Assistant Practitioner

Employer East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Ipswich Town Ipswich Salary £27,485 - £30,162 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/08/2025 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 4

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.

Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits

Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT's core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate to join our Integrated Occupational and Physiotherapy Therapy team in Stroke / Neuro as an Assistant Practitioner.

This post will be pivotal in supporting delivery of rehab programmes, re-ablement and intensity of practice to patients with diagnosis of stroke. Group work and semi supervised practice is key for us to reach our national stroke targets so innovative solutions and individual approaches to fit patients' needs are required. Strong communication and organisational skills are also essential along with a passion for delivery excellent care to our patients.

Experience of working in an acute hospital setting or working alongside an occupational therapy or physiotherapy team would be an advantage. As we operate a seven-day service there will be a necessity to complete Saturday/Sunday shifts and bank holiday cover on a rota basis.

There will also be requirement to support the Neuro team, and the rest of the integrated therapy team as required

We offer a very supportive approach to personal development and the opportunity to be a key part of shaping the future of how therapy services are delivered.

Main duties of the job

Our Therapy Assistant Practitioners are vital members of our rehabilitation service in the stroke and neuro therapy team at Ipswich Hospital. Working under the supervision of registered Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, the post holder will be responsible for providing evidence-based, person-centred interventions to support with their rehabilitation and discharge planning. Following the National Stroke Guidelines, we strive to provide 3 hours of motor related therapy and 45 minutes of psychological therapy a day. Assistant Practitioners play a pivotal role in helping the team to deliver this to a high standard. Therefore, you will be expected to have the skills, flexibility and initiative to work safely and effectively without direct supervision from registered colleagues.

Working for our organisation

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person specificationExperience

• Experience as a Therapy assistant or experience at a similar level in a related field of health /social or fitness
• Demonstrable experience of delivering tailored personal care with an associated level of senior responsibility
• Knowledge of stroke and functional needs within this clinical area.
• Knowledge of community resources and whole systems/ pathways approach to stroke care
• Experience of working across and liaising with variety of teams and professions
• IT literate
• Completion of Integrated Therapies assistant core and/or specific competencies
• Experience of running group work

Qualifications

• Can demonstrate intermediate level of theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills acquired through coursework, in-house training and experience to NVQ/Diploma Level 3 or equivalent
• Assistant member of CSP / RCOT

Knowledge

• Knowledge of specific treatment protocols for acute stroke
• Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision
• Able to maintain clinical records and complete validated assessments
• Ability to provide and receive complex and sensitive information appropriately to MDT, patients, relatives.
• Ability to manage communication difficulties/barriers
• Understanding of impact of illness and disability on individuals/families
• Ability to evaluate patient's condition and context, and identify functional needs for safe discharge.
• Understanding of the role and application of occupational therapy and physiotherapy
• Knowledge of occupational therapy and physiotherapy within the Acute Care or Community care settings.
• Experience of group work with patients.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills to overcome barriers of understanding and cognitive impairment
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Flexibility to meet service needs
• Organisational ability and time management of self
• Confident, competent manner and professional presentation of self
• Motivational and persuasive skills
• Ability to demonstrate empathetic approach to patients/carers
• Able to recognise personal and role limitations and seek assistance accordingly
• Adaptable
• Teaching skills for use with patients / carers / students

Please note that where response levels are exceptional we may close the post before the specified date, therefore early application is recommended.

Please make sure that you read the Job Description and Person Specification attached and that your statement in support reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria.

Secondment - if you are interested in undertaking a role on a secondment basis, please ensure that you have discussed this with your current line manager prior to submitting your application. Please note if you are already an employee of ESNEFT fixed term roles will only be offered on a secondment basis.

When providing reference details please provide email addresses so references can be sought promptly to cover the last 3 years of employment.

Successful candidates may be charged for their DBS check. Please ensure you read the information found in the attached DBS Information document

The Trust is committed to its staff and their development and to equal opportunities and diversity. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community.

Whilst we welcome applications from all and your application will be considered on individual merit, if you are offered a position and require a Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship we may not be able to process your application to the final stage due Home Office eligibility.

In submitting an application form, you authorise East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process should you be appointed to the post.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust; we look forward to receiving your application for employment.

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.

Name Louise Dunthorne Job title Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist (Stroke) Email address Louise.Dunthorne@esneft.nhs.uk

#J-18808-Ljbffr

---