Hand Therapy Assistant

Job OverviewWe are seeking a Band 4 Hand Therapy Assistant to join our integrated Hand Therapy team made up of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists.The successful candidate will have a proven background of at least Band 2/3 level or the equivalent, within the acute hospital therapy, community rehabilitation or rehabilitation hospital. We may consider applicants with a proven background of relevant studies and experience in a related field e.g. sport therapy or sports science.We are managed within the Occupational Therapy service, where we have a strong leadership structure, with a head of service and principal hand therapist dedicated to the hands service, as well as site lead OT's on each main site and specialty team leads. Come and join us and be part of our friendly and supportive department.Ours staff receive regular support through formal and informal supervision, appraisals and training.Our broad and varied workload offers every opportunity to further your experience and our location is great - set within 1-hour commuting distance of London. In fact, no other department will offer you more.Main duties of the jobTo work as an integral and active part of the Hand Therapy and multi-disciplinary team.Be responsible for supporting the Hand Therapy team in the provision of a patient centred service, in an efficient and cost effective way.Responsibilities are in clinical management of patients and relevant documentation.Contribute to the continued development and maintenance of efficiency and safety in the Hand Therapy Department.Be flexible at times of increased capacity to the serviceWorking for our organisationFrimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.Frimley Health Trust benefits on VimeoDetailed Job Description And Main ResponsibilitiesDemonstrate a courteous and helpful approach to patients and their families, ensuring patients feel reassured and supported.Take patient phone calls and seek advice from relevant specialist therapists when appropriate, and to use reassurance skills that require tact and persuasion on occasions.To maintain accurate clinical records, ensuring compliance with hospital, Frimley Health, professional standards and local guidelines.Report untoward incidents, accidents, complaints and any other relevant information to specialist therapists immediately.Participate fully as a team member, sharing knowledge and information and supporting colleagues, to promote a cohesive team.To attend and be an active member in speciality and department staff meetings.To use interpreters when required to ensure effective communication occurs with patients who are hard of hearing or do not speak/understand enough English for the purposes of consent and cooperation for treatmentFor more information please see attached job description and person specificationPerson specificationQualificationsEssential criteriaGCSE or equivalent qualification in English and Mathematics.NVQ Level 3 or equivalentExperienceEssential criteriaLeading and delivering exercises to an individual and group.Experience of working directly with patientsExperience as Band 2/3 Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy assistant within an NHS setting or equivalent private health settingDesirable criteriaExperience in exercise prescription, implementation and progression with patient or clients.Skills & KnowledgeEssential criteriaInterpersonal skills to include concise and effective verbal and written communication.Working within a teamExperience of working directly with patientsOrganisational skills – ability to prioritise and manager day.IT skillsAbility to conduct and respond to risk assessments.Desirable criteriaEvaluating outcomes of exercise or use of equipmentKnowledge of anatomy / physiology.Knowledge of Hand therapy conditions, orthopaedics and outpatient services.Negotiation skills – to be able to overcome barriers to exercise.Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values – Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.Alongside estates’ investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.Apply online now