Job summary
Band 4 Therapy Assistant, Hours: 37.5/week.
We are seeking a Band 4 Therapy Assistant to join the Prehabilitation Team at Ashford and St Peter's NHS Foundation Trust.
Our prehabilitation service delivers a patient-centred, needs-led programme within community settings across north-west surrey, supporting individuals to actively prepare--rather than passively wait--for their upcoming surgery or treatment. The programme focuses on engaging, educating, and empowering patients to become medically, physically, and psychologically fit for surgery. Sessions include structured, targeted exercise circuits as well as brief educational components delivered through our "bite-size surgery school."
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with experience as a physiotherapy assistant or in exercise delivery to support and lead weekly exercise classes. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong communication skills, the ability to work effectively as part of a team, and the confidence to motivate and encourage patients.
You will work under the guidance of experienced senior staff within the Physiotherapy Department and will receive regular supervision and development opportunities.
Main duties of the job
Clinical Duties
- Deliver and support group exercise classes for prehabilitation cohorts across community gym sites.
- Complete one-to-one assessments with patients at the start and end of their programme, including basic functional measures and exercise readiness screening.
- Supervise patients throughout exercise sessions, ensuring safe and effective technique and adapting exercises where required.
- Progress individual exercise plans within your scope of practice under the guidance of senior clinicians.
- Monitor patient wellbeing, identify any concerns, and escalate appropriately to senior staff.
- Provide brief education and advice to support patients' preparation for surgery, healthy lifestyle changes, and self-management.
Non-Clinical Duties
- Maintain cleanliness and organisation of equipment and exercise areas in line with infection control procedures.
- Complete accurate and timely clinical documentation, including session notes, discharge summaries, and onward referrals.
- Support data collection for service audits, outcomes monitoring, and programme evaluation.
- Assist in administrative tasks such as scheduling, maintaining attendance records, and communicating with patients.
For further information, please contact Joe Spragg (lead physiotherapist for prehabilitation) joe.spragg1@nhs.net
About us
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.
Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
This is an exciting time to join our Trust, as we work on the expansion of our theatres at Ashford Hospital and move towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures; with care delivered by dedicated, specialist teams in a modern and well-equipped environment.
We hope to use this centre to create an environment of learning and to facilitate training of the next generation of our skilled NHS workforce. Our plans are ambitious - why not, come and be a part of our journey.
Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities below are a summary of the post. For the full detailed list, please refer to the attached job description.
Clinical Duties
- Deliver and support structured group exercise classes for prehabilitation cohorts in community gym settings.
- Complete one-to-one assessments at the start and end of each programme, including functional measures and exercise readiness screening.
- Provide therapeutic interventions tailored to patients diagnoses, fitness levels and pre-operative needs, progressing exercises within your scope of practice.
- Recognise and promptly report any changes in a patients presentation, wellbeing, or risk to senior staff.
- Advise patients on safe use of exercise and mobility equipment used within sessions.
- Supervise patients throughout classes to ensure safe technique, effective participation, and appropriate exercise progression.
- Support patients and carers with concerns or questions relating to exercise, activity levels, or preparation for surgery.
- Contribute to brief patient education (bite-size surgery school) and promote healthy lifestyle choices that support surgical readiness.
Communication & Teamworking
- Build rapport with patients and carers, using empathy, sensitivity and motivational communication to encourage engagement and confidence.
- Communicate clearly with individuals who have barriers to understanding, such as sensory impairments, low health literacy or anxiety.
- Liaise with physiotherapists, nurses, surgical teams, and other MDT members to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of care.
- Participate in relevant team meetings, MDT discussions, and handovers as required.
- Maintain accurate, timely and legible clinical documentation in line with Trust and therapy service standards.
- Provide appropriate signposting to other services (e.g., gym referrals, smoking cessation, activity groups, weight management) when relevant.
Managerial & Organisational Duties
- Prioritise and manage your delegated caseload across multiple cohorts and community sites.
- Ensure equipment used in classes is clean, safe and well-maintained; arrange replacement or reporting of faulty items.
- Assist with scheduling, attendance monitoring, and general session organisation to ensure smooth cohort flow.
Administrative, Information & Reporting
- Complete high-quality session notes, discharge summaries, outcome measures and onward referrals.
- Collect and record data accurately, including patient outcomes and attendance, for audit and service evaluation.
- Maintain required departmental statistics and contribute to reporting as needed.
Education, Training & Professional Development
- Participate in regular supervision and the appraisal process as an appraisee.
- Complete mandatory training and service-specific competencies to support safe and effective practice.
- Engage in ongoing learning, reflective practice and development activities relevant to prehabilitation and exercise delivery.
