Advertised role location: Roddens Vales Special School
Official document: NHSCT-Band 3 Paediatric Physio Assistant Roddensvale SS (docx)
Paediatric Physiotherapy Assistant
Job Description

Paediatric Physiotherapy Assistant
Job Description


The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.
We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.
The diagram below outlines our values and our objectives which support the delivery of compassionate care within our community.

The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;

HSC Value
 What does this mean?
 What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together

We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.
 

I work with others and value everyone’s contribution
I treat people with respect and dignity
I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams
I actively engage people on issues that affect them
I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

 Compassion

We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.
 

I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness
I learn from others by listening carefully to them
I look after my own health and well-being so that I can care for and support others

 
Excellence

We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high quality, compassionate care and support.
I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference
I take responsibility for my decisions and actions
I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing
I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty

We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships
I ask someone for help when needed
I speak up if I have concerns
I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice


JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Paediatric Physiotherapy Assistant

BAND: Band 3

DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Surgical and Clinical Services/ Physiotherapy

INITIAL LOCATION: Roddensvale Special School/Whiteabbey Hospital

REPORTS TO: Clinical Lead Physiotherapist through Physiotherapy Line Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director of Acute Hospital Services through Trust Physiotherapy Services Manager

FLEXIBLE WORKING
PROVISIONS AVAILABLE: Fixed working patterns, Part-time working

JOB SUMMARY:
The Paediatric Physiotherapy Assistant will undertake duties designated by qualified physiotherapists working in the Department. The post holder will assist individual physiotherapists in the treatment of children and young people in the special school/ mainstream school, Child Development Centre, inpatient or within community settings. The post holder will also carry their own caseload designated by qualified physiotherapists and work single-handedly within their scope of practice, providing feedback on a regular basis.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
To support the Physiotherapist in providing a comprehensive treatment programme for children and young people in schools, Child Development Centre, hospital, community or in their own homes.

To prepare children and young people for physiotherapy treatment, including accompanying them from the classroom to the therapy room or the preparation of equipment as required.

To assist the Physiotherapist in the assessment and treatment of children and young people referred for physiotherapy, as appropriate. This may include Aquatic Therapy and involve being in the water to assist the Physiotherapist.

Responsible for unsupervised treatment of children and young people including simple exercise programmes and walking practice as directed by the Physiotherapist.

To undertake exercise groups in consultation with a qualified Physiotherapist as required.

To undertake therapeutic procedures with individual children and young people following assessment and instruction by the Physiotherapist.

To carry own caseload, carrying out, modifying and progressing treatment within agreed parameters.

To make school/community/home visits to provide physiotherapy treatment as guided by the qualified Physiotherapist as required.

To regularly monitor the child/young person’s progress and report to the Physiotherapist any changes in their condition or variation in expected outcome from treatment.

To assist in the measuring and setting up of specialised paediatric positioning or postural management equipment and to clean/decontaminate the equipment returned. To provide appropriate walking aids to children/young people and instruct them and/or their carer in the correct use as guided by the Physiotherapist.

To assist the Physiotherapist/education staff in manual handling procedures/ use of manual handling equipment eg. hoists when required.

To ensure accurate patient records are kept and to maintain appropriate statistical returns in line with Trust and legal requirements.

To ensure effective communication with children/young people, carers, education staff and multidisciplinary team members, whilst observing the code of confidentiality.

To instruct service users and their carers, with exercises as guided by the Physiotherapist.

Organisational
To be responsible for cleaning, storing and checking equipment, assisting in the organisation of the annual servicing of paediatric physiotherapy equipment, maintaining stock levels, and general tidiness of the work area.

Responsible for reporting and documenting faults to appropriate service and liaising with works and maintenance and contracted service providers to ensure required follow-up action occurs, as required.

To carry out admin duties as required e.g. retrieval of patient records, answering telephone, send out appointments, inputting and retrieval of data in computer systems.

To participate in professional development activities.

To participate in supervision process and Staff Development and Performance Review.

To comply with Health & Safety Requirements, Trust and Physiotherapy Service Policies and Procedures.

To undertake any other duties, which may be reasonably required by the Senior Physiotherapist.
To work at all times within own scope of practice.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:-
At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner

At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety

Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.


RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

Please note as this role may not meet the minimum salary threshold for a Skilled Worker visa (including a Heath and Care Worker visa) and the Trust will be unable to employ anyone that requires Sponsorship. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration).

HOURS
Normal full-time hours of duty are 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal times

MEDICAL
Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS
27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holidays.

PENSION
The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS
You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here

PROBATIONARY PERIOD
You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

WAITING LIST
A waiting list may be compiled for similar permanent/temporary, part time posts which may arise within the next 6 months.

PAY PROTECTION
Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011. This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre, on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.

Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

(October 2026)

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Paediatric Physiotherapy Assistant
Band of Post: Band 3
Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.
Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

Experience
GCSE’s at Grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent AND NVQ Level 2 in a Health Care related subject or equivalent AND 12 months practical experience in providing direct patient/client/child care or rehabilitation in a paid capacity within a health care, education or nursery setting

OR
4 GCSE’s at Grade C or above to include English Language and Mathematics or equivalent AND 2 years practical experience in providing direct patient/client/child care or rehabilitation in a paid capacity within a health care, education or nursery setting
Shortlisting by Application Form

Other
Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.
Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Good organisational and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Awareness of own limitations
Proficient in the use of computer software packages such as Excel spreadsheets, databases, e-mail, internet and PowerPoint, Encompass or other patient record information systems
Interview / Test

Knowledge
Understanding of the role of the Physiotherapy Assistant within the Physiotherapy team
Understanding of the needs of children and young people with disability
Understand the need for patient confidentiality
Understanding of relevant Health and Safety issues and confidentiality
Interview / Test

The following additional clarification is provided:
Value Based Recruitment
Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.
It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.
Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.
In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.
Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges
Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust.  This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice (www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice).

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.
As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
Successful applicants:
may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range  of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post.  If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.
have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.
(October 2026)