
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 3 Senior Therapy Assistant to join our friendly and supportive therapy team at the Archer Unit, Bedford Hospital (North Wing).
The Archer Unit is a 20-bed rehabilitation ward providing 24-hour care for adults recovering from illness, injury, or hospital admission. As part of our multidisciplinary therapy team, you will play a key role in supporting patients throughout their rehabilitation journey and facilitating safe, timely discharge from hospital.
Working alongside Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, you will deliver agreed treatment programmes tailored to individual patient goals. This will include supporting mobility and transfer practice, therapeutic exercise, personal care activities such as washing and dressing, meaningful daily living tasks, kitchen assessments, and both individual and group therapy sessions.
You will receive excellent support and supervision from experienced therapists while also being encouraged to work independently within your scope of practice. The role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, as you will work closely with patients, their families, and the wider multidisciplinary team, including participating in ward handovers to ensure coordinated, patient-centred care.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is passionate about rehabilitation and helping patients regain their independence.
Main duties of the job
You will assess patients and deliver agreed therapy interventions, activities, and exercise programmes that support their rehabilitation and recovery. Working closely with patients, their families, and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will help promote independence and contribute to safe, timely discharge back into the community.
You will monitor patients' progress, provide feedback to the therapy team, and adapt treatment programmes within your scope of practice to ensure interventions remain effective and aligned with individual goals.
We are committed to supporting your professional development through regular clinical supervision and access to a wide range of learning opportunities across the Therapy Service and Bedford Hospital.
This role includes participation in a weekend rota, helping to maintain continuity of care and support timely admissions, rehabilitation, and discharges across the hospital.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.
- To implement patient treatment working within established guidelines for defined client group.
- To assess and if appropriate implement activities, treatment and exercises in order to achieve the common goal of facilitating a safe and effective discharge.
- To order, deliver and fit equipment, ensuring that equipment is safe prior to provision, as well as ensuring patients and carers are taught how to use appropriately. Independently monitor adjust and review intervention and treatments.
- There will be administration duties within the department.
- You will be on a weekend rota and provide therapy services to the acute setting on additional hours when required.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with patients/clients in a previous job role
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Previous experience of working within a hospital setting
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of education
- GCSE Grade C English or equivalent
Knowledge and Abilities
Essential
- Able to demonstrate knowledge regarding the role of a Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist as a profession and how they can help improve patient care and outcomes
- Empathy, able to communicate with patients, relatives, carers and external agencies
- Ability to cope with stressful situations/ environments and with emotional or aggressive patients/carers and remain professional
Desirable
- Good basic working knowledge of medical conditions and how they affect patients
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Therapy Assistant - Archer Unit with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Luton, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 3 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - £27,476 pro rata, per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 05 Aug 2026.
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