Job overview
We are pleased to announce we are recruiting for a Band 3 Senior Therapy Assistant post, supporting the Older Persons Therapy Team.
Within the hospital setting the Older Persons Therapy team assess and treat patients that present in the Emergency Department, the Older Persons Admissions Unit and the Older Persons Medical and Continuing Care wards. As a team we are passionate in ensuring that any older people presenting to our hospital receive the highest quality care from clinicians with a holistic approach and passion in caring for older people.
The post holder must be a car driver and have access to a car for work purposes, please make this clear in the supporting information of your application.
The key responsibilities would require you to work alongside the therapists on our Older Person's wards, supporting the team with acute rehabilitation of the older person and optimising their functional level with a home first approach.
Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.
Interview: 10th September
Main duties of the job
You will be required to achieve a certain competency level for which the support and training will be provided to help you achieve. We have a structured in-house training programme and a supportive team of clinical staff.
The post will include 7 day working and therefore the post holder will be expected to participate in weekend working. The post holder will need to be able to speak English as necessary for the role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
For further information please liaise with one of the OPS Therapies Clinical leads on 0300 019 6191
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.
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential
- General knowledge of relevant medical conditions, e.g Parkinson’s disease, falls, Dementia and infections/conditions affecting the older person
- Desire to work with older adults
Experience
Essential
- Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent (e.g. Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant, HCA, or another relevant role where direct patient care is involved).
- Assessing individuals function and mobility
Desirable
- Previous experience working in a hospital
- Previous experience working with the elderly
Qualifications
Essential
- A qualification at NVQ 3/QCF or equivalent and relevant to working in a care setting. Failing this, those with relevant skills and experience need to demonstrate willingness to undertake equivalent training in the first year in post
Personal attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude and ability to respond positively to change.
- Well motivated
- Able to take direction from senior staff
- Ability to recognise boundaries of own job role
Interpersonal skills
Essential
- Demonstrates good verbal and non-verbal communication with an ability to establish a good rapport with a range of people. Able to speak English as necessary for the role.
- Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely demonstrating a good level of spelling and grammar.
- Basic teaching skills
- Team player
Technical skills and competencies
Essential
- Ability to work independently, on ward and/or in patient’s homes, working on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff
- Effective time management skills
- Ability to manage own caseload with access to qualified staff.
Desirable
- Experience with a range of manual handling equipment e.g. hoists, stand hoists, samhall turner
- Methods of gait re-education
- Delivering exercise programs to individuals and groups
Other requirements specific to role
Essential
- Ability to drive and hold a clean driver’s license
- Ability to use a keyboard to access and input information from a computer based system
- Ability to move and handle patients and equipment using approved techniques, ability to cope with exposure to bodily fluids
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Therapy Assistant - Older Person's Therapy Team with University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in Poole Hospital. It is listed as a Band 3 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - £27,476 pa/pro rata. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 30 Aug 2026.
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