Therapy Assistant Practitioner
Band 4
Main area
Therapies
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Secondment: 12 months (Foundation degree or equivalent is required.)
Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
37.5 hours per week (All posts are subject to 7-day shift working pattern, staff are required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service. Where applicable one day per week study leave to attend college as part of Apprenticeship programme.)
Job ref
287-DSS-226-25
Department name
LUH - 1 General Staffing (AFC posts)
Site
Royal University Hospital
Town
Liverpool
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
27/08/2025 23:59
Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a compassionate and enthusiastic Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join the Acute Intervention Therapy Team at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. This is a 12 month fixed term post to cover maternity leave.
The successful candidates will be responsible for their own ward-based caseload providing direct Therapy intervention for an identified patient group under the supervision of a registered Therapy practitioner. They will be part of a multidisciplinary team providing high quality care which includes Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential to complete comprehensive assessments and to support and motivate patients to participate in therapy programmes.
Qualifications- You Will Need a Foundation Degree Or Equivalent.
Main duties of the job
All posts are subject to 7-day shift working pattern, staff are required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
To take responsibility for own caseload providing direct Therapy intervention for an identified patient group under the supervision of a registered practitioner.
To be accountable for own clinical practice whilst undertaking the assessment and treatment/intervention of identified patient group within agreed parameters and defined protocols of care.
To work independently within the multidisciplinary team setting, reporting back patient progress and informing therapists of any problems.
To support registered staff in the administrative duties required for the functioning of the Therapy Department.
To participate in and contribute to training, audit and service development.
The posts are full time, however requests for part time and flexible working patterns will be considered.
If unsuccessful at interview for this position; there may be other opportunities to offer within the Care Group. This may include working on an alternative Hospital site.
Working for our organisation
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Clinical
Under the instruction of the qualified therapist assist in carrying out care and exercise programmes with patients in a manner that respects their abilities, privacy, dignity and individuality.
To manage the rehabilitation of patients as delegated by the qualified therapist. work without direct supervision and be responsible for assessing the progress of patients, reporting back to the therapist.
To be responsible for specific tasks within the overall treatment programme, e.g. gait assessment, stair assessment, strength and balance assessment and advise / arrange the supply of assistive equipment.
To liaise regularly with the qualified therapist regarding treatment progression and ongoing care. Reporting to therapist and the multidisciplinary team any lack of progression or negative changes in patients ability to undertake treatment session.
Treat patient individually or in a group in a variety of settings with indirect supervision from the qualified therapist.
To work as a member of the therapy team and multidisciplinary team, sharing information with team members and prioritising workload accordingly.
To ensure effective internal and external communication with patients, carers and all other Health and Social Care Professionals regarding all aspects of patient care.
Providing and receiving complex information which requires empathy and reassurance. Communicating where there may be barriers to understanding.
Undertake home visits as directed by the qualified therapist, arranging transport and completing relevant documentation.
To assess patients and carers safety in use and suitability of equipment within patients home environment.
Advise on environmental hazards.
Issue, and retrieve therapy equipment in department, ward or home setting keeping accurate records of this activity.
Ensure equipment is clean and fit for its purpose for individual treatment sessions.
To co-ordinate and undertake the regular maintenance and cleanliness of the working/treatment areas with the co-operation of the Health Care Assistants.
Assist patients to access and use toilet facilities.
Transport patients safely between ward, clinics and treatment areas as
requested.
To receive and prepare patients for therapy treatments.
To prepare and maintain equipment and the treatment areas including household duties.
Maintain accurate and timely records of treatments undertaken by self.
To monitor and maintain stock levels of equipment and supplies, within the Therapies department by processing orders as agreed with the Therapy Manager/Team Leader.
Contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team,
departmental or other appropriate meetings and participate in discussions to improve service provision.
To teach and advise carers and other health care staff to ensure provision of good patient care.
To accurately manage the filing system of patient records within team.
