Therapy Technical Instructor ESDO

Therapy Technical Instructor ESDO

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

We are looking for a skilled and experienced Therapy Technical Instructor to join our Early Supported Discharge Orthopaedics (ESDO) team at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. The role supports qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists and will be full time 37.5hrs, including weekend rota in Trauma and Orthopaedics. This is a fixed‑term contract covering maternity leave, ending on 29 Nov 2026.

• Assist in the development of ESDO team therapy services by supporting therapists in the assessment and treatment of patients and day‑to‑day running of the therapy environment.
• Accept patients referred by a therapist and manage own patient caseload. Treat patients according to set protocols, monitor progress and alter programmes within scope of practice.
• Work unsupervised regularly, reporting back patient progress and informing the therapist of any problems.
• For a defined group of patients, undertake assessment using investigative and analytical skills; use clinical reasoning to formulate treatment programmes.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, serving a population of around 500,000 people.

• Date posted: 07 January 2026
• Pay scheme:
  Agenda for change
• Band: 4
• Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 a year pro‑rated
• Contract:
  
  Fixed term (9 months)
• Working pattern:
  Full‑time 37.5 hrs, including weekends
• Location:
  
  Royal Cornwall Hospital – Early Supported Discharge Orthopaedics, Truro, TR1 3LJ
• Reference number: 156‑7654759

• Good general education up to GCSE or equivalent; NVQ Level III or BTEC national diploma in an appropriate area or related qualification.
• Comprehensive experience working in an acute healthcare setting.
• Experience as a therapy technician/assistant, managing an independent caseload.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate with patients with impaired communication abilities.
• Can work on own initiative and manage own caseload.
• Able to travel to other hospital sites and undertake home visits; access to a vehicle for travelling between sites and treating patients at home.
• Up‑to‑date mandatory training; willing to undertake necessary training and train others.
• Ability to undertake the physical demands: moving and handling patients and equipment, kneeling, sitting on heels, moving inert adult limbs, supporter while walking, manual handling, transferring patients, pushing wheelchairs, using hoists.

• Evidence of recent study (e.g., anatomy and physiology ITEC, access to occupational/physiotherapy therapy course).
• Experience with post‑operative bracing, gait education and post‑op exercise programmes.
• Commitment to working at RCHT, including 7‑day working and managing risks of unsupervised work.
• Previous trauma and orthopaedic experience as a Band 4.
• Previous NHS experience as a Band 4.
• Experience in empathy, motivation and persuasion of patients with impaired cognitive abilities or physical senses.
• Additional NHS experience.

Applications must include identity checks, professional registration and qualification checks, employment history and reference checks, occupational health clearance, Disclosure and Barring Service check, and right to work in the UK.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all backgrounds.