- Contribute to training sessions for patients or staff where appropriate, under guidance of senior clinicians.
Quality Improvement & Service Development
- Contribute to audits, service evaluations, and quality improvement projects led by the prehabilitation or MDT teams.
- Assist in identifying opportunities to improve patient experience, session delivery or programme processes.
General Responsibilities
- Work in accordance with Trust policies, including safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection and health & safety.
- Promote a safe working environment within community gym settings.
- Undertake any reasonable duties that fall within the scope and capabilities of a Band 4 Therapy Assistant role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities below are a summary of the post. For the full detailed list, please refer to the attached job description.
Clinical Duties
- Deliver and support structured group exercise classes for prehabilitation cohorts in community gym settings.
- Complete one-to-one assessments at the start and end of each programme, including functional measures and exercise readiness screening.
- Provide therapeutic interventions tailored to patients diagnoses, fitness levels and pre-operative needs, progressing exercises within your scope of practice.
- Recognise and promptly report any changes in a patients presentation, wellbeing, or risk to senior staff.
- Advise patients on safe use of exercise and mobility equipment used within sessions.
- Supervise patients throughout classes to ensure safe technique, effective participation, and appropriate exercise progression.
- Support patients and carers with concerns or questions relating to exercise, activity levels, or preparation for surgery.
- Contribute to brief patient education (bite-size surgery school) and promote healthy lifestyle choices that support surgical readiness.
Communication & Teamworking
- Build rapport with patients and carers, using empathy, sensitivity and motivational communication to encourage engagement and confidence.
- Communicate clearly with individuals who have barriers to understanding, such as sensory impairments, low health literacy or anxiety.
- Liaise with physiotherapists, nurses, surgical teams, and other MDT members to ensure coordinated and effective delivery of care.
- Participate in relevant team meetings, MDT discussions, and handovers as required.
- Maintain accurate, timely and legible clinical documentation in line with Trust and therapy service standards.
- Provide appropriate signposting to other services (e.g., gym referrals, smoking cessation, activity groups, weight management) when relevant.
Managerial & Organisational Duties
- Prioritise and manage your delegated caseload across multiple cohorts and community sites.
- Ensure equipment used in classes is clean, safe and well-maintained; arrange replacement or reporting of faulty items.
- Assist with scheduling, attendance monitoring, and general session organisation to ensure smooth cohort flow.
Administrative, Information & Reporting
- Complete high-quality session notes, discharge summaries, outcome measures and onward referrals.
- Collect and record data accurately, including patient outcomes and attendance, for audit and service evaluation.
- Maintain required departmental statistics and contribute to reporting as needed.
Education, Training & Professional Development
- Participate in regular supervision and the appraisal process as an appraisee.
- Complete mandatory training and service-specific competencies to support safe and effective practice.
- Engage in ongoing learning, reflective practice and development activities relevant to prehabilitation and exercise delivery.
- Contribute to training sessions for patients or staff where appropriate, under guidance of senior clinicians.
Quality Improvement & Service Development
- Contribute to audits, service evaluations, and quality improvement projects led by the prehabilitation or MDT teams.
- Assist in identifying opportunities to improve patient experience, session delivery or programme processes.
General Responsibilities
- Work in accordance with Trust policies, including safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection and health & safety.
- Promote a safe working environment within community gym settings.
- Undertake any reasonable duties that fall within the scope and capabilities of a Band 4 Therapy Assistant role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE/ O Level Maths and English
- Formal qualification in relevant subject e.g. City and Guilds/ NVQ level 3 / Basic or Advanced OR relevant in-service training / education
Desirable
- Experience of working in healthcare or exercise prescription setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience in exercise prescription or as Band 3 as an assistant in healthcare
- Experience of direct patient care or client facing role
Knowledge
Essential
- Sound understanding of the role of the Therapy Assistant
- Understanding of exercise prescription for prehabilitation
Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills with patients, families and the MDT
- Ability to organise and manage time effectively to enable completion of clinical and non-clinical duties
- Ability to demonstrate and adapt exercises
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE/ O Level Maths and English
- Formal qualification in relevant subject e.g. City and Guilds/ NVQ level 3 / Basic or Advanced OR relevant in-service training / education
Desirable
- Experience of working in healthcare or exercise prescription setting
Experience
Essential
- Experience in exercise prescription or as Band 3 as an assistant in healthcare
- Experience of direct patient care or client facing role
Knowledge
Essential
- Sound understanding of the role of the Therapy Assistant
- Understanding of exercise prescription for prehabilitation
Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills with patients, families and the MDT
- Ability to organise and manage time effectively to enable completion of clinical and non-clinical duties
- Ability to demonstrate and adapt exercises
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.
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.
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).
