Job summary
The post holder will:

• Assist Physiotherapists in the therapeutic management of patients. This may be 1:1 with a patient or in a group session.
• Assist the Therapists with individual therapy assessments and treatments over a 7-day service.
• Provide delegated Physiotherapy treatment sessions and suggest modifications and/or progressions under the guidance of therapists.
• Promote an enablement approach within the multi-disciplinary team.
• Be responsible for the provision, maintenance and cleaning of therapeutic equipment.
• Support well-being and independence of patients within the acute or intermediate care setting.
• Assist in the administration and clerical duties as required within the therapy team.
• Actively participate in supervision program as both supervisee and supervisor
• To be competent with using a variety of manual handling equipment

Main duties of the job

• To effectively complete and feedback about delegated caseload in a timely manner.
• To ensure professional standards and fitness to work are met.
• To be able to interpret and record clinical observations and determine if patient is safe to participate in therapy.
• To be able to operate appropriate Information and Digital Technology systems to contribute to record keeping and data analysis, under guidance from Trust Policy.
• To be able to understand the role of the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to ensure you advocate for both professions and carry out effective treatment plans.
• To be able to thoroughly gather information including a subjective assessment and information from medical notes and a range of other resources.
• Able to gain consent from a patient with insight into the complexities that this entails.
• To be able to complete, interpret and record basic observations such as blood pressure and to be aware of normal ranges and to escalate as required.
• To be able to complete delegated assessments including outcome measures, falls risk, personal and domestic activities of daily living.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities
For a full detailed job description and person specification, please see the attached job description document.

Qualifications
Essential

• Broad general education to GCSE/NVQ II including C grade or equivalent in Maths and English
• Care certificate, level 2 in health-related area
• Requirement to complete level 3 QCF for this role

Experience
Essential

• Clear understanding of the Physiotherapy role
• Experience in working as part of a team
• Comprehensive experience working as a rehabilitation assistant or within the rehabilitation setting
• Comprehensive experience of working within the acute care setting
• Evidence of supporting the development of others

Desirable

• Experience working with patients with respiratory conditions and post-surgical patients
• Experience of working with people with communication difficulties and confusion

Additional Criteria
Essential

• Be able to be flexible and adaptable to the demands of the job
• Be reliable and punctual
• Passion for helping others
• Ability to work under pressure
• Be responsible and passionate for own learning.
• To have basic IT skills and a willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients
• To have basic Manual handling skills
• Able to demonstrate a good standard of English language
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and verbal
• Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
• Ability to use initiative as appropriate
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.

Desirable

• To be aware of therapeutic manual handling techniques

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.