Therapy Assistant – Creative and Support Therapies
Job Description
Job Title
Therapy Assistant – Creative and Support Therapies
Responsible to
Head of Support and Wellbeing Therapies
Salary £26,228 Pro Rata - £20,982.40 (30 hours) (£13.45 per hour)
Hours Up to 30 hours, negotiable per week
Location Blackburn
KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS
Work pro-actively as a key member of the Support and Wellbeing team, consisting of Creative and Support Therapies, Complementary Therapy, Bathing and Family Support.
Support therapy interventions, and work alongside other disciplines, to include Physiotherapy, Hospice at Home, Clinical Nurse Specialists and the Hospice Inpatient Unit.
• Actively engage with patients and their families to identify what matters most to them, and support them to achieve meaningful outcomes.
• Facilitate and deliver a varied programme of creative, therapeutic and wellbeing activities, both for individuals and groups, tailored to personal needs, preferences and goals.
• Adapt activities in a flexible and responsible way to meet changing physical, emotional and social needs.
• Support participation in activities that promote independence, confidence and emotional wellbeing.
Collaborate with team members in order to plan effective rotas, training activities and annual leave whilst ensuring baseline cover is maintained.
• Pro-actively work with team members to overcome obstacles to access and maintain a flexible approach to provision to meet the needs of individuals and those that matter to them.
Provide verbal and written feedback that is accurate, timely, focused and objective including changes/deterioration in a person’s condition and/or concerns for family/carers.
• Provide physical care for patients as necessary, for example assisting people to access toilet facilities and supporting personal care needs during the Hospice visit.
• Contribute to the support and development of volunteers working within the service.
• Engage with patients, professionals and partner organisations both within the Hospice and community to achieve positive outcomes for those accessing Hospice services.
Demonstrate well developed and effective communication, negotiation and motivational skills; using empathy, tact, sensitivity and discretion when working with individuals and those that matter to them.
Contribute to information collection to meet national minimum data set requirements, organisational reporting, local and national audit, as well as other evaluation programmes.
• Participate in general housekeeping duties to maintain a working environment that is welcoming and safe.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
• Recognise own limitations and respond appropriately ensuring robust lines of responsibility and accountability are maintained at all times, to reduce risk to self and others.
• Maintain appropriate and respectful professional relationships with colleagues and other staff.
• Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, appearance and consistent reliable attendance.
• Ensure that personal actions and conduct apply with Hospice policies and procedures.
Ensure effective use of Hospice resources.
• Work at all times to reduce risk, maximise quality of life and promote independence.
Act as an ambassador for the East Lancashire Hospice promoting at all times our vision which is to help everyone who comes into contact with the Hospice to make the most of life. We do this by committing to Therapy Assistant HB / 15.06.26 / Draft Therapy Assistant HB / 15.06.26 / Draft
our values: to care, listen, respect and work together to support people to live well until they die and support those affected by death.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Participate in mandatory training, supervision and the Hospice appraisal process.
Access training opportunities to improve own knowledge and skills.
• Contribute to the learning and development of colleagues, volunteers and students.
MANAGING SERVICES
• Ensure a safe environment by ensuring the reporting of hazards and incidents, completion of relevant risk assessments, investigation of incidents and implementation of risk reduction measures.
Ensure effective use of all resources within allocated budget.
Contribute ideas and take initiative to develop innovative and engaging activity programmes that enhance the overall service offer.
Work collaboratively with colleagues to continuously improve and evolve the service, ensuring it remains inclusive and impactful.
• Participate in the evaluation of activities and programmes, supporting continuous improvement and evidence-based practice.
MANAGING PEOPLE
Contribute to the induction of new staff and volunteers in accordance with Hospice policy and procedures to ensure they have the appropriate information and training to carry out their role
Contribute to staff development to enhance service delivery.
• Contribute to the day to day support of volunteers and students within the department.
STATUTORY DUTIES
• Ensure the security of information accessed in the course of your duties ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and information governance best practice guidance.
• Report any hazards or incidents in accordance with the Health Safety and Risk Management Policy and procedures.
• Comply with the East Lancashire Hospice ‘no smoking’ policy in all Hospice premises and grounds.
