Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Therapy Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 16 June 2025

Job summary

We are excited to offer a Therapy Assistant Practitioner role on Beech Ward. Beech Ward is a 24-bed inpatient unit which provides high quality specialist stroke rehabilitation, for adults of all ages. You will be a core member of our interdisciplinary team, working collaboratively with patients and their families to optimise function and level of dependency post stroke.

This post requires management of a caseload and participation in multidisciplinary discussions and meetings as well as support for therapy support workers and students.

Some experience of working in stroke rehabilitation and/ or neurology is desirable but not essential.

Main duties of the job

The Assistant Practitioner will function at a higher competency level than that of other health care support workers.

The assistant practitioner will contribute to the delivery of high standards of rehabilitation to patients following a stroke within the Stroke Rehabilitation Team.

They will have responsibility for actively participating as a key member of the Stroke Rehabilitation Team and will be expected to communicate with a range of people on a range of matters (including the wider multi-disciplinary team) within the clinical department and/or ward, community setting and acute settings.

The assistant practitioner will have a responsibility to provide quality services to patients under the supervision of a registered Therapist.

Please see attached Job Description for further information.

About us

Find out more about working for our organisation here:

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/2565ae62eb.html

Please note, the selection processes at Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn't accurately reflect their skills.

Details

Date posted

09 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

839-7259255-PG

Job locations

Beech Ward - Norwich Community Hospital

Bowthorpe Road

Norwich

NR2 3TU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

  • Assess patients following stroke with straightforward requirements based on predetermined department protocols.
  • Prepare for, carry out and monitor assessment, treatments and discharge within therapy/nursing for stroke rehabilitation in line with predetermined department protocols. Tasks may include manual handling, personal care, toileting, mobility exercises, communication and cognitive rehabilitation.
  • To carry out and contribute to planned programmes of rehabilitation to meet individual patient and family circumstances related to communication, cognition, emotional and physical impairments resulting from a stroke.
  • Apply competency based treatment techniques/care to patients with stroke under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, following a prescribed treatment/care plan.
  • To promote and encourage independence and restoration of function post stroke including information, education on secondary prevention and self-management.
  • To ensure that patients, families and carers are involved in the planning and implementation of their stroke rehabilitation care plans.
  • Modify and progress intervention / treatment using own clinical reasoning, notifying a qualified practitioner accordingly.
  • Prepare for and develop individual/group activities to meet defined intervention needs.
  • Monitor patients and promptly alert a qualified practitioner when there are unexpected changes.
  • Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner.
  • Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit and that SystmOne inputting is completed concisely, accurately and timely in line with service standards.
  • Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately.
  • To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate.
  • Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important, e.g. taking blood pressures, urinalysis supervising transfers, and passive exercises.
  • Provide basic equipment and be responsible for ensuring that it is used safely, following appropriate training, and that it is maintained.
  • Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.

Non Clinical

  • Share responsibility for maintaining store cupboards, cleaning specialist equipment and general housekeeping and administration tasks.
  • Share responsibility for indirect patient contact tasks, such as, answering telephones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data.

Professional

  • Actively contribute to a positive learning environment to students, new starters and/or less experienced staff; and be involved in induction programmes for new staff/students as required.

To continue to develop extended competencies through reflective practices, clinical supervision and performance reviews.

  • To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required for the role within the team and disseminate this knowledge through the stroke service.

Communication

  • To use appropriate methods of communication with patients, families and carers in order to maximise rehabilitation and understand their conditions. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident (e.g. expressive and receptive dysphasia, cognitive impairment, loss of hearing, pain and depression) and a variety of communication methods may be required.
  • To communicate effectively and collaboratively with colleagues across health/voluntary and social sectors to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary integrated stroke service. This will include case conferences, handovers, patient held documentation and documentation in service records.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

  • Assess patients following stroke with straightforward requirements based on predetermined department protocols.
  • Prepare for, carry out and monitor assessment, treatments and discharge within therapy/nursing for stroke rehabilitation in line with predetermined department protocols. Tasks may include manual handling, personal care, toileting, mobility exercises, communication and cognitive rehabilitation.
  • To carry out and contribute to planned programmes of rehabilitation to meet individual patient and family circumstances related to communication, cognition, emotional and physical impairments resulting from a stroke.
  • Apply competency based treatment techniques/care to patients with stroke under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, following a prescribed treatment/care plan.
  • To promote and encourage independence and restoration of function post stroke including information, education on secondary prevention and self-management.
  • To ensure that patients, families and carers are involved in the planning and implementation of their stroke rehabilitation care plans.
  • Modify and progress intervention / treatment using own clinical reasoning, notifying a qualified practitioner accordingly.
  • Prepare for and develop individual/group activities to meet defined intervention needs.
  • Monitor patients and promptly alert a qualified practitioner when there are unexpected changes.
  • Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner.
  • Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit and that SystmOne inputting is completed concisely, accurately and timely in line with service standards.
  • Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately.
  • To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate.
  • Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important, e.g. taking blood pressures, urinalysis supervising transfers, and passive exercises.
  • Provide basic equipment and be responsible for ensuring that it is used safely, following appropriate training, and that it is maintained.
  • Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.

