Job summary
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: Poole Hospital - relocating to Royal Bournemouth Hospital as part of transformation (July, 2026)
Interview Date: 16th March 2026
Please note, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.
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.
About us
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not bereimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women's, DEN, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process
Please note we cannot offer sponsorship for this position.
Job description
Job 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 03000198654.
Job description
Job 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 03000198654.
Person Specification
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Person Specification
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
