Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (7 day working)
- Job ref
- 193-7176629NCG
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire NHS Trust
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 01/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

General Therapy Assistant in Early Supported Discharge Team
NHS AfC: Band 4
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’. This is a great opportunity to join our clinical or non-clinical teams to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust. Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Job overview
General Therapy Technician in Early Supported Discharge Team
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated and enthusiastic general therapy assistant to join our Early Supported Discharge Team.
The post holder will have a positive and can-do attitude to their work, with a flexible approach to working, as the nature of this role is to support patients in their transition from hospital to home.
The Early Supported Discharge Team proactively engage patients in rehabilitation on the inpatient wards and then support them in their journey home, often bridging care calls whilst the patient waits for their care or reablement to start.
This post involves evening and weekend work and is a physical role, often involving the moving of equipment in patient's homes.
***Please note: car driving is a day to day part of this role (including driving patients). Please therefore only apply if you have a UK driver’s license and indicate this in your supporting statement.***
Main duties of the job
- To work as a Therapy technician both in hospital and patients own homes as an independent worker under the direction of a qualified Therapist.
- To support patients to return home promptly and safely, supporting the smooth transfer to the community and assisting to maximise their independence at home.
- To support patients in their rehabilitation and mobility, transfers, personal care, meal preparation and activities of daily living.
- To work under Therapists direction to assist patients to achieve person centred goals.
- To participate in weekend rota.
- To support Therapists in making assessments and onward referrals to community services for care and ongoing support and rehabilitation.
- To implement and monitor treatment programmes for patients, within the framework laid down by the Occupational Therapists and physiotherapists and to make assessment of progress.
- Assist in the implementation, evaluation and modification of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy.
- To participate in providing a high quality, effective and efficient Occupational Therapy and physiotherapy service.
- To accurately record interventions in a timely manner.
- To be able to work autonomously, assessing risk and judge when senior support is required.
Working for our organisation
The Early Supported Discharge Team is a dynamic service tasked with the important role of facilitating timely discharges from hospital. They support the principles of a 'home first' approach; using creative strategies, specialist assessments and bespoke interventions to help patients return home more quickly. They work closely with their local community partners to provide seamless health care between hospital and home. We are looking for someone who has the passion and experience to deliver high quality occupational therapy/physiotherapy assessment and interventions, and has the drive to shape this service for the future.
In many areas, the Trust is nationally recognised as delivering outstanding care and the Therapies service is fully focused on delivering on the trusts ambition to continue to enhance this excellent work. This is embodied in the Therapies service vision - to deliver a high quality, patient centred, modern service which promotes innovative thinking and prioritises the development of staff.
Come and join our team as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for a detailed description of responsibilities for this post.
For more information on the remit of the team and the full scope of the duties with this role, please get in touch with us to find out more.
Person specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Education to GCSE level including English and Maths or Foundation degree, level 5 higher apprenticeship, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Health and Social Care field
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven experience in a Health or social care setting, demonstrating experience of assisting with personal care activities.
- Experience of working with members of the public
- IT skills including Excel, Powerpoint and e-mail use
Desirable criteria
- Training skills
- Knowledge of hospital and community services
Other
Essential criteria
- Car driver
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Josie Caffrey
- Job title
- Occupational Therapy Professional Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322 5215
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