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Job summary

Main area
Senior Therapy Assistant
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week
Job ref
190-0409-DIR
Employer
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Northern General Hospital
Town
Sheffield
Salary
£24,625 - £25,674 pa/pro rata for part time staff
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
15/06/2025 23:59
Interview date
23/06/2025

Employer heading

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Therapy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 3

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.

Job overview

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Band 3 Technical Instructor to join our established Spinal Injury Therapy team at the Northern General Hospital.

The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre is based in the Osborn Building at the Northern General Hospital. It consists of 60 beds over 3 wards. There are 6 dedicated ventilator dependent patient beds plus 2 additional respiratory beds suitable for patients with tracheostomies.

The job will include working with all levels of spinal cord injury patients and supporting therapy staff in delivering rehabilitation to patients or assisting qualified therapy staff during joint sessions.

Rehabilitation may take place on the wards or within the spinal injury therapy department.  The post holder will also carry out general housekeeping and administrative duties.  The therapy team have access to a therapy car and a minibus for undertaking trips out with patients so the ability to drive is desirable.  

The therapy department facilities include a main Occupational Therapy (OT) department, technology suite, kitchen, bedroom, Physiotherapy gym, weights room and a hydrotherapy pool. This post will mainly be based in OT but cross cover to the physiotherapy team may also be necessary.

The spinal injury therapy team provide a 7-day service.  The successful candidate will be expected to work on a weekend/bank holiday roster as part of their regular shift pattern.

 

Main duties of the job

The post will involve the moving and handling of patients on the wards and within the spinal injury therapy department.  The post also entails dealing with the general public and other members of the multidisciplinary team so excellent customer care and team working skills are required. 

To be considered for this post the applicant must have a GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent in English and proven continuous development or study at Level 3 in a subject relevant to health/healthcare e.g. NVQ3/QCF3 units/A level or equivalent. They must also have relevant experience as an Occupational Therapy and/or Physiotherapy Assistant and knowledge of this field.

Applicants must also be willing to perform a mix of clerical, domestic and patient related tasks. 

You must be able to demonstrate:- 
·         Current knowledge and skills in therapy practise 
·         Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
·         Ability to motivate and teach patients
·         Collaborative team working skills
·         Competency in Therapy Assistant therapy practise
·         Professional, patient centred care
·         Able to maintain confidentiality
·         Ability to act on own initiative, organise and manage case load
·         Calm and flexible approach to changing work situations
·         Ability to maintain accurate written records
·         Sound IT skills
 

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE Grade C /4 or equivalent in English or equivalent experience.
  • Technical qualifications to level 3 e.g. QCF3, BTEC, A Level in relevant health/healthcare subject OR Evidence of continuous development through formal and/or informal training in health/healthcare equivalent to Level 3
Desirable criteria
  • GCSE Grade C/4 or equivalent in Maths
  • Health & Safety
  • Risk Assessment
  • First Aid
  • City & Guilds 7307 (teaching) or equivalent qualification/experience

Further Training

Essential criteria
  • Relevant experience as an Occupational Therapy and/or Physiotherapy Assistant including successful completion of associated competencies Or Relevant experience as a Clinical Support Worker/Health Care Assistant including successful completion of associated competencies
Desirable criteria
  • Working in elderly/ rehabilitation/ medicine/ surgery/orthopaedic/neurology specialities.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience as an Occupational Therapy and/or Physiotherapy Assistant including successful completion of associated competencies Or Experience as a Clinical Support Worker/Health Care Assistant including successful completion of associated competencies
Desirable criteria
  • Working in elderly/ rehabilitation/ medicine/ surgery/orthopaedic/ neurology specialities.

Special Skills/Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • Excellent interpersonal and team working skills
  • Able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
  • Able to maintain confidentiality
  • Ability to act on own initiative, organise work and manage multiple tasks
  • Calm approach to changing work situations
  • Ability to maintain accurate written records & statistics
  • Teaching ability
  • Able to motivate patients
Desirable criteria
  • Comprehensive understanding of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in line with the role
  • IT literate
  • Competency in therapy practice

Other Factors

Essential criteria
  • Flexible and reliable approach to working practices
  • Positive attitude to patient care and teamwork
  • Ability to demonstrate commitment to the Senior Therapy Assistant role
  • Willing to work flexibly as service requires including evening/weekend
  • Competent Swimmer
Desirable criteria
  • Full clean UK driving licence

Further Training

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working with therapists as part of patient centred care
Desirable criteria
  • Current knowledge & skills in therapy practice relevant to speciality

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall Gold 2022Step into health

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
Claire Trask
Job title
Lead Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0114 2715674
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