Job summary
Bank Assistant Practitioner
Department: Inpatient Therapies
Band 4
Hours: Zero hours per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Our Therapy Department is currently looking for Band 4 Assistant Practitioners to join our pool of bank staff.
Working as part of a team of dedicated and skilled clinicians you will work independently on an assigned caseload and work alongside the Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists to provide safe quality care to a range of patients in clinical areas such as Inpatient Orthopaedics, Respiratory & Surgical wards, Complex medical wards, Stroke Unit, Frailty Team. You may also be involved in assisting with home visits.
Previous experience as a Therapy assistant or Assistant Practitioner in an acute healthcare setting is essential. This opportunity is ideal for those currently in the final stages of courses studying towards Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist qualifications to gain additional hands-on experience. An ability to demonstrate a proactive flexible approach and to be able to work well on own initiative is essential.
If you have the appropriate experience to work with these patients, an understanding of the importance of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation and can demonstrate a commitment to compassionate care we would love to hear from you.
For further information or an informal discussion please contact Laura Sturgeon, Laura.Sturgeon@mkuh.nhs.uk or call 01908 995447
Interview: 15 October 2025
Main duties of the job
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
We actively support staff to develop through our own training programmes and you will be provided with competencies to assist your learning and development.
We offer a dedicated Therapy Practice Development team whose role is to support staff development. Access to the Care Certificate is supported.
To clinically assess and progress/adapt treatment programmes of appropriate patients.
To develop and implement treatment programmes for appropriate patients.
To monitor stock of equipment and ensure stock levels are maintained in the therapies department.
To provide supervision as required to Therapy Assistants and students.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To undertake assessment, treatment and discharge of appropriate patients as delegated by registered physiotherapist (PT) or Occupational Therapist (OT), adhering to agreed departmental guidelines & protocol
- To organise and run exercise programmes (group or individual), assess and provide appropriate mobility aids, measure and fit adaptive equipment, promote functional independence through transfer and mobility practice sessions.
Personal Development - To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and to maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development
- To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraise and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies.
Organisational
- Liaison with and teaching of therapeutic skills to other health care professionals, students and agencies e.g. social services
- To be responsible for planning own caseload on a daily basis to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations arise and change
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To undertake assessment, treatment and discharge of appropriate patients as delegated by registered physiotherapist (PT) or Occupational Therapist (OT), adhering to agreed departmental guidelines & protocol
- To organise and run exercise programmes (group or individual), assess and provide appropriate mobility aids, measure and fit adaptive equipment, promote functional independence through transfer and mobility practice sessions.
Personal Development - To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and to maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development
- To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraise and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies.
Organisational
- Liaison with and teaching of therapeutic skills to other health care professionals, students and agencies e.g. social services
- To be responsible for planning own caseload on a daily basis to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations arise and change
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Hold a Level 5 Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Diploma or Apprenticeship Qualification that was obtained whilst working in practice within Physiotherapy and/or Occupational Therapy or other suitable level 5 or higher qualification such as a Sports Science degree
- Suitable level of experience as demonstrated by a CPD portfolio to match the job description
- Evidence of a good standard of education 5 GCSE's grade C and above or equivalent, including English and Math's
Desirable
- Willingness to complete Assistant Practitioner training provided by the Trust
- Assistant Membership of professional body e.g. COT or CSP
- Willingness to undertake training to meet competency framework
- Have an understanding of electronic notes systems, and have good IT skills
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Assistant Practitioner in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
Experience
Essential
- Substantial previous experience in heath or social care setting/ NHS including rehabilitation/ reablement and multidisciplinary and/ or multi-agency working
Desirable
- Previous experience of working as an Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy assistant
- Experience of exercise prescription
- Understand patients that are frail, elderly and have multi pathologies including mental health problems
- Previous experience of independent caseload management
Skills
Essential
- Ability to prioritise own workload appropriately and have excellent time management skills
- Ability to accurately record clinical record in a timely and concise way within required documentation standards
- Ability to be aware of clinical & non-clinical complications & risks.
- Values the importance of multi-disciplinary and multi-professional working for improved patient experience and outcomes
- Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Understanding of audit and patient outcomes
Personal and people development
Essential
- Have an excellent attitude towards continuing personal and professional development
- Ability to participate in the teaching and induction of newly appointed staff and students
Desirable
- Ability to supervise and delegate duties to junior member of the team
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal, non-verbal and written
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Hold a Level 5 Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Diploma or Apprenticeship Qualification that was obtained whilst working in practice within Physiotherapy and/or Occupational Therapy or other suitable level 5 or higher qualification such as a Sports Science degree
- Suitable level of experience as demonstrated by a CPD portfolio to match the job description
- Evidence of a good standard of education 5 GCSE's grade C and above or equivalent, including English and Math's
Desirable
- Willingness to complete Assistant Practitioner training provided by the Trust
- Assistant Membership of professional body e.g. COT or CSP
- Willingness to undertake training to meet competency framework
- Have an understanding of electronic notes systems, and have good IT skills
- Understanding of the scope of the role of the Assistant Practitioner in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development
Experience
Essential
- Substantial previous experience in heath or social care setting/ NHS including rehabilitation/ reablement and multidisciplinary and/ or multi-agency working
Desirable
- Previous experience of working as an Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy assistant
- Experience of exercise prescription
- Understand patients that are frail, elderly and have multi pathologies including mental health problems
- Previous experience of independent caseload management
Skills
Essential
- Ability to prioritise own workload appropriately and have excellent time management skills
- Ability to accurately record clinical record in a timely and concise way within required documentation standards
- Ability to be aware of clinical & non-clinical complications & risks.
- Values the importance of multi-disciplinary and multi-professional working for improved patient experience and outcomes
- Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Understanding of audit and patient outcomes
Personal and people development
Essential
- Have an excellent attitude towards continuing personal and professional development
- Ability to participate in the teaching and induction of newly appointed staff and students
Desirable
- Ability to supervise and delegate duties to junior member of the team
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal, non-verbal and written
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.
