Assistant Practitioner

We are excited to offer a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner position working across University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW) and the City of Coventry Health Centre. This is your chance to be part of a thriving, supportive and innovative team dedicated to delivering exceptional care. This post is a great opportunity for you to develop your skills and make a genuine impact on patient care.

This role will give you the chance to work with primary care referrals as well as working with acute, secondary care referrals, whilst truly making a difference in people’s lives. Our department is proud of its friendly, multidisciplinary team that values every member and supports career growth, learning, and professional development. You will be working alongside Consultant Physiotherapists, First Contact Practitioners, Rheumatology physiotherapists, Technical Instructors, and our Clinical Physiotherapy team.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your healthcare career and want to be part of something brilliant — apply now. Come and experience the difference of working in a team that’s not just supportive, but genuinely inspiring.

Job Summary

This post is for a Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner at UHCW NHS Trust. This role is within the outpatient therapy team based across both the UHCW main hospital site and the City of Coventry Health Centre. Under the supervision of a Registered Therapist, the post holder will be expected to deliver a high-quality service by planning and prioritising their own workload, as well as contributing to the effective and efficient running of the therapy service. The post holder will work independently within their scope of practice, demonstrating effective time management skills and providing clinical support for less experienced staff as delegated by the Clinical Specialist / Clinical Team Leader.

Main Duties

• To assess, treat and discharge patients within scope of practice, including mobility, equipment and functional assessments, progression of treatments, and leading on planned group work.
• To independently develop and provide exercise programmes for individual patients, with the guidance of a registered therapist where appropriate.
• To use knowledge and understanding of physical, mental, and behavioural health conditions to recognise deterioration in patients, responding by promptly escalating concerns to a registered practitioner.

Clinical

• Develops, manages and maintains positive, appropriate relationships with patients, families and carers providing person-centred care.
• Understands the different influences that impact on health outcomes for patients and their families including health inequalities.
• Understands the aims and principles of health promotion, protection, and improvement and seeks support from a registered practitioner when a patient signals a desire to change their health behaviour.
• Undertake initial screening of patients to inform the Physiotherapist in prioritising and allocating cases.
• Adheres to the CSP code of ethics and professional conduct, the trusts code of conduct for non-registered staff and all other relevant policies and procedures.
• Understands and demonstrates the principles of team and partnership working and is able to define own duties and role.
• Understands the role boundaries and importance of supervision and carrying out appropriate delegated tasks, ensuring timely completion.
• Actively participates in the planning, development and evaluation of personalised care plans by offering objective clinical and evidence-based information to inform planned activities.
• Provides feedback on patient progress and condition, recognising the impact of support and interventions, and suggests ideas for improvement when developing, reviewing, and evaluating care plans based on objective evidence and experience.
• Uses knowledge and understanding of physical, mental, and behavioural health conditions to recognise deterioration in patients, responding by promptly escalating concerns to a registered practitioner.
• Gathers relevant information working under protocols and forms a judgement on the improvement or deterioration in the physical, mental, or behavioural condition of service users and responds by referring or escalating concerns to a registered practitioner.
• Ensures safe and effective use of equipment, including fitting, demonstration and teaching of safe and appropriate use. Adapts equipment where appropriate and monitors individuals' progress, carrying out basic risk assessment and documenting in care records.
• Keeps complete, clear, accurate and timely records, utilising digital platforms as required.
• Communicates effectively through a variety of methods including interpersonal, written, and verbal skills.
• Demonstrates the ability to provide and receive complex and sensitive information, including relating to patients. Judges the appropriate method of communication, ensuring information is provided in an accessible way. Actively listens and receives information, giving and acting on feedback.
• Reports any incidents, accidents, or complaints in a timely manner, taking appropriate action as necessary.
• Following registered therapists' instructions or as part of protocol, to continue/commence treatments.
• To maintain the department and equipment in a clean and orderly manner, bringing to the notice of relevant people anything that is damaged/worn.
• To ensure that areas are well maintained and comply with health and safety guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.
• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.

Leadership & Education

• Inducts new team members. Participates in training and mentoring of less experienced support staff and students in respect of tasks and responsibilities within scope of practice.
• Actively participates in learning opportunities to maintain knowledge and inform practice. Actively seeks feedback.
• Prepares for and participates in appraisals and agrees personal development plan, identifying areas for improvement.
• To complete clinical and knowledge skill-sets in appropriate rotation/area where available.
• Plan and prioritise own workload to ensure efficient working.
• To participate in relevant IST according to their rotation/area, keeping a record of training and development activities (CPD).
• To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by line manager.

Research

• Contributes to audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activities, such as patient feedback and benchmarking.
• Participates in, contributes to, and may lead, audits, service evaluation, and quality improvement projects relevant to own work.