West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

B4 Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioner

The closing date is 25 August 2025

Job summary

Could you bring your enthusiasm and skills to join the Integrated Therapies Service at West Suffolk Foundation Trust in Bury St Edmunds, as an occupational therapy rehabilitation practitioner working with inpatients? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

The successful candidate for this 1 year fixed term or secondment position will be part of the acute occupational therapy team, working independently under the supervision of a qualified therapist and supporting clinicians to provide occupational therapy to individuals across the acute medical, surgical and respiratory wards. You may be required to undertake work in the community assessment beds as part of this role. You will need to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a positive attitude to self-directed learning. Some experience in a health or care environment is needed. WSFT Integrated Therapies Service is a friendly, supportive and dynamic team; we offer regular individual supervision, opportunities for CPD, annual appraisals, training and regular in-service training.

Weekend working is may be required for this post. From time to time you may be asked to assist other teams located in the acute setting or in the community.

Main duties of the job

You will have close patient communication as well as their carers, team colleagues and the wider multi-disciplinary team. Excellent communication and organisational skills is fundamental to the role. You will be undertaking patient assessments under the initial guidance of an occupational therapist, including discharge planning in a fast-paced working environment. The role also requires close contact with family/carers and other professionals. You will take some leadership roles within the team with the therapy assistants.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted

11 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata, per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7376532-S

Job locations

West Suffolk hospital

Bury st Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description

STAFF CAR PARKING

Staff Car Parking on the West Suffolk Hospital Site is eligible for individuals working outside of the core hours, 07:00 18:30.

For individuals working within the core hours, the Trust offers parking off site at the Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, which is serviced by a regular shuttle bus to and from the Hospital. Details of the bus timetable can be found in the on-line starter pack on the West Suffolk Hospital website.

This parking restriction does not apply if an individual is required to work on a weekend or if they are required to complete on call duties within their role.

The closing date for this vacancy may change if we receive a strong response. Please ensure that you apply for any post you are interested in as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description

STAFF CAR PARKING

Staff Car Parking on the West Suffolk Hospital Site is eligible for individuals working outside of the core hours, 07:00 18:30.

For individuals working within the core hours, the Trust offers parking off site at the Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, which is serviced by a regular shuttle bus to and from the Hospital. Details of the bus timetable can be found in the on-line starter pack on the West Suffolk Hospital website.

This parking restriction does not apply if an individual is required to work on a weekend or if they are required to complete on call duties within their role.

The closing date for this vacancy may change if we receive a strong response. Please ensure that you apply for any post you are interested in as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • Education to GCSE (or equivalent) - particularly English & maths
  • Level 3 qualification or equivalent in health-related subject or equivalent clinical experience
  • Can demonstrate intermediate level of theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills acquired through coursework, in-house training and experience

Desirable

  • Completion of a relevant health competency framework

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working in a rehabilitation role in an acute healthcare setting
  • Experience of managing a delegated workload
  • Experience of implementing programmes/ interventions as prescribed by qualified therapists

Desirable

  • Experience of working with older people and those with dementia
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment
  • Experience of working in a rehabilitation environment
  • Experience of electronic record keeping
  • Knowledge of clinical conditions relating to ageing, such as falls, frailty, stroke, dementia

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to organise and prioritise a designated workload
  • Able to work without direct supervision, within an agreed scope of practice
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills combined with excellent interpersonal skills
  • Able to assess and manage risk within the scope of the role
  • Able to react appropriately to change and to work under pressure
  • Computer literate

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Commitment to delivering consistently high standards of care
Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • Education to GCSE (or equivalent) - particularly English & maths
  • Level 3 qualification or equivalent in health-related subject or equivalent clinical experience
  • Can demonstrate intermediate level of theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills acquired through coursework, in-house training and experience

Desirable

  • Completion of a relevant health competency framework

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of working in a rehabilitation role in an acute healthcare setting
  • Experience of managing a delegated workload
  • Experience of implementing programmes/ interventions as prescribed by qualified therapists

Desirable

  • Experience of working with older people and those with dementia
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment
  • Experience of working in a rehabilitation environment
  • Experience of electronic record keeping
  • Knowledge of clinical conditions relating to ageing, such as falls, frailty, stroke, dementia

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to organise and prioritise a designated workload
  • Able to work without direct supervision, within an agreed scope of practice
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills combined with excellent interpersonal skills
  • Able to assess and manage risk within the scope of the role
  • Able to react appropriately to change and to work under pressure
  • Computer literate

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Commitment to delivering consistently high standards of care

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk hospital

Bury st Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk hospital

Bury st Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Lead OT

Lisa Enright

lisa.enright@wsh.nhs.uk

01284713639

Details

Date posted

11 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year pro rata, per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7376532-S

Job locations

West Suffolk hospital

Bury st Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Supporting documents

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