditions
  • Ability to undertake discharge planning independently but seeking senior support if needed

People Management and Development

Essential

  • Evidence of supervision and support of other members of a physiotherapy team
  • Evidence ofpreviousexperience of involvement infacilitatingteaching / IST

Equality,Diversity,and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Specific Requirements

Essential

  • Flexible working patterns include weekends
Person Specification

Experience/ Qualifications

Essential

  • Therapy level workingexperience inan inpatient acute hospital settingegBand 3 physiotherapy technician
  • Completion ofBand 3Physiotherapy Techniciancompetencies or equivalent

Skillsnon-clinical

Essential

  • Evidence of managing and prioritising own caseload of patients daily
  • Evidence of managing complex discussions with patients and relatives

Skills clinical

Essential

  • Experience of treating Frailty patients and associated conditions
  • Ability to undertake discharge planning independently but seeking senior support if needed

People Management and Development

Essential

  • Evidence of supervision and support of other members of a physiotherapy team
  • Evidence ofpreviousexperience of involvement infacilitatingteaching / IST

Equality,Diversity,and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Specific Requirements

Essential

  • Flexible working patterns include weekends

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 Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing Hospital

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing Hospital

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Physiotherapy Operational Manager

Jo Findlay

jo.findlay3@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7732371-JAN26

Job locations

Worthing Hospital

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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