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Job summary

Main area
Therapies
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Will involve weekend working (1 in 4 pattern) and helping to cover extended hours until 7pm.)
Job ref
344-6183DCB
Employer
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Town
Canterbury
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 pro rata per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/02/2026 23:59

Employer heading

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Therapy Assistant Practitioner - EOC

Band 4

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Therapy Assistant Practitioner to work full-time within our Elective Orthopaedic team at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. 

This Band 4 post is an integral role within the therapy team and, by working closely with both Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, they will help to ensure an optimum and seamless patient experience for our orthopaedic patients. This role will include both in-patient and day surgery work, and will involve some independent work for our protocol driven pathways with oversight from our qualified team.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 4 you will work generically, providing high quality care through effective team work and will be expected to follow through treatment plans from admission to discharge. The team strives to provide high quality care and think innovatively to improve the service we deliver.  As a team member you will assist and support the therapists in the Elective Orthopaedic team and work closely with all members of the multi disciplinary team.

The post holder will review patients pre and post operatively and be expected to carry out initial assessments of patient’s ability and needs. They will also be able to effectively discharge plan and ensure the correct follow up is in place for patients on their discharge from hospital.  

As a therapy team we are constantly involved in service development and the post holder will be involved alongside the therapy team in new projects, service developments and initiatives to ensure best practice at all times.

Regular supervision is available. There is regular in-service training provided by both therapies and other MDT members. There is an opportunity to enrol on the apprenticeship scheme to develop your clinical skills further. External training opportunities may also be applied for as appropriate.

Working for our organisation

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application

PLEASE NOTE - WE CANNOT PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in ‘Documents to download’. If you have further queries please don’t hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Person specification

Clinical Skills and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Ability to follow prescribed programs of treatment.
  • Able to use and take initiative to seek additional work to assist the team as a whole (e.g. team administration tasks).
  • Works independently, manages caseload and carries out directed tasks with patients.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • IT skills.
  • Clinical moving and handling skills.
Desirable criteria
  • Facilitating therapy groups with Allied Health Professionals.
  • Previous experience of working with patients within an in-patient or out-patient setting.
  • Working with members of the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Experience of working with vascular patients/ amputees.

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • NVQ 3 or equivalent.
  • Previous experience of working as a band 3 therapy/ rehabilitation assistant within an NHS setting or equivalent experience with transferrable skills.
Desirable criteria
  • Completion of Trusted Assessor Training

Governance

Essential criteria
  • Understands issues of confidentiality and information governance

Personal/Professional Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Able to listen and develop a rapport with patients and relatives.
  • Reliable and trustworthy.
  • Polite and respectful.
  • Confident and friendly.
  • Effective Team Player.
  • Willingness to work flexibly.
  • Awareness of own limitations.
  • Sets and maintains personal and professional boundaries.

Other requirements

Essential criteria
  • To be aware of and adhere to the Trust’s Vision, Mission and Values.
  • Car driver with access to own transport so able to visit patient home environments, and go between Trust hospital sites

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion is the leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion in the workplace.Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Prince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Katy Sampson
Job title
Inpatient Therapy Lead for Kent and Canterbury
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07825054160
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