Therapy Support Worker

Pennine Care; Stockport; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in Stockport seeks a therapy support worker to join their team. You will work closely with older patients on a dedicated ward, delivering tailored therapeutic interventions under the guidance of a Senior Occupational Therapist. Ideal candidates should possess NVQ 3, have experience in a mental health environment, and excellent interpersonal skills. The role offers a supportive environment conducive to professional development, promoting mental health recovery.

Qualifications

• Experience in direct contact with health and social care patients.
• Experience working with dementia patients or those with mental health needs.
• Prior experience in a mental health environment.
• Experience as a therapy helper or support worker.

Responsibilities

• Deliver one-to-one and group therapeutic tasks for older patients.
• Facilitate recovery-focused discharge planning with senior staff.
• Work collaboratively with various health professionals.

Skills

Organisational skills

Ability to motivate others

Flexible and adaptable

Positive attitude towards dementia patients

Ability to work under pressure

Education

NVQ 3 or City and Guilds or equivalent experience

In-service training in physiotherapy or related fields

Job description

If you are Kind, Fair, Ingenious and Determined then we want you to come and join our #PennineCarePeople

We have an exciting opportunity for a therapy support worker to join our team working on Saffron Ward, our ward for older people suffering with Delirium. You will work closely with patients, therapy staff and the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver planned therapeutic interventions and activities for patients on the ward.

We are looking for a candidate who is person-centered in approach with skilled and flexible communication when working with older people with mental health problems. You should be self‑motivated and able to work independently and have experience of working with older people and/or working in a mental health setting.

We will offer you a supportive and experienced environment to work within and regular one‑to‑one and peer supervision will be provided to support you to develop your skills further.

Main duties of the job

You will work on a one‑to‑one and group basis to deliver a variety of tasks, including practice of everyday activities, relaxation, anxiety management programmes and exercise. Interventions are individually tailored to address the mental health recovery goals of patients on the ward. You will work under the guidance of our Senior Occupational Therapist to facilitate safe and effective discharges and this will include taking patients home and into the wider community for assessment and leave.

You will work closely with both the therapy and nursing team, including the ward activity coordinator, to complement the care currently provided and enhance multidisciplinary teamwork and practice on the ward. The inpatient team also consists of psychiatrists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and social workers. You should, therefore, have a flexible approach to working as part of this MDT.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to provide high‑quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester – Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification to support your application for this post. Please refer to the essential criteria in the person specification which will highlight the skills, knowledge and experience you will need to demonstrate in your application, by way of example, to give yourself the best opportunity to be shortlisted.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or City and Guilds or equivalent experience
• In‑service training relevant to physiotherapy, speech and language therapy or occupational therapy

Experience

• Working in direct contact with patients, service users, public etc. within health and/or social care
• Experience of working with people living with dementia and/or patients with mental health needs
• Experience of a mental health environment
• Experience of working as a therapy helper, support worker or technical instructor
• Experience of group work
• Experience of working with patients who have behaviours that challenge

Skills and Abilities

• Organisational skills
• Ability to motivate others
• Able to work to own initiative without continuous supervision, seeking advice from others as necessary
• Flexible and adaptable
• Positive attitude and ability to value people with dementia
• Ability to work under pressure
• Interest and ability in a variety of activities and creative media

Knowledge

• Understanding of the issues associated with older people including physical and mental health
• Understanding of recovery focused model of mental health care

🌍 Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

📬 After You Apply - Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive updates via email. Shortlisting is based on how well you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, and invitations will be sent by email.

✅ If You're Offered the Role - If successful, the hiring manager will contact you directly with a verbal offer. They will then notify the Recruitment Team and submit the necessary paperwork. You’ll receive a formal conditional offer via email

🔍 Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards. These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will be used to validate employment history and references.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

🚀 Once Checks Are Complete -

The Recruitment Team will coordinate with you and the hiring manager to confirm a start date. You’ll be booked onto a Trust Welcome Session and receive your Pennine Care NHS Terms and Conditions.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds to help us grow, innovate, and improve.

If you wish to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us on 0161 716 3181 as early as possible so we can support you.

Please note:

• We do not accept unsolicited contact from recruitment agencies. Hiring managers should not be contacted directly.
• We may close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, please apply as soon as possible.

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.