A apprentice physiotherapy assistant works as part of a healthcare team. As a physiotherapy assistant, you will work under the direction of a physiotherapist to alleviate pain and enhance mobility in sick, disabled, or injured patients. In addition, you will help customers ranging in age from infants to the elderly. You will also be in charge of basic administrative duties, such as monitoring and maintaining equipment and keeping the department clean.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- talk to patients and prepare them for therapy
- show patients how to use mobility aids
- demonstrate and work through exercises with patients
- set up equipment
- keep records of patients’ progress
- provide reports to physiotherapists.
Salary
- The average pay for a physiotherapy assistant in the United Kingdom is £21,176 per year.
- Apprentices start at around £18,545 per year.
Working hours
Your hours as a physiotherapy assistant will vary depending on your work position and company but the average is 40 to 42 hours per week.
Most skilled care facilities and hospitals offer reduced coverage on weekends. Furthermore, many physiotherapy offices, private clinics, and outpatient facilities provide evening and weekend shifts to accommodate patients’ schedules.
Working environment
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a health centre or at a client’s home.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice physiotherapy assistant include:
- Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker – Entry requirements for this level include some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship. This qualification will take 12 months to complete.
Skills
On a physiotherapy apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to be flexible and open to change
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- customer service skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of psychology
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device.
Employers
- Offices of physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and audiologists
- State, local, and private hospitals
- Physician’s offices
- Skilled nursing care facilities
- Government facilities
Professional development
You will get the essential training for the job, including an introduction to the department and its operations and instructions on how to set up and operate the equipment.
You may be offered the option of studying for certifications like as:
- NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
- NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support
Physiotherapy assistants may become associate members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. The Society provides physiotherapy assistants with training, conferences, and seminars to help them improve their abilities and network with others in the industry.
Career prospects
With experience and knowledge, you may move to the team leader role, managing other physiotherapy assistants’ work. You might train as an assistant practitioner or, if you have the relevant qualifications, as a physiotherapist.