Therapy Assistant - Acute Therapy Inpatients

Transformationunitgm; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Bournemouth is seeking a full-time Therapy Assistant for a 6-month fixed-term position. Candidates should have NVQ III in Care or a related field, with experience as a Therapy Assistant or similar role preferred. Responsibilities include assisting therapists in rehabilitating patients across various specialties, ensuring high-quality patient care. The role involves working alongside clinical staff in a supportive environment, with structured training provided.

Benefits

Structured in-house training

Qualifications

• Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent role is desired.
• Experience working with the elderly or disabled is preferred.
• Ability to drive and hold a clean driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Assist therapists on acute wards to rehabilitate patients.
• Support patients to return to their pre-admission level of independence.
• Participate in weekend working as required.

Skills

Ability to work independently

Communication skills

Empathy with older people

Basic rehabilitation techniques

Education

NVQ III Care/Health and Social Care

Tools

Manual handling equipment

Job description

Main area Rehabilitation Grade Band 3 Contract 6 months (6 months fixed term temporary) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (7 day service) Job ref 153-SP05423

Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Bournemouth Hospital Town Bournemouth Salary £24,937 - £26,598 pa/pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/01/2026 23:59

Therapy Assistant - Acute Therapy Inpatients

Band 3

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

We are pleased to announce we are recruiting for a full-time 6 month fixed-term temporary Band 3 rotational therapy assistant post within the acute therapy team at Bournemouth hospital.

Within the acute setting the acute therapy team assess and manage patients across different specialities including front door admissions, gastroenterology, respiratory, endocrine, cardiac, haematology, surgical, vascular and critical care. The post is likely to have a focus within the medical team including the areas of gastroenterology, respiratory, endocrine, cardiac, haematology.

As a team we are passionate in ensuring that any individual presenting to our acute hospital receive the highest quality care from clinicians with a holistic approach and passion in caring for people.

Previous experience of working within an acute hospital or community setting would be desirable.

The key responsibilities would require you to work alongside the therapists on acute wards, supporting the team with rehabilitating patients and enabling them to return to their pre-admission level of independence and function.

The applicant will require a valid driving licence to support with equipment deliveries and home visits.

Base Location: Cross site working between Poole and Bournemouth Hospital

Interview Date: 13th January 2026

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.

Some administrative responsibilities will be required within this role.

Working for our organisation

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 team mates and colleagues.

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

In some cases this means that a 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 at interview.

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.

Person specification

Qualifications

• NVQ III Care/Health and Social Care/PromotingIndependence/Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support, or A qualification of this level or above and relevant to working in a care setting

Experience

• 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
• Previous experience working in a hospital
• Previous experience working with the elderly/or disabled

Technical skills and competencies

• Ability to work independently, on ward and/or in patient’s homes, working on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff
• Ability to manage own caseload with access to qualified staff.
• 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

Knowledge

• Basic rehabilitation techniques

Interpersonal skills

• Ability to communicate verbally
• Ability to write results of interventions clearly and concisely
• Basic teaching skills
• Ability work as part of a team
• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
• Ability to work independently, on ward and/or in patient’s homes, working on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff

Personal attributes

• Well motivated
• Able to take direction from senior staff
• Empathy with older people
• Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role

Other requirements specific to role

• 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 work in confined spaces

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.