Job summary
- Main area
- Therapy Assistant
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Fixed term: 3 months (3 month temp)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 412-COMM-8396087-WINTER
- Employer
- Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- IPOCH Transfer of Care Hub BIU 2
- Town
- Crewe
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 14/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
IPOCH Community Therapy Assistant ED
NHS AfC: Band 4
Want to work somewhere you can really make a difference? Somewhere you’re encouraged to have ideas and empowered to create positive change?
Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) deliver NHS Community Services across Cheshire. With a wide range of clinical disciplines, we are a dynamic, future-facing organisation passionate about delivering the highest quality healthcare whilst collaborating with our community partners.
We foster a culture of continuous improvement, built on compassion.
Find out more about CCICP: Community Services (CCICP): Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Here more from our people on the ‘Community Conversations’ podcast: Community Conversations Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
Don’t just take our word for it…
Our Annual Staff Survey results say
· Over 83% of staff would recommend CCICP as a place to work
· 90% of staff say the people they work with show appreciation to each other
· 88% staff say that patient care/service users are the organisations top priority
· Over 70% of staff believe there are opportunities for them to develop their career
· If a friend or relative needed treatment 81% of staff are happy with the standard of care provided
We are recognised nationally
· With over 24 Queen’s Nurses (and growing) we have one of the highest percentages proportionate to the size of our team
· Nursing Times Award winners in 2023 and finalists in 2024 for a Bladder and Bowl project. Our specialist Stoma service is currently shortlisted for a Nursing Times and British Journal of Nursing awards.
· Two Specialist clinicians have recently had their work recognised by Wounds UK
· Leighton Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre, run by CCICP, was reviewed by Care Quality Commission and awarded the highest score in the North West
Job overview
An exciting post for a Band 4 Therapy Assistant to work within the Home First Team within the Integrated Placement of Care Team (IPOCH). The post holder will work across the Emergency Department (ED), admission avoidance pathways, inpatient wards and community settings to support in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, and support patients to receive care in the most appropriate setting.
The post holder will work collaboratively and cooperatively with multidisciplinary colleagues to meet the needs of patients and their families, taking an active role in facilitating safe and timely discharge from hospital, supporting admission avoidance initiatives within ED and Urgent Care pathways and undertaking ongoing assessments within community settings in line with National Hospital Discharge Guidance and Home First principles.
This role offers the opportunity to enhance skills within the ED and community therapy services, linking in with the wider support network and being part of an integrated support system. You will work across ED and our Discharge to Assess beds and across all care communities as required.
The successful candidate will undertake record keeping using an electronic device for which training will be provided.
Applicants must hold a valid UK driving licence.
Main duties of the job
The candidate will support the delivery of Home First Principles across the Emergency Department (ED), admission avoidance pathways, inpatient areas and community services.
Working autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team, the candidate will work alongside the therapist in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and promoting independence, adopting a Proportionate Care and Home First approach. They will work closely with colleagues within ED, Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), acute wards, community services, primary care, and social care to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Responsibilities will include supporting complex home visits, overseeing patient flow through Home First pathways, and ensuring timely reviews and progression of discharge plans.
The IPOCH team is based at Leighton Hospital and provides services across the Emergency Department, acute hospital wards, and patients own homes within the community. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly across these settings and participate in weekend and Bank Holiday working as required.
Working for our organisation
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond. The Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became a Foundation Trust in April 2008.
We employ almost 5,000 members of staff, provide around 540 hospital beds, with a range of services including accident and emergency, maternity, outpatients, therapies, and children's health.
The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a unique local health partnership that provides a range of community services for people across South Cheshire and Vale Royal.
At Mid Cheshire, we value our staff and appreciate that in order to give our patients the best quality, compassionate care, we also need to look after our colleagues.
We offer full induction on commencement of the role. Supervision from senior physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. Setting individual objectives through appraisals and competencies will be provided. All generic therapy assistants benefit from regular supervision sessions which are fortnightly to start. Given equal opportunities to undertake a variety of Continuing Professional development (CPD) and Band 4 competencies to develop and support you in your role.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To make therapeutic contact with newly referred patients as identified by the qualified therapists following admission and triage.
- To independently complete specified holistic assessments, interventions and create rehabilitation programmes either independently or with help of a qualified clinician for community-based patients
- To follow departmental protocols and guidelines referring to the qualified clinician who is available for advice.
- To hold a caseload as delegated by the qualified clinician. Reporting back at agreed timescales, highlighting any necessary actions. Working independently and supporting the band 3 Therapy Assistant’s as required.
- To work with an individual in a variety of settings, such as their home, 24 hours care facility ensuring patient safety and dignity is always maintained.
- To modify interventions and programmes within defined parameters and within their scope of practice
- Complete initial assessments and commission a range of basic equipment and adaptations as appropriate to the service user. To complete necessary risk assessments before prescribing basic equipment and review them on a timely basis.
- To be responsible for the ordering and stock control of materials and equipment as required for the unit.
- Instruct individuals, carers and other professional in the safe use and maintenance of equipment- simple aids such as walking frames, sticks, elbow crutches and functional aids.
- To refer patients to appropriate services and health care professionals where patients are found to have a complex health need.
- Discharge patients within your workload after consultation with qualified member of the team.
- Attend multidisciplinary meetings and participate in clinical decision-making process for individual patients as delegated by the qualified staff.
- To ensure accurate, up to date clinical records are kept, always ensuring their security and confidentiality
- Work within their competency and seek qualified therapist guidance were appropriate.
This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all specific tasks.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Assistant Practitioner qualification (ST0215 Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Level 5)/willing to work towards completion
Desirable criteria
- Degree qualification in relevant area``
Skills and experience
Essential criteria
- Patient facing band 3 role
Desirable criteria
- Have transferable skills and band 3 therapy assistant experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of conditions
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of community working process
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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
- Danielle Dixon
- Job title
- IPOCH Home First Therapy Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01270 273025
- Additional information
James Billington
Integrated Placement of Care OT
01270 273025
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Leighton Hospital
Middlewich Road
Crewe
Cheshire
CW1 4QJ
- Telephone
- [email protected]
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