South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapy Assistant

The closing date is 08 December 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a motivated, experienced Therapy Assistant or Assistant Practitioner to join the team at Gateshead Equipment Services (GES).

We provide medical equipment services to the Local Authority and NHS in the Gateshead area, delivering a wide range of equipment to support people living in their own homes, to support hospital discharge, prevent hospital admission & support palliative care in the community.

Working under the guidance of our Specialist Occupational Therapist you will provide assistance to patients, carers & prescribers accessing GES & GES staff & clients in the community.

Your role will include; carrying out bath/toilet/seating assessments; delivery & handover of standard & specialist equipment; assisting prescribers with assessments for standard & specialist equipment; assisting our Occupational Therapist with training & education of prescribers; liaising with suppliers in procurement of special orders; carrying out reviews & inspections of non-standard equipment under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist; carrying out regular stock checks; dealing with processing of equipment orders & with tasks & requests from patients, relatives & colleagues.

The post holder will be based at our warehouse facility on Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead. This is a community-based role & a full UK driving licence & access to a car with business insurance are required. The post is 37.5hrs, worked over 5 days pw, usually Monday-Friday.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will have:

Significant experience of working as a therapy assistant or other relevant role at Band 3 or equivalent, with experience of working in a rehabilitation or other relevant health-care setting.
Experience of managing & prioritising their own caseload, undertaking the assessment of less complex patients, providing effective treatment & maintaining accurate, relevant clinical records.
The ability to undertake both therapeutic patient moving & handling and non-patient moving & handling procedures.
Excellent time management, communication & organisational skills.
Evidence of the ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of individuals.
The ability to work independently following guidelines from qualified staff.
Evidence of the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team & of the ability to empathise with and motivate others.
Experience of involvement in support/development of less experienced staff.
Experience of group working & teaching.
Knowledge of the provision and use of the standard and specialist equipment supplied by GES.
Knowledge and use of ELMS2 equipment management system & the use of electronic patient records systems.
The ability to meet the commuting & travel requirements of the post.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Date posted

24 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9155-CMAHP-1125-16

Job locations

Gateshead Equipment Services

Queens Park

Team Valley Trading Estate

Gateshead

Tyne And Wear

NE110QD

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To work alongside the Specialist Practitioner Occupational Therapist providing assistance in the provision of service to patients, carers and prescribers accessing Gateshead Equipment Services (GES).
To carry out bathing/toilet/seating assessments in the community.
To deliver and handover standard & specialist equipment in the community.
To assist prescribers with assessments for standard and specialist equipment.
To assist the Occupational Therapist with the training and education of prescribers.
To liaise with suppliers in the procurement of special orders.
To carry out reviews and inspections of non-standard and specialist equipment under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist.

To carry out a range of other non-clinical duties.

To adhere to all Trust policies and procedures as they pertain to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Clinical and Patient Safety and continuing healthcare needs.

To be guided by advice from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), good practice and established precedents.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To work alongside the Specialist Practitioner Occupational Therapist providing assistance in the provision of service to patients, carers and prescribers accessing Gateshead Equipment Services (GES).
To carry out bathing/toilet/seating assessments in the community.
To deliver and handover standard & specialist equipment in the community.
To assist prescribers with assessments for standard and specialist equipment.
To assist the Occupational Therapist with the training and education of prescribers.
To liaise with suppliers in the procurement of special orders.
To carry out reviews and inspections of non-standard and specialist equipment under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist.

To carry out a range of other non-clinical duties.

To adhere to all Trust policies and procedures as they pertain to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Clinical and Patient Safety and continuing healthcare needs.

To be guided by advice from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), good practice and established precedents.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Good organizational skills.
Evidence of the ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of individuals.
Ability to prioritize workload.
Ability to work independently following guidelines from qualified staff.
Able to present information written and orally in a clear and logical manner.
Knowledge of provision and use of standard and specialist equipment supplied by GES.
Ability to empathise with and motivate others.
Knowledge and use of Elms2 equipment management system.

Desirable

Standard keyboard skills / use of electronic devices.

Physical Skills

Essential

Able to undertake therapeutic patient moving & handling procedures.
Able to undertake non-patient moving & handling procedures.
Able to meet the commuting & travel requirements of the post.
Full UK Driving licence and access to a car with business insurance.

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE in English and Numeracy skills to level 2 or equivalent.
NVQ 3 in health-related subject or equivalent relevant previous experience.

Desirable

Recognized academic qualification in a health-related topic.
Trained Trusted Assessor for community equipment (or willingness to undertake this qualification).
Record of personal development & reflective practice.
Attendance at relevant professional courses.

Experience

Essential

Evidence of ability to work as part of an inter-disciplinary team.
Significant experience of working as a therapy assistant or other relevant role at Band 3 or equivalent.
Experience of working in a rehabilitation or relevant health-care setting.
Experience of managing own caseload.
Experience of involvement in support/development of less experienced staff.
Experience of group working & teaching.

Desirable

Recent proven experience of working with clients in a hospital or community setting.
Previous experience as a Band 4 technical instructor.
Experience of working with individuals who have communication difficulties.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Good organizational skills.
Evidence of the ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of individuals.
Ability to prioritize workload.
Ability to work independently following guidelines from qualified staff.
Able to present information written and orally in a clear and logical manner.
Knowledge of provision and use of standard and specialist equipment supplied by GES.
Ability to empathise with and motivate others.
Knowledge and use of Elms2 equipment management system.

Desirable

Standard keyboard skills / use of electronic devices.

Physical Skills

Essential

Able to undertake therapeutic patient moving & handling procedures.
Able to undertake non-patient moving & handling procedures.
Able to meet the commuting & travel requirements of the post.
Full UK Driving licence and access to a car with business insurance.

Qualifications

Essential

GCSE in English and Numeracy skills to level 2 or equivalent.
NVQ 3 in health-related subject or equivalent relevant previous experience.

Desirable

Recognized academic qualification in a health-related topic.
Trained Trusted Assessor for community equipment (or willingness to undertake this qualification).
Record of personal development & reflective practice.
Attendance at relevant professional courses.

Experience

Essential

Evidence of ability to work as part of an inter-disciplinary team.
Significant experience of working as a therapy assistant or other relevant role at Band 3 or equivalent.
Experience of working in a rehabilitation or relevant health-care setting.
Experience of managing own caseload.
Experience of involvement in support/development of less experienced staff.
Experience of group working & teaching.

Desirable

Recent proven experience of working with clients in a hospital or community setting.
Previous experience as a Band 4 technical instructor.
Experience of working with individuals who have communication difficulties.

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.