Senior Physiotherapy Assistant

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Physiotherapy Assistant to work within our Respiratory Physiotherapy Teams.  You would be supporting the physiotherapy staff working across our inpatient wards supporting patients recovering from acute illness. The post-holder will manage a delegated caseload of patients considering current and potential function, support rehabilitation through exercise therapy, gait and balance rehabilitation and provision of aids where appropriate.  The post-holder will encourage patients to regain independence through assisting patients to participate as fully as possible in their activities of daily living.  Previous experience of working within a Therapy Service would be essential.

As post holder you will work within a team of Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy Support Workers undertaking a variety of clinical and patient related administrative tasks to support the delivery of physiotherapy services to patients.  Particularly with the in-patient roles, the patients that you will be required to see are frequently extremely unwell and therefore previous experience of working in a care setting is desirable.  You will be dealing with patients following surgery or recovering from acute illness and as such will work with patients with drips, drains and wounds so it’s not for the squeamish!

Main duties of the job

Previous experience as a therapy assistant is essential for this role.

Excellent communication skills are essential as you will be working as part of a team and with a caseload of patients with possible complex communication needs.

This exciting role offers the opportunity to develop your clinical and non-clinical skills with access to in-service training and personal development.

You will work on the wards with in-patients alongside experienced and dedicated multi-disciplinary colleagues and will have the opportunity to develop new skills with access to training and professional development.  You will receive supervision and annual appraisal and take an active role within your own continuing professional development.

As a senior Physiotherapy Assistant you will:

• Work with support and minimal supervision, to undertake a variety of clinical tasks to support the delivery of physiotherapy to patients.
• Work without direct supervision and carrying a clearly defined caseload within specified clinical areas, or with a specific patient group, to undertake a variety of delegated clinical tasks to support the delivery of physiotherapy to patients, in accordance with agreed guidance/care pathways.
• Work with support and minimal direction, to undertake a variety of non-clinical tasks to support the physiotherapy service.
• Undertake a supported teaching and supervisory role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Norfolk and Norwich Hospital is a leading teaching hospital with world-class facilities.  Physiotherapy is playing an instrumental role in the exciting developments in the Trust and our team is growing.  Our patients rate us highly on quality of care and having friendly approachable staff. We are looking for like-minded individuals to join us and take advantage of the opportunities we have on offer.

Please view the attached job description for full details of the role, and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.