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Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Therapy Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 13 August 2025

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Job summary

Therapy Healthcare Assistant

Department: Inpatient Therapies

Band 2 £24,465 per annum

Full-time 37.5 hours per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

We are looking for enthusiastic Healthcare Assistants to work alongside our inpatient therapy team (Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists & Support Workers) to support our "Keeping You Active" programme.

The aim of this programme is to promote & empower patients to maintain & optimise independence by encouraging them to participate in activities of daily living, based on their own preferences, choices and habits. Reducing the risk of deconditioning associated with a hospital stay & improving patient flow into the community.

The programme will last for at least 6 months and beyond this, you will receive on-going training to become a ward-based HCA. The experience you gain from working with therapy will be key in supporting patient flow & discharge as you transition into a HCA role.

You will be part of a ward-based team supporting patients at the earliest point in their admission to remain as independent as possible, encouraging self-care & participation in their usual Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such washing, dressing, eating, drinking. Patients will be mainly older adults living with frailty.

In this role you will be supported to complete your care certificate will attend the HCA fundamentals of care induction and our care academy training programme.

Interview date: 04.09.2025

Main duties of the job

During the first 6 months of employment, you will be accountable to the Therapy Inpatient teams in order to develop skills in:

  • An understanding of how to gradually promote independence and introduce functional activities following a period of ill health.
  • An understanding how a short period of inactivity can very quickly lead to an individual losing their ability to look after themselves.
  • Knowledge and skills to help a patient to remain active while in hospital.
  • You will be ward based with a focus on empowering patients to maintain and optimist their independence by encouraging individuals to participate in activities of daily living, based on their own preferences, choice and habits.

Following 6 months of employment, you will fulfil the fill HCA job description outlined below:

  • The role of the HCA is to assist the nursing team in the delivery of safe effective care to the patient.

About us

"We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute"

"With high scores in Team Working and Line Management, our teams collaborate, communicate and care for one another - because we know we're stronger together"(NHS Staff Survey 2025)

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

  • Free on-site parking
  • Free tea and coffee
  • Great flexible workingopportunities
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Lease car scheme
  • Generous annual leave and pension scheme
  • On site nursery (chargeable)
  • Extensive staff health and well-being programme

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.

Details

Date posted

30 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

430-CC25-248A

Job locations

Inpatient Physiotherapy (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To assist all team members as required in the direct delivery of patient care. Undertake personal care duties for patients including bathing and feeding.
  • To have knowledge of basic clinical observations and an understanding of the correct escalation process, making judgements on when to report patient conditions to a senior member of staff.
  • To assist, where appropriate, in the induction of new staff within the department, demonstrating duties to new starters
  • To organise own daily workload, adjusting and prioritising appropriately as the ward actively dictates.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To assist all team members as required in the direct delivery of patient care. Undertake personal care duties for patients including bathing and feeding.
  • To have knowledge of basic clinical observations and an understanding of the correct escalation process, making judgements on when to report patient conditions to a senior member of staff.
  • To assist, where appropriate, in the induction of new staff within the department, demonstrating duties to new starters
  • To organise own daily workload, adjusting and prioritising appropriately as the ward actively dictates.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

  • Basic understanding and competence in Maths & English
  • NVQ Level 2 or equivalent relevant experience
  • Knowledge of personal care and activities of daily living
  • Awareness of importance of infection prevention & control
  • Understanding of the importance of safe working practices
  • Insight into personal care needs

Desirable

  • CARE Certificate
  • Understanding of the role of a Healthcare Assistant
  • Awareness of NHS policies

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a team

Desirable

  • Experience of being a care giver
  • Previous NHS experience
  • Experience of working with the public/in customer care

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to demonstrate commitment to high standards of care
  • Accurate record keeping
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Ability to prioritise tasks effectively at short notice
  • Caring in a professional manner towards patients and their relatives.
  • Good time management

Personal and people development

Essential

  • Commitment to Safeguarding
  • Presents a professional appearance
  • Ability to work within a team
  • Self-motivated and enthusiastic
  • Commitment to working in a caring environment with people of all ages

Communication

Essential

  • Clear spoken and written English
  • Able to show care, empathy and respect to patients and their families
  • Able to communicate with team members, carrying out instructions and feeding back information.
  • Able to record care provided using MKUH documentation and complying with MKUH policies and guidelines.

Specific requirements

Essential

  • Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

  • Basic understanding and competence in Maths & English
  • NVQ Level 2 or equivalent relevant experience
  • Knowledge of personal care and activities of daily living
  • Awareness of importance of infection prevention & control
  • Understanding of the importance of safe working practices
  • Insight into personal care needs

Desirable

  • CARE Certificate
  • Understanding of the role of a Healthcare Assistant
  • Awareness of NHS policies

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a team

Desirable

  • Experience of being a care giver
  • Previous NHS experience
  • Experience of working with the public/in customer care

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to demonstrate commitment to high standards of care
  • Accurate record keeping
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Ability to prioritise tasks effectively at short notice
  • Caring in a professional manner towards patients and their relatives.
  • Good time management

Personal and people development

Essential

  • Commitment to Safeguarding
  • Presents a professional appearance
  • Ability to work within a team
  • Self-motivated and enthusiastic
  • Commitment to working in a caring environment with people of all ages

Communication

Essential

  • Clear spoken and written English
  • Able to show care, empathy and respect to patients and their families
  • Able to communicate with team members, carrying out instructions and feeding back information.
  • Able to record care provided using MKUH documentation and complying with MKUH policies and guidelines.

Specific requirements

Essential

  • Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.

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

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Inpatient Physiotherapy (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Employer's website

https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Inpatient Physiotherapy (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Employer's website

https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Therapy Practice Educator

Claire Fordham

Claire.Fordham@mkuh.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

30 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

430-CC25-248A

Job locations

Inpatient Physiotherapy (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD


Supporting documents

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