Job summary
- Main area
- Mental Health
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent: Monday to Friday
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
- Job ref
- 364-A-9443
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Rochford Hospital
- Town
- Rochford
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Senior Physiotherapy Assistant
Band 3
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Physiotherapy Assistant to join our dynamic Mental Health Physiotherapy Service at Rochford Hospital. We are a supportive, growing team, committed to improving access to high-quality care for individuals with mental health conditions in both inpatient and community settings.
The physiotherapy department primarily covers older adult wards on a daily basis, with adult wards being seen on a referral basis. In addition, we provide a variety of group or individual exercise sessions, scheduled across the week. Comprehensive training and support will be offered to assist in the implementation of treatment programs and to lead group-based therapy, as directed by registered physiotherapy staff.
We are seeking motivated, creative, and enthusiastic individuals with a genuine interest in Mental Health Physiotherapy. You will receive regular professional and managerial supervision, with opportunities to further develop your skills in this specialist area.
Main duties of the job
This diverse role involves supporting registered physiotherapists in conducting physiotherapy assessments and developing management plans for patients referred to the service in both inpatient and community settings. Responsibilities will include assisting with specific assessments, implementing treatment techniques as directed by the registered practitioner, and facilitating group-based therapy sessions under their supervision.
Additionally, the role involves administrative support, including reading and writing clinical notes, managing emails, assisting with both electronic and paper documentation, and completing daily diary sheets.
The successful candidate may also have the opportunity to assist with equipment audits, reporting faulty equipment to the registered physiotherapist, collating patient information, and monitoring stock levels within the team.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical:
· Carry out delegated 1:1 treatment/practice or teaching programs with patients independently or with the physiotherapist present. Treatment is always provided with or as directed by the physiotherapist
· Be able to use own initiative to adapt treatment programs where necessary to maintain patient care and feedback to appropriate qualified staff in a timely fashion
· To plan, manage and prioritise a defined workload independently with distant guidance from identified supervisor
· Be responsible for organising own clinical caseload and assistant led exercise groups
· Be able to independently evaluate progress of treatment and provide consistent feedback (written or verbal) to qualified staff
Administration:
· To support the administration of the team as required
· To complete necessary statistical information, e.g. daily diary sheets
· To note any faulty equipment and inform qualified staff
· To ensure work areas are kept clean and tidy
Professional:
· To maintain up to date, accurate record keeping of patients notes in line with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy professional guidelines and Trust policies
· Attend Professional meetings as required
· To undertake annual appraisal and to contribute constructively to the supervision process
· To comply with policies and agreed procedures for annual leave, sickness and time owing
· Any other duties as delegated by your Director or Chief Executive commensurate with the responsibilities of this post
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Previous working experience in MH
- Experience of assisting registered professionals
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in MDT settings.
- Knowledge of local community resources
Skills
Essential criteria
- Established and effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to use basic computer programs such as word and excel
- Self and time management skills
Desirable criteria
- Ability to set and maintain personal and professional boundaries
- Ability to act on own initiative and problem solve
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
- Gandhimathy Gopishankar
- Job title
- Head of Physiotherapy for Mental Health
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07773394437
- Additional information
If you'd like to have an informal chat about the position and what it entails, Please contact Gandhimathy Gopishankar in the email [email protected]
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