Job summary
- Main area
- CYPIT West Berkshire
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-CFS787-A
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- CYPIT West Berkshire - West Berkshire Community Hospital, London Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3AS
- Town
- Thatcham
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Integrated Therapy Assistant
Band 4
Job overview
If you have experience in working with children, especially those with special needs, this is an ideal opportunity for you to develop your skills further. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, creative and flexible and who is qualified to NVQ level 3 to work within our Children, Young People’s Integrated Therapies Families (CYPIT) service. We have an Integrated Therapy Assistant post available supporting children in mainstream and special schools. The role involves working with Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to carry out interventions.
The successful applicant will support therapists to provide a service which promotes the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families.
You will work collaboratively with the therapists in your team as well as families and other professionals to deliver effective and safe integrated therapy.
Our CYPIT service supports children and young people from birth to 19 years of age across Berkshire. We are an integrated therapy service, offering easy access to services through a single point of access and web-based advice via an on-line resource. We are establishing integrated approaches to the care that we offer families and the successful candidate would be able to take an active part in ongoing service developments.
Main duties of the job
- A key member of the CYPIT service providing essential support to therapists, to enable the service to deliver a high-quality therapy service to children and young people in Berkshire.
- Carry out a range of work tasks and interventions independently under the direction of a CYPIT Therapist (with and/or without direct supervision).
- Contribute to and deliver support and training to schools, parents and carers as part of service delivery.
- Responsible for a specific defined workload as agreed with your supervising therapist. This will involve planning, organising and documenting of key activities, as well as supporting any project work or service development.
- Contribute to the assessment of children under the supervision of a qualified clinician, as well as provision of direct therapy and training.
- Provide demonstrations and training as agreed with your therapist to school staff, carers and other professionals as relevant to your skills and knowledge.
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for this role:
- NVQ level 3 (or equivalent)
- Proficient IT skills (e.g. using a range of software, Word, Excel)
- Minimum 3 years’ experience working with children, in particular those with special needs
- Ability to self-motivate
- Car driver with ability and readiness to travel to multiple sites
- For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Alison Midwinter on 03003654000 or email: [email protected] who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Education to a sufficient level to give evidence of ability to absorb and interpret complex information e.g. ( GCSE / A levels) NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject or equivalent
- Evidence of accredited training or equivalent
- Well-developed literacy and numeracy.
- IT skills – proficient in the use of word/ e-mail
Desirable criteria
- A CPD portfolio which demonstrates attendance at short courses, formal training, and experience in addition to NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
- Evidence of using other IT based programmes e.g. Boardmaker, symbols, etc.
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Minimum 3 years’ experience working with children.
- Experience of working with children and young people, in particular those with special needs (e.g. LSA, voluntary work, nursery, previous assistant experience etc.)
- Experience of working with families from a wide variety of backgrounds including age and ethnicity.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working with children in an educational setting for at least one year and/or previous experience supporting Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and/or Speech and Language Therapy.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Evidence of a value system which puts the child at the heart of actions.
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people in a broad sense.
- Knowledge of the English education system
- Able to use IT to support and innovate development
- Succinct communication skills.
- Ability to self-motivate
- Ability to act as a role model and leader to others: 1. in adopting change 2. imbedding new practice 3. supporting junior staff 4. act as an ambassador for the CYPIT service
- Willingness and ability to take direction from others, and also to recognise when can act autonomously
Desirable criteria
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the therapy role within specialist paediatrics.
- Ability to work in a calm and confident manner in stressful situations
- Ability to work successfully as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Additional Requirements
Essential criteria
- Car Driver and willingness to work across Berkshire, as required
- Ability to express clearly in writing
- Good interpersonal skills
- Willingness to attend additional training to support service delivery.
Applicant requirements
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.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Ali Midwinter
- Job title
- CYPIT Lead for School years (West)
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0303654000
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