Non Clinical

  • Share responsibility for maintaining store cupboards, cleaning specialist equipment and general housekeeping and administration tasks.
  • Share responsibility for indirect patient contact tasks, such as, answering telephones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data.

Professional

  • Actively contribute to a positive learning environment to students, new starters and/or less experienced staff; and be involved in induction programmes for new staff/students as required.

To continue to develop extended competencies through reflective practices, clinical supervision and performance reviews.

  • To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required for the role within the team and disseminate this knowledge through the stroke service.

Communication

  • To use appropriate methods of communication with patients, families and carers in order to maximise rehabilitation and understand their conditions. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident (e.g. expressive and receptive dysphasia, cognitive impairment, loss of hearing, pain and depression) and a variety of communication methods may be required.
  • To communicate effectively and collaboratively with colleagues across health/voluntary and social sectors to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary integrated stroke service. This will include case conferences, handovers, patient held documentation and documentation in service records.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Foundation degree level knowledge and experience or the equivalent

Desirable

  • Demonstrable knowledge and skills acquired through training and experience

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a care/rehabilitation setting
  • Evidence of recent mandatory training
  • Involvement in care planning

Desirable

  • NHS experience
  • Previous experience of being a generic worker within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of working within a stroke rehabilitation environment

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to use own initiative
  • Good observational and organisational skills
  • IT knowledge
  • Observation and reporting skills
  • Evidence of own development through PDP
  • Understanding of the needs of patients undergoing rehabilitation
  • The ability to: Manoeuvre patients using handling aids.
  • Recognise own limitation and reports as appropriate
  • Leadership skills
  • Able to provide high standards of care
  • Knowledge of the role of other members of the multidisciplinary team

Desirable

  • Willingness to develop new skills relevant to role
  • 2 Years' experience
  • Attend training as required to develop into role
  • Undertaken audits

Communication

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Able to communicate effectively using the English Language in both verbal and written form

Desirable

  • English grade C or above GCSE or equivalent

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • Ability to work independently work as part of a team
  • Ability to manage stressful, distressing and emotionally difficult situations
  • Demonstrates sensitivity and patience
  • Conducts self and behaves in a professional manner at all times
  • Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs

Personal Attributes / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)

Essential

  • Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
  • Possess drive and enthusiasm
  • Tact, diplomacy, empathy and sensitivity

Other

Essential

  • Able to make own travelling arrangements to meet the needs the service
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Able to work over a 7 day rota.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Foundation degree level knowledge and experience or the equivalent

Desirable

  • Demonstrable knowledge and skills acquired through training and experience

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a care/rehabilitation setting
  • Evidence of recent mandatory training
  • Involvement in care planning

Desirable

  • NHS experience
  • Previous experience of being a generic worker within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Experience of working within a stroke rehabilitation environment

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to use own initiative
  • Good observational and organisational skills
  • IT knowledge
  • Observation and reporting skills
  • Evidence of own development through PDP
  • Understanding of the needs of patients undergoing rehabilitation
  • The ability to: Manoeuvre patients using handling aids.
  • Recognise own limitation and reports as appropriate
  • Leadership skills
  • Able to provide high standards of care
  • Knowledge of the role of other members of the multidisciplinary team

Desirable

  • Willingness to develop new skills relevant to role
  • 2 Years' experience
  • Attend training as required to develop into role
  • Undertaken audits

Communication

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Able to communicate effectively using the English Language in both verbal and written form

Desirable

  • English grade C or above GCSE or equivalent

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • Ability to work independently work as part of a team
  • Ability to manage stressful, distressing and emotionally difficult situations
  • Demonstrates sensitivity and patience
  • Conducts self and behaves in a professional manner at all times
  • Work flexibly to accommodate patient/service needs

Personal Attributes / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)

Essential

  • Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
  • Possess drive and enthusiasm
  • Tact, diplomacy, empathy and sensitivity

Other

Essential

  • Able to make own travelling arrangements to meet the needs the service
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Able to work over a 7 day rota.

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

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Beech Ward - Norwich Community Hospital

Bowthorpe Road

Norwich

NR2 3TU


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Beech Ward - Norwich Community Hospital

Bowthorpe Road

Norwich

NR2 3TU


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Specialist Physio in Stroke Rehabilitation

Sian Walters

sian.walters@nchc.nhs.uk

01630272620

Details

Date posted

09 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year pa

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

839-7259255-PG

Job locations

Beech Ward - Norwich Community Hospital

Bowthorpe Road

Norwich

NR2 3TU


Supporting documents

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