Generic Therapy Assistant Practitioner | East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust


Company:	Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust
Salary:	£28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Ipswich, IP4 5PD
Job type:	Apprenticeship
Posting date:	5 Oct 2026
Closing date:	4 Nov 2026

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Summary

A very exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, innovative and enthusiastic Band 4 Generic Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our Therapy service at Ipswich for a fixed term contract to support over the winter period.

We are looking for an individual who is confident, professional and keen to develop their skills and knowledge under the supervision of qualified therapists, working across the inpatient wards as part of rotational role. Rotation options include Medical, Front door wards, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Surgery and Older Peoples Services.

Please note internal applicants will be offered on a secondment basis only.

• To manage and organise a designated caseload of patients and own professional activities across the hospital wards.

• To provide specific skilled support to the registered therapists in providing technical therapy interventions to patients in a variety of settings.

• To use an evidence-based, person-centred approach in the planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of agreed interventions following guidelines and protocols to promote the functional fitness of patients to aid discharge from hospital in a way that is consistent with their abilities, preferences and cultural beliefs.

• To be able to work flexibly over a 7 day service.

• To communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients using skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, negotiation and empathy. There may be barriers to understanding such as hearing loss, speech difficulty, anxiety, fear and depression.

• To work with patients and carers to identify therapy goals for safe, timely discharge, using specialist, standardised assessment tools to assess their skills deficits and functional needs.

• In collaboration with the patient, to plan and implement a programme of interventions using treatment techniques to meet the patients’ needs for safe discharge.

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes. We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training & development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (if applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills & knowledge, then we want to hear from you. Find out about living & working here www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

For full details of theresponsibilitiesand dutiesof this role please see the attached job description.

This advert closes on Sunday 11 Oct 2026

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