Job summary
- Main area
- ICP & Therapies
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- 15 months (Fixed Term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 210-2025-524
- Employer
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Countess of Chester Hospital
- Town
- Chester
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 pa
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 31/07/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 14/08/2025
Employer heading
Senior Therapy Assistant
Band 4
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.
Job overview
Senior Therapy Assistant – 15-months Fixed Term
Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week
This is an exciting opportunity to work as a Senior Therapy Assistant within our inpatient therapy team.
Our team provides therapy to patients at the Countess of Chester Hospital. You will be working in a fast-paced environment alongside an experienced therapy team in a variety of settings including, inpatient wards and patient’s homes. The role includes working closely with our Multidisciplinary team to ensure we achieve best patient care.
You will work collaboratively with the therapy team and the wards to advocate functional independence for the patients and work with them to achieve their goals to facilitate timely discharge from the hospital.
Main duties of the job
Effective communication, adaptability and team working skills are essential for this post. Experience of working with adults in a care setting is essential for the role, alongside experience of working as a therapy assistant. We offer a friendly and supportive environment for learning alongside in service training and opportunities to further develop your career.
This role would be suitable for an existing band 4 or a band 3 therapy assistant looking to expand their skills and progress in their career.
This post requires an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check.
You will be expected to work weekends and Bank holidays on a rota basis.
Working for our organisation
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NVQ level 4 or equivalent
- ECDL or CLIAT qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience working in a health or social care setting, working as a therapy assistant
- Experience of delivering therapy programmes to patients with complex needs
- Supervisory experience
- Knowledge of a range of presenting conditions and implications for swallowing and communication
- Carry out interventions using a criteria led discharge protocol
- Able to undertake reviews and amend action plans accordingly
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of professional conduct
- Health, safety and risk awareness
- Experience of undertaking reviews and amending action plans
Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent verbal skills
- Able to demonstrate ability to use basic Microsoft packages such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Good level of literacy skills to complete therapy documentation and referrals to other services
- Able to communicate with a range of professionals, patients and relatives regarding patient treatment plans both in the hospital and in the community
Desirable criteria
- Working knowledge of Cerner system
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- John Simcox
- Job title
- Team Leader
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01244 36 2272
- Additional information
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