Locate record and return therapy treatment records and patients medical records when necessary.
This post will be subject to an enhanced (or standard) disclosure check with the DBS.
This job description is intended as a general guide to the duties and responsibilities of the post and not a rigid, inflexible specification. It may be subject to revision to meet the changing needs of the service, following consultation with the post holder.
Through the course of your employment you may become aware of information concerning patients or staff. All such information must be treated as confidential. Breach of this confidence may result in dismissal.
Clinical Governance / Quality
To comply with the health and safety policies of the trust including attendance at mandatory training sessions as specified by the trust.
To comply with departmental and organisational policies and procedures.
Ensure all accidents, incidents and hazards are reported and dealt with according to Trust requirements.
To gain valid informed consent in line with trust and departmental policy.
To comply with the Data protection Act and Caldicott recommendations.
To maintain accurate documentation in line with local policies and procedures.
Education and Training Development
To participate and contribute in relevant in-service training programmes.
To attend relevant courses as identified and agreed with senior staff and
managers.
To participate in staff appraisal sessions.
To contribute to the induction and training of new staff and students assigned to the team.
Person specification
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues in the Healthcare setting.
- Basic Computer Skills: I/E can use PAS systems, email and can access policies on the Trust intranet
Other
Essential criteria
- A good team player supportive of colleagues and patients.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous acute care experience
- Ability to provide excellent patient care
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Ability to analyze patient progress in response to care given.
- Understands the role of audit in assuring standards of care and can undertake audits in practice.
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Foundation degree/equivalent qualification
Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
Posts advertised to 'internal staff' are open to employees of hospitals within University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and you should confirm your employment within your application form.
Note: Under current Home Office Immigration Rules we are currently unable to offer right to work visa sponsorship for Band 2 and 3 roles with a salary of less than £25,000 pa as they do not meet the UK Visas & Immigration criteria.
Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.
We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
Candidates applying for the role of Healthcare Assistant on the staff bank should note that due to the nature of the role, workers must be aged 18 or above when commencing in post. Applicants are therefore welcome from those aged over 18 or within 3 months' of their 18^th birthday.
The Trust is committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and achieve fair, equitable and consistent practice. We welcome flexible working requests and will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements from day one of your employment. Not all roles are suitable for every flexible working opportunity all of the time. Flexible working options may include reduced hours, compressed hours, fixed shifts, time back in lieu and home working.
The Trust is committed to promoting equality and diversity; we value the contribution of individual talent, skills, knowledge and experience and aim for a workforce demography representative of the local community. We encourage applicants from the following groups that are currently under-represented in our workforce black, Asian and minority ethnic, lesbian, gay, bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+), disabled, male and age 16-24.
Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing the successful applicant/s DBS application be recovered via salary deduction following start in post. The amount of £23 (standard disclosure) or £43 (enhanced disclosure) will be deducted from salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment. Bank posts require upfront payment. DBS applications submitted from 2nd December will be subject to the new DBS fee of £26.50 (standard) and £54.50 (Enhanced).
From April 2017, Skilled visa applicants and their adult dependant(s) will be required to provide a criminal record certificate from each country they have lived in consecutively for 12 months or more in the past ten years.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
This organisation has a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff must ensure they adhere to the organisations safeguarding children and adults' policy and comply with the Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Board procedures.
Staff should be mindful of their responsibility to safeguard children and adults in any activity performed on behalf of the organisation in line with the requirements of statutory guidance and legislation.
All employees (and volunteers)are expected maintain their safeguarding knowledge and skills by completing mandatory safeguarding training which includes understanding and recognising the signs of abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action.
As an organisation, we have adopted the Merseyside Domestic abuse workplace scheme which supports our staff who are experiencing Domestic Abuse /any forms of sexual violence.
If you have any personal requirements that will enable you to participate in our recruitment process please contact a member of the Recruitment Services by phone on 0151 706 4666 at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.
Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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