Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Assistant Practitioner to join our Suffolk Stroke Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Team.

The Stroke Early Supported Discharge service provides specialist individualised stroke rehabilitation, in order to support stroke patients and their carers' in the first 6 weeks of discharge from hospital to home.

We are looking for a passionate Band 4 Assistant Practitioner for a part time, permanent position. We work as an interdisciplinary team, which operates 7 days a week [with one weekend work every 6-8 weeks according to the service weekend rota]. The interdisciplinary team consists of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Stroke Specialist Nurse, Clinical Neuropsychologist, Assistant Practitioners and Rehabilitation Assistants.

The ideal candidate will be someone who is passionate about helping patients to improve their quality of life and recover following their stroke, and who can collaborate well with other team members.

Sponsorship for Skilled Worker Visa not Available

Please note that a Certificate of Sponsorship is not available for this position as it does not meet one or more of the required criteria. For more information on eligible roles please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Main duties of the job

You will be supported by Senior Therapists and the Multidisciplinary team and adequate training and support will be provided. You will be provided with regular supervision and a structured training programme to allow you to develop your knowledge and skills in the area of specialist stroke rehabilitation with support from qualified clinicians and the wider inter-disciplinary teams. You will work closely with patients and their families and carers to deliver individualised rehabilitation care plans.

The successful candidate will have access to both the Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich offices and will be expected to travel across the whole of the county of Suffolk, however, your official base of work will be at Allington Clinic in Ipswich.

We offer a very supportive approach to personal development and the opportunity to be a key part of shaping the future of how therapy services for stroke patients are delivered.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted

27 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£28,392 to £31,157 a year pro rata, per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-8369791-I

Job locations

Disability Resource Centre

Bury St Edmunds

IP32 7BX

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification attached to see the full job details for this job role.

Job description Job responsibilities Please see the full job description and person specification attached to see the full job details for this job role.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

• Foundation degree in healthcare, or equivalent
• NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject with evidence of post qualification further study equivalent to a diploma level
• NVQ level 4 in a relevant subject with evidence of work-based experience in a relevant area
• GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 or above

Desirable

• Care certificate
• Completion of STARS stroke competencies

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working within a care/rehabilitation setting

Desirable

• Experience of working at a similar level in a related field of health care
• Previous community experience or experience of working within a stroke or rehabilitation environment
• Knowledge of the role of other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience managing own workload in a team setting.
• Ability to lead group activity sessions

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Understanding of the needs of patients undergoing rehabilitation
• Good organisational skills
• Able to communicate effectively
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Desirable

• IT Skills
• Ability to plan and deliver range of rehabilitation interventions.
• Ability to involve individuals in a person-centred approach to care

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means

Person Specification Education & Qualification Essential Foundation degree in healthcare, or equivalent NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject with evidence of post qualification further study equivalent to a diploma level NVQ level 4 in a relevant subject with evidence of work-based experience in a relevant area GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 or above Desirable Care certificate Completion of STARS stroke competencies Experience & Knowledge Essential Experience of working within a care/rehabilitation setting Desirable Experience of working at a similar level in a related field of health care Previous community experience or experience of working within a stroke or rehabilitation environment Knowledge of the role of other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Experience managing own workload in a team setting. Ability to lead group activity sessions Skills & Abilities Essential Understanding of the needs of patients undergoing rehabilitation Good organisational skills Able to communicate effectively Ability to work independently and as part of a team Desirable IT Skills Ability to plan and deliver range of rehabilitation interventions. Ability to involve individuals in a person-centred approach to care Personal Qualities Essential Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Disability Resource Centre

Bury St Edmunds

IP32 7BX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Disability Resource Centre

Bury St Edmunds

IP32 7BX

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)