Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Senior Therapy Support Worker


Location
Worcester, England
Salary
£25,760 to £27,476 a year
Profession
Healthcare support worker
Grade
Band 3
Deadline
05 Aug 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
22 Jul 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Integrated Therapy Department as a full time Band 3 Senior Therapy Support Worker at Worcester Royal Hospital working 37.5 hrs per week.

This is a rotational post where you will move across specialties every 12 months, including specialty medicine, trauma orthopaedics, surgery, acute medicine and frailty.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

Working as part of the Therapy and wider Multi-disciplinary Team, Senior Therapy Support Workers (STSW) use more advanced skills to provide quality therapeutic care, through the delivery of specified assessment and treatment programmes to a limited patient group, as directed by the senior therapist. This will be within the scope of their role, under registered Therapists guidance and following training under a range of supervisory arrangements within agreed guidelines and protocols. They often work as part of multi-disciplinary teams developing treatment plans under supervision but can also work unsupervised and autonomously.

The post holder will assess, treat and progress/grade non-complex treatment of patients in line with set core competencies, which are assessed by the registered Therapist and to use this knowledge to contribute to effective discharge planning as part of the MDT.

The post holder will provide clerical and administrative support to qualified staff and students and to undertake delegated housekeeping and stock control tasks.

The post holder will participate in the weekend service. The speciality being dependant on experience. This service may include the treatment of children.

Working hours will be dependent upon the service provided within each speciality, this may include 7 day working, working contracted hours within an extended daily pattern or participation in a relevant weekend/bank holiday rota.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Details

  • Date posted: 22 July 2026
  • Pay scheme: Agenda for change
  • Band: Band 3
  • Salary: £25,760 to £27,476 a year
  • Contract: Permanent
  • Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
  • Reference number: C9365-26-0572
  • Job locations: Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 1DD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Working as part of the Therapy and wider Multi-disciplinary Team, Senior Therapy Support Workers (STSW) use more advanced skills to provide quality therapeutic care, through the delivery of specified assessment and treatment programmes to a limited patient group, as directed by the senior therapist. This will be within the scope of their role, under registered Therapists guidance and following training under a range of supervisory arrangements within agreed guidelines and protocols. They often work as part of multi-disciplinary teams developing treatment plans under supervision but can also work unsupervised and autonomously.

The post holder will assess, treat and progress/grade non-complex treatment of patients in line with set core competencies, which are assessed by the registered Therapist and to use this knowledge to contribute to effective discharge planning as part of the Multi-disciplinary Team. They may demonstrate own duties to other support workers, students, or less experienced staff. Senior Therapy Support Workers will contribute to service improvement and be able to make fact-based judgements.

The post holder will provide clerical and administrative support to qualified staff and students and to undertake delegated housekeeping and stock control tasks.

The post holder will participate in the weekend service. The speciality being dependant on experience. This service may include the treatment of children.

Working hours will be dependent upon the service provided within each speciality, this may include 7 day working, working contracted hours within an extended daily pattern or participation in a relevant weekend/bank holiday rota.

Formal Knowledge and Experience

  • Entry requirements as personal specification.
  • Experience in health and/or social care settings, such as employment, work experience, volunteering or placement(s).
  • Demonstrates the values of the NHS and commitment to personal and professional development.

Domain 2: Supporting Service Users

  • Develops, manages, and maintains positive, appropriate relationships with service users, families and carers, demonstrating respect, kindness, compassion and empathy at all times.
  • Understands and demonstrates what it means to provide person-centred care, by providing education and resources to support informed decision making, and of respecting individuals decisions. May provide information to service users.
  • Understands the social, cultural, and economic influences, individual circumstances, behaviours, and lifestyle choices that impact on health outcomes for service users and their families, including health inequalities.
  • Understands the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvement and importance of relevant interventions for individual service users and their families, including making every contact count.
  • Understands principles of behaviour change and interventions to prevent ill health and effectively applies these to practice, recognising the individuals right to privacy and choice.
  • Able to identify ways to promote dignity and is aware of individuals environments and factors that might cause discomfort.
  • Understands a range of organisations in the health and social care system and services provided and can signpost people effectively in liaison with multi-disciplinary team colleagues.
  • Understands and can explain the main legislation, legal and ethical responsibilities that shape provision of health and social care for service users.
  • Understands the importance of adhering to codes of practice, clinical procedures, and professional standards.
  • Able to work collaboratively with a variety of health staff, social care staff, professional staff and others. Understands and demonstrates the principles of team and partnership working.
  • Recognises the importance of support workers in service delivery, including the diverse roles undertaken by AHP support workers. Is able to define own role, for example by describing their duties and the roles of others.
  • Has a thorough understanding of the function and role of their service.

Domain 3: Clinical Technical and Scientific Roles and Responsibilities, Knowledge and Practice, Support and Interventions.

  • Core knowledge of clinical, technical and/ or scientific roles and responsibilities, including clinical risk assessment.
  • Understanding of role boundaries and the importance of supervision and carrying out appropriately delegated tasks. Able to understand and follow procedures, protocols and plans, reporting back to registered practitioner where appropriate.
  • Following appropriate training and demonstration of competency to a specified level, may work alone within scope of role in individual or group therapeutic interventions and have their own caseload of service users with non-complex needs previously seen by a registered member of staff.

