Physiotherapy Support Worker

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Physiotherapy Support Worker

The closing date is 14 October 2025

We are looking for motivated Technical Instructors / Support Workers with good acute hospital experience to work within our Inpatient Physiotherapy teams covering the wards at Royal Sussex County Hospital. This role will be focused on providing a high standard of Physiotherapy assessment, treatment and evaluation to clients within the Inpatient Physiotherapy service at Royal Sussex County Hospital.

You will have excellent opportunities for your own skills development, working within a strong and supportive MDT and alongside an established peer group of Physiotherapy Support Workers. This Band 3 position is an excellent opportunity to work within a dynamic, forward looking and innovative department.

Royal Sussex County Hospital is in a wonderful location, situated adjacent to the South Downs National Park and the sea and with excellent transport links to London and across Southern England. You will be joining a strong and supportive Physiotherapy team within the top performing University Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We look forward to welcoming you on an informal visit or discussing any aspect of this exciting opportunity further.

Please note we may close this advert earlier than the published closing date if we receive a large number of applications so, please do not delay in submitting your application as soon as possible in order to be considered for this post.

Main duties of the job

- To work as part of a Physiotherapy Team providing a high quality and comprehensive therapy service to patients.
- To work with adults and children with varied conditions, including orthopaedic, elderly rehabilitation, amputees, neurological, etc.
- To work unsupervised as well as alongside the qualified physiotherapists.
- To provide information and advice to patients, carers and other health and social care professions on areas within the grades scope of practice, e.g. advise patients on exercise treatment programmes based on procedures and set protocols.
- Take on routine procedural based assessments and implement own treatment programme, through exercises and mobility rehabilitation individually or in groups.
- To regularly evaluate and analyse treatment programmes and modifies them without prior consultation with a qualified physiotherapist.
- To regularly feedback to physiotherapists regarding patients/' progress and to feedback to physiotherapists and Lead Physiotherapist regarding how delivery of service and policies impact on patients and the service, to always ensure maintenance and improvement to quality.
- To be involved with data collection/audit to monitor service, general statistic collation and outcome measures the team are using.
- To assist with the clerical and professional administrative tasks required to provide an efficient and effective high-quality service.

About us

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We/'re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We/'re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Job responsibilities

- To work collaboratively with relevant Team Professionals (e.g. Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Nursing staff, Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patients potential.
- To communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties / dementia, and for people who do not have English as their first language, on a one-to-one level and to enable the patient to integrate in group activities. This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools.
- Educate patients and relatives on a range of topics covering Physiotherapy techniques, e.g. therapeutic positioning, exercise, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility.
- Use advanced empathetic, tactful and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients Rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling.
- Assist in informative / observational visits, work-shadow sessions, and specific areas of induction process e.g. new members of staff and students.
- Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.
- To liaise with other team members with regards to day-to-day issues and department management e.g. prioritisation, staff shortages, increased patient caseload.
- To maintain physiotherapy records in an accurate way, in line with guidelines to ensure identified goals are achieved.
- To be able to manage potentially stressful, sensitive, upsetting, terminal conditions or emotional situations in an empathic manner.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification

Candidate Information Pack:

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

Person Specification

Professional Registration

- Completion of Physiotherapy apprenticeship i.e. Level 3 Diploma in Allied Healthcare support or are Support OR Health care related qualification at NVQ level 3 or
- Health care related qualification at NVQ level 3 or above
- Completed Physiotherapy B3 level competencies or level 3 apprentice competencies.
- Equivalent experience as physiotherapy assistant or Occupational Therapy assistant
- Previous experience at Band 3 Physio assistant/tech role

Experience/Qualifications Non-Clinical

- Understanding of the Job role / Physiotherapy profession
- Experience of working in a team
- An understanding or involvement in service development or audit, and an understanding of quality issues

Experience/Qualifications Clinical

- Previous clinical NHS/Healthcare environment experience
- Basic knowledge of human anatomy and Physiology
- 6 months or more of working as a physiotherapy / occupational therapy or Healthcare assistant delivering patient care
- Previous healthcare related courses
- Basic understanding of exercise rehabilitation.

Skills

- Ability to recognise their own limitations and when to seek advice.
- Ability to recognise a potentially serious situation and when to seek advice.
- Experience of problem solving in various situations.

People Management and Development

- Ability to follow oral and written instructions and fluency in written and spoken English.
- Ability to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner including patient records.
- Ability to cope in an environment with emotional or aggressive patients.
- Ability to cope with unpredictable and/or stressful working environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively with different types of people e.g. patients, patient relatives, Doctors, Nurses, colleagues etc.
- Experience of communicating with people with communication difficulties e.g. Dementia, language barriers, blind, deaf

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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.

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearPer annum, pro rata

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