Job Description

We are thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for a full time Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner within the Older Persons Services Therapy team based at Poole Hospital. The successful post holder will support our registered physiotherapists and occupational therapists to provide high level assessments and interventions of older persons across our acute inpatient wards, to support early mobilisation and functional activity, baseline assessment and rehabilitation to optimise the recovery and safe, timely discharge of acutely unwell older people.



During a time of transformation, now is a fantastic time to join University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. As an organisation we are looking to the future and designing exceptional services to meet the needs of our population. Apply to join our innovative and dynamic team today!

Location:

Poole Hospital



Experience of working in a therapeutic role with older people, in an acute hospital or community setting is essential. You would need to manage your patient caseload with support from registered therapists. The post holder will need to be able to speak English as necessary for the role.



The Key responsibilities would require you to work alongside the supporting multidisciplinary team, assessing and rehabilitating the older person and enabling them to return to their pre-admission level of independence wherever possible and ensuring patients do not decondition whilst waiting for discharge.



You will be provided with support and training opportunities to enable you to meet your competencies. We have a structure in house training programme and a supportive team of clinical staff.



Administrative responsibilities will be required within this role to support the registered therapists. You would be expected to support the updating of IT systems, contribute to the planning of the daily work and support our in house training programme.



You must be a car driver with a full driving licence and ideally have access to your own car. The role may include assessing patients in their own homes with support from registered clinicians.



Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.



UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.



This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.



There is a planned move for this service anticipated during Spring 2026 , when this role and base of work will relocate to Bournemouth Hospital site . Upon relocation of the role/service, excess mileage allowance / reimbursement will not apply, and any travel between the postholder's home and work base will be classified as a commute. Any other changes unrelated to this, will be handled in line with Trust/National terms and conditions.



To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to provide a Therapy service to patients by managing a caseload of patients from specified diagnostic groups. To organise and be responsible for own caseload on a daily basis. To carry out functional assessments to determine the patient's level of independence and commencing discharge planning including referrals to external service providers. To assess for and provide equipment in the patient's home environment to promote independence and safety. To identify patients who require a home assessment. Completing these visits as appropriate under guidance of qualified therapist or referring those with more complex needs to a qualified Therapist. To cover for the other Therapy Support staff within the team and carry out Therapy Interventions on the wards as required. * To ensure all assessments, treatments and discharge planning is discussed with a qualified therapist