• Be responsible for maintaining own vaccinations including Hepatitis B immunity (as applicable).
• Ensure that infection control measures are followed in relation to your role.
• Work at all times to safeguard the rights of individuals promoting their wellbeing and protecting those at risk from harm, acting on any concerns related to safeguarding children and adults at risk in line with policy and local guidance..
• Work at all times to respect people’s individuality, rights and diversity to ensure equality.
WORKING HOURS
The post holder will work their hours flexibly. These will be worked on a rota basis, up to any 5 days of a 6 day working week.
NOTES
This job description reflects how the post currently meets the needs of the service. Since the Hospice is constantly developing and changing its services to ensure it meets the needs of the community it serves, the role and responsibilities of the post holder may change accordingly.
This job description will be reviewed annually at the annual PDR and may change as is deemed necessary.
Equality and Diversity
We support an inclusive and holistic working environment and aim to empower our people to bring their authentic self to work. We are committed to this and so encourage applications from all individuals with the required skills for the role inclusive of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy Therapy Assistant HB / 15.06.26 / Draft
and maternity, race, colour, caste, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, socio-economic background, trade union membership status, marriage, and civil partnerships. East Lancashire Hospice is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and volunteers.
ACCEPTANCE OF JOB DESCRIPTION
I confirm I accept the duties contained in the above job description.
PRINT NAME: .
SIGNED: DATE:
EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPICE Person Specification
| Date 15 June 2026 | Post Therapy Assistant – Creative and Support Therapies | Recruiting Manager Head of Support and Wellbeing Therapies | ||
| Qualifications | Criteria Q1 Educated to GCsE level (or equivalent) in English and | Essential Desirable Q1 | Tested By All by Application | |
| Maths (Grade C/4 or above) | ||||
| Q2 NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent) in a related field | Q2 | |||
| discipline | Q3 Foundation degree, or higher qualification, in a relevant | Q3 | ||
| Experience | Q4 Training in communication or therapeutic approaches | Q4 | ||
| E1 Experience supporting individuals with long term or life limiting conditions | Q1 | Application | ||
| E2 Experience assisting with delivery of therapeutic or care-based activities | Q2 | Interview | ||
| E3 Experience of working effectively individually and within a team | Q3 | Interview | ||
| Knowledge | E4 Experience facilitating group activities or creative programmes | Q4 | Interview | |
| K1 Computer systems and Microsoft packages | K1 | Application | ||
| K2 East Lancashire Hospice and the services it provides | K2 | Interview | ||
| K3 Facilities within the community served by the Hospice | K3 | Interview | ||
| K4 Understanding of the value of creative and therapeutic interventions | K4 | Interview | ||
| Skills | S1 Ability to facilitate creative and therapeutic activities confidently | S1 | Application | |
| S2 Strong communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively | S2 | Interview | ||
| S3 Ability to maintain accurate patient and organisational records | S3 | Interview | ||
| S4 Ability to recognise own level of competency, boundaries of role and scope for personal and service development | S4 | Interview | ||
| and improvement S5 Ability to work with warmth and empathy in a | S5 | Interview | ||
| non-judgemental, person-centred, compassionate and empowering way | ||||
Therapy Assistant HB / 15.06.26 / Draft
| Personal Attributes | S6 Excellent time management skills; reliable and punctual | S6 | Interview | |
| PA1 Dynamic, proactive, self-motivated with the ability to work without direct supervision | PA1 | Application | ||
| PA2 Creative, forward-thinking, imaginative and confident in taking the initiative and generating new ideas | PA2 | Interview | ||
| PA3 Committed to improving experiences and outcomes for patients and their families | PA3 | Interview | ||
| PA4 Adaptable, willing to embrace change, accept and act on constructive feedback | PA4 | Interview | ||
| PA5 Flexible approach to working hours across the week including occasional evenings/weekends | PA5 | Application | ||
| PA6 Commitment to the Hospice's ethos and the need to contribute to organisation-wide activities to achieve | PA6 | Application | ||
| publicity and fundraising goals PA7 Car driver with access to a vehicle and a willingness to travel as required in role (or working towards) | PA7 | Application | ||
| when required | PA8 Willingness to work across other Hospice services as and | PA8 | Interview | |