Physiotherapy is an evidence based holistic approach to health and wellbeing, working in collaboration with partner organisations to improve quality of living. Timely intervention is provided through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education, and advice that is targeted to meet the service users’ needs and preferences. The Band 3 Physiotherapy Technical Instructors support Physiotherapists’ who have expert knowledge and skill which enables the provision of personalised intervention to:

  • Manage pain
  • Minimise disease impact: respond to early signs
  • Maximise self-management: provide intervention and education to empower service users to self-direct condition management.
  • Promote wellbeing
  • Avoid preventable complications

Qualifications and Experience Required:

An NVQ level 3 in a health related subject is essential as well as previously working within a therapy environment as a therapy assistant. Many colleges within the North East offer courses to support progression. It is also essential to have a GCSE in English and Numeracy to level 1 or the equivalent.

What are the expectations of a Physiotherapy Technical Instructor (TI)?

The role of a B3 TI is to work as part of the Physiotherapy team offering support and assistance to qualified Physiotherapy staff. At times working independently, TI’s can carry out specific delegated Physiotherapy treatments following professional standards, ensuring safe, high quality and efficient care. Advice from an Expert Physiotherapist is available if needed. You are expected to maintain and build upon your skills under the guidance of Expert Physiotherapists through training.

As a Physiotherapy Technical Instructor (TI) what types of clinical services could I work in?

The Band 3 TI roles are in varied settings and across multiple specialities. The Physiotherapy service provides a broad range of specialist services including respiratory, elderly care, cardiac, musculoskeletal, neurology, orthopaedics, paediatrics and women’s health; each is led by an Expert Physiotherapist. This is offered across South Tyneside and Sunderland in various settings including hospital wards, hospital outpatient clinics inpatient and the community. This means that we can ensure that service users are provided with the most effective treatment for their problem in a place most suited to meet need.

What courses can I access specific to my role?

In House:

Health Care Certificate: An in-house, mandatory, multi-disciplinary training programme completed over a 6 month period that helps individuals that are new to their role define their knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of their specific job.

Appraisals: When you start work you will be assigned an appraiser who will provide yearly appraisals. This will support core values, behaviours, knowledge and skill required to fulfil the requirements of the post.

Clinical: Within your allocated team, there will be regular informal training which is ran by Physiotherapists so therefore, it will be specialised to the area of your work. There will be many opportunities for supervised working and peer support helping to aid personal and professional development.

External training:

The service provides support through time and funding for courses external to the Trust; requests need to be discussed with your line manager.

Who do I contact about my continuing professional development?

Please speak to your line manager to discuss and agree learning plans. The workforce team may be able to offer further signposting at the email address below for stsft.cpd@nhs.net

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