Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Therapy Support Worker - Neuro Oncology, Band 4

The closing date is 11 September 2025

Job summary

Senior Therapy Support Worker - Neuro Oncology, Band 4 (24 hours a week)

Join our team as a Senior Therapy Support Worker providing a pivotal role working alongside a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist within the multi-disciplinary Neuro Oncology team. This is a great opportunity to work in a highly specialist area, and to use and develop skills in neurological assessment and treatment, as well as palliative rehabilitation for patients with brain tumours.

The part-time role based at Cheltenham General Hospital provides therapy interventions and support to outpatients and their families, offering community visits and conducting telephone consultations. The role also involves administrative tasks to ensure the smooth running of the service.

Main duties of the job

To assess patients and identify patients' problems, as well as potential complications and contraindications, and refer back for assessment by a registered practitioner when necessary. To be able to assess, evaluate, progress and report back and assist the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) in identifying and planning safe discharge. To identify and organise/undertake appropriate follow up treatment within a delegated framework of responsibilities, reporting back to registered staff and referring on to other agencies when necessary. This will include follow up home visits and post discharge phone calls to help prevent the risks of early discharge exacerbated by functional difficulties and patient and relative/carer anxieties.

To use clinical reasoning skills to agree functional goals and develop and evaluate the treatment plan. To implement and progress treatment programs in order to promote physical / functional independence. To include the instructing of patients on functional exercise, the assessment and issuing of equipment for activities of daily living. Assessing and instructing patients in the safe use of mobility aids and equipment for activities of daily living, and practice activities of daily living such as mobility, safety on the stairs, dressing and bathing.

Further Information can be found in the attached Job Description

About us

Join a forward-thinking, compassionate, and high-performing integrated Therapy Service at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate and skilled individual to make a meaningful impact within a supportive and collaborative environment, while developing a fulfilling career.

As a member of the Therapy Service, you will play a vital role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care across a range of specialties.

What sets the service apart is our strong multi-disciplinary team culture and collaborative working with other colleagues. You'll benefit from excellent professional development opportunities, including access to structured supervision and educational frameworks, and the chance to be involved in innovative service improvement projects that shape the future of care.

By choosing Gloucestershire Hospitals Therapy Service, you are joining a team that truly values its people. We are proud of our supportive and inclusive culture through our compassionate leadership and our ongoing investment in staff wellbeing and development.

Details

Date posted

28 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

318-25-T0610

Job locations

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Job description

Job responsibilities

To embrace the principles of both Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, bringing them together to work in an integrated and client-centred way

To provide high quality therapy in a fast paced, changing working environment within the resources available, to ensure the delivery of Trust targets

To motivate patients to take part in rehabilitation and to promote independence, when there may be reluctance or cognitive and/or communication difficulties.

Working with palliative and end of life patients.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To embrace the principles of both Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, bringing them together to work in an integrated and client-centred way

To provide high quality therapy in a fast paced, changing working environment within the resources available, to ensure the delivery of Trust targets

To motivate patients to take part in rehabilitation and to promote independence, when there may be reluctance or cognitive and/or communication difficulties.

Working with palliative and end of life patients.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE level C or equivalent for literacy and numeracy
  • EITHER completed or working towards completion of a relevant Foundation Science degree or equivalent
  • OR NVQ level 3 or equivalent and experience/skills demonstrated through CPD to include clinical reasoning, appropriate attitudes & behaviours, initiative and leadership

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience as a physiotherapy or occupational therapy support worker working in the NHS or other care setting in the UK

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and non-verbal and written when interacting with staff, patients, relatives and carers.
  • Produce accurate and legible documentation of treatments
  • Form professional relationships with clients who may need motivating and encouraging, in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
  • Work flexibly in response to the changing demands of the service.
  • Manage appropriately in difficult emotional or physical environments e.g. upset patients/relatives and difficult physical environments e.g. home circumstances
  • Demonstrate an ability to act on own initiative when working independently in challenging environments.
  • Evidence of initiative and leadership
  • Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning, with self-awareness of own knowledge and learning needs, and ability to seek support appropriately.
  • Valid UK driving licence

Desirable

  • Experience of working with patients with a palliative diagnosis
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE level C or equivalent for literacy and numeracy
  • EITHER completed or working towards completion of a relevant Foundation Science degree or equivalent
  • OR NVQ level 3 or equivalent and experience/skills demonstrated through CPD to include clinical reasoning, appropriate attitudes & behaviours, initiative and leadership

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience as a physiotherapy or occupational therapy support worker working in the NHS or other care setting in the UK

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and non-verbal and written when interacting with staff, patients, relatives and carers.
  • Produce accurate and legible documentation of treatments
  • Form professional relationships with clients who may need motivating and encouraging, in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
  • Work flexibly in response to the changing demands of the service.
  • Manage appropriately in difficult emotional or physical environments e.g. upset patients/relatives and difficult physical environments e.g. home circumstances
  • Demonstrate an ability to act on own initiative when working independently in challenging environments.
  • Evidence of initiative and leadership
  • Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning, with self-awareness of own knowledge and learning needs, and ability to seek support appropriately.
  • Valid UK driving licence

Desirable

  • Experience of working with patients with a palliative diagnosis

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist

Nikki Broadbridge

Nikki.broadbridge@nhs.net

03004228599

Details

Date posted

28 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

318-25-T0610

Job locations

Cheltenham General Hospital

Sandford Road

Cheltenham

GL53 7AN


Supporting documents

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