Understands and gains valid consent prior to action or providing care, and records this appropriately

Assesses, plans, undertakes, progresses/grades, monitors and adapts appropriately delegated non-complex patients with mobility, functional/ cognitive impairments, impairments of activities of daily living, including assessment of a patients fitness to treat, recognising at deteriorating patient and escalating accordingly any concerns/feedback to a registered therapist/ward staff.

  • Identifies the need for on-going rehabilitation / support, liaising with the MDT and registered Therapist to suggest ideas for improvement and recommend appropriate level of care on discharge continuing rehabilitation.
  • Assists in efficient care planning, assisting with service user flow by sharing relevant information in a timely manner with members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team.

Completes visits in the community setting to provide necessary assessments or interventions to support safe discharge. This may be completed alone or with another therapist/member of staff.

Assesses for, recommends, orders, issues and fits equipment as per scope of practice, as required by the service user, including demonstration of safe use of equipment to service users, carers and other staff.

  • Recognises an emergency, summons assistance and acts as a member of the multi-disciplinary team within parameters of own competence and defined role. In settings where a registered practitioner is not present, initiates immediate first aid whilst awaiting the arrival of appropriately qualified practitioners.

Domain 4: Communication and Information Management

  • Communicates effectively through a variety of methods with patients, carers and relatives to maximise rehabilitation potential through interpersonal, verbal and nonverbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and reassurance.
  • Exchanges information with service user and families using active listening, compassion, empathy, and coproduction techniques with the service user.
  • Actively listens and receives information, gives and acts upon feedback. Understands the communication needs of others and adapts communication style accordingly.
  • Manages barriers to effective communication and adapts own communication style as appropriate
  • Liaises and communicates effectively with registered therapists, acute ward and community teams and other members of the MDT, regarding the ongoing patient care and rehabilitation.
  • Understands role requirement and the importance of accessing, maintaining and storing documentation relating to care, in accordance with local guidance and legal requirements for maintaining confidentiality and data protection.
  • Maintains complete accurate and contemporaneous treatment records including valid consent to interventions, utilising digital platforms as required, in line with local and HCPC standards.

Domain 5: Safe and Inclusive Environment

  • Contributes to the maintenance of healthy and safe working environments through appropriate practice, use of resources, techniques and behaviours and understanding of relevant legislation.
  • Understands the importance of understanding and adhering to organisational policies, protocols, procedures, and standards.
  • Identifies and acts immediately to manage risks, unsafe practice or environments including assessment of moving and handling, using local policies and procedures.
  • Is aware of the environment in which they work and how to maintain health and safety for themselves and others.
  • Acts with integrity and honesty, ensuring individuals do not experience harm by reporting situations, behaviours or errors that might lead to adverse outcomes for service users.
  • Reports any adverse incidents, accidents or complaints in a timely manner, taking appropriate action where necessary, according to Trust policy.
  • Ensures safe use of all mechanical and electrical equipment or medical devices used in the care of patients.

Person specification

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience as a Therapy Assistant/or equivalent working with different patient groups/conditions
  • Evidence of work using a wide range of therapy related skills
  • Experience of working in an acute/healthcare setting with direct patient contact
  • Evidence of relevant self-development

Desirable

  • Experience working in groups
  • Experience of using/fitting adaptive equipment

Qualifications

Essential

  • Functional Skills (level 2) or Maths & English GCSE (grades 9-4 or A*-C)
  • National Care Certificate
  • AND
  • 3 A-Levels or Health and Science T-Level or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)
  • OR
  • A level 3 apprenticeship (e.g. Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship (or other level 3 qualification pathway)
  • OR
  • Equivalent clinical experience/expertise within an AHP profession underpinned by theoretical and practical experience

Desirable

  • A relevant further education qualification eg BTEC (Therapy Support Worker) or NVQ 3 in Healthcare or equivalent
  • Evidence of attendance at healthcare related course e.g. Dementia awareness, stroke specialist seating.

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Evidence of enthusiasm and commitment to the role in Worcestershire.
  • Able to maintain confidentiality and professionalism
  • Evidence of appropriate personal attributes eg. responsible, reliable, flexible, well-organised, initiative
  • Compassionate
  • Professional manner and appearance
  • Evidence of team working
  • Ability to problem solve

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of basic aims and principles of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
  • Effective and appropriate written and verbal communication/interpersonal skills
  • Broad based competencies in therapy related skills
  • Aware of importance and need for CPD
  • Evidence of patient handling skills
  • Computer Literate eg. Microsoft word, Powerpoint, Outlook
  • Health and Safety awareness
  • Able to manage flexible demands

Desirable

  • Understanding of professional, legal, and clinical governance issues
  • Previous experience of electronic patient records

Other job requirements

Essential

  • Right to work in the UK/Valid Visa
  • Ability to meet the physical, emotional and challenging demands of the role.
  • Ability to meet the moving and handling requirements of the role
  • Able and willing to work contracted hours over 7 days, extended daily hours pattern
  • Able to contribute to the Therapy Service weekend/Bank Holiday rota.
  • Able to fulfil the travel requirements of the post Full driving licence and access to a vehicle (or alternative mode of transport)

Desirable

  • Able and willing to commute between sites.

WhatsApp job alerts

Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 3 Dietetic Assistant roles in Worcester

Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.

Sign up for WhatsApp alerts

Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Senior Therapy Support Worker with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in Worcester, Midlands, England. It is listed as a Band 3 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £25,760 to £27,476 a year. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 05 Aug 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (22 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.