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Physiotherapy assistants/support workers

Physiotherapy assistants make a difference to the lives of our patients every day by helping them recover from a range of illnesses and conditions. It is also a route to becoming a physiotherapist. 

"We guide groups of people through exercises and relaxation techniques to help them manage chronic pain. We also teach patients how to use new walking aids, specify the fittings they may need to get around safely at home and run injection clinics for pain relief"  

Tahira Jabeen Razaq, physiotherapy assistant in Birmingham 

Read Tahira's story [1]

physiotherapy assistant with patient

Working life

Working with a physiotherapist, your work could involve:

  • setting up equipment
  • showing patients how to use mobility aids
  • helping patients prepare for treatment (including helping with dressing and undressing)
  • working on exercises with patients
  • writing reports and updating patients’ records

You may work with individuals or groups of all ages and situations with a range of conditions, including

  • neurological (stroke [2], multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's)
  • neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis)
  • cardiovascular [3] (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack)
  • respiratory [4] (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis)

You could be working in

  • outpatients' departments
  • women’s health
  • elderly care
  • stroke [2] services
  • orthopaedics
  • mental health and learning disability services
  • occupational health
  • paediatrics

Some physiotherapy assistants work in the local community. They could be based in health centres. Some treat patients in their own homes, nursing homes, day centres or schools. Others work in private clinics and voluntary organisations or charities.

Apprenticeships logo

As well as working with physiotherapists [5], physiotherapy assistants work with other healthcare professionals including occupational therapists [6], orthopaedic surgeons [7], prosthetists [8], orthotists [8] and nurses [9]. They spend a lot of time with patients.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements for physiotherapy assistants. Employers expect good numeracy and literacy and some experience or qualifications in health or social care. Employers may ask for GCSEs in English and maths. They may ask for a BTEC or equivalent vocational qualification in health and social care.

Employers often ask for relevant work experience. Even where this is not specified, it would be an advantage if you have worked in health or social care, either in paid employment or voluntary work. Apprenticeships [10] in healthcare can provide you with experience to apply for physiotherapy assistant and other support roles.

If you're applying for a role in the NHS, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work.

Personal characteristics and skills needed 

Physiotherapy assistants need to be

  • happy to be hands-on with patients
  • willing to demonstrate exercises
  • able to use gym equipment
  • good listeners
  • calm and understanding
  • happy to talk to and work with groups
  • able to follow procedures
  • able to motivate people
  • willing to work alone or in a team
  • physically fit

You'll also need

  • organisational skills
  • good communication skills
  • ability to explain treatment to patients

Training and development

You will be given the training you need to do the job, including an introduction to the department and its procedures and how to set up and use the equipment.

You may be offered the chance to study for qualifications such as

  • the NCFE CACHE level 2 Certificate in Healthcare Support Services
  • the NCFE CACHE level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support

Physiotherapy assistants can become associate members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy [11]. The Society runs courses, conferences and seminars where physiotherapy assistants can update their skills and network with others doing similar work. 

With experience, you could become a team leader supervising the work of other physiotherapy assistants. You could apply to train as an assistant practitioner or, with the qualifications needed for entry into university, as a physiotherapist.

Pay and benefits

Your standard working week will be around 37.5 hours and may include a mix of shifts, such as nights, early starts, evenings and weekends. You’ll be paid on the Agenda for Change (AFC [12]) pay system, typically starting on band 2.

You’ll also have access to our generous pension scheme and health service discounts, as well as 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, which increases the longer you’re in service.

    • Physiotherapy Assistant

      London, SE5 9RS

      Salary:
      £24210.00 to £25615.00 a year per annum, inc HCA
      Type:
      Fixed term
      Employer:
      King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Physiotherapy Assistant job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Band 2-Rotational Physiotherapy Assistant Static COE,Inpatient Therapy

      Watford, WD18 0HB

      Salary:
      £19612.00 to £20984.00 a year pa including 5% High Cost Area
      Type:
      Fixed term
      Employer:
      West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 2-Rotational Physiotherapy Assistant Static COE,Inpatient Therapy job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Physiotherapy Assistant

      Norwich, NR4 7TD

      Salary:
      Depending on experience
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Spire Healthcare Ltd
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Physiotherapy Assistant job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Physiotherapy Assistant

      Northampton, NN1 5DG

      Salary:
      £21064.00 a year
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      St Andrew’s Healthcare
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Physiotherapy Assistant job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Physiotherapy Assistant

      Exeter, EX2 5AF

      Salary:
      £22,549 - £24,882 per annum pro rata
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Devon Partnership NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Physiotherapy Assistant job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Physiotherapy Assistant

      Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW

      Salary:
      £20330.00 to £21777.00 a year per annum
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Physiotherapy Assistant job (opens in a new window) [18]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Occupational therapist [19]
  • Occupational therapy support worker [20]
  • Physiotherapist [21]
  • Radiography assistants and imaging support workers [22]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-support-worker/roles-healthcare-support-worker/physiotherapy-assistantssupport-workers

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/clinical-support-staff/physiotherapy-assistantssupport-workers/real-life-story-tahir-0
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Stroke
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Cardiovascular
[4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Respiratory
[5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/physiotherapist
[6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/occupational-therapist
[7] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/surgery/trauma-and-orthopaedic-surgery
[8] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/prosthetistorthotist
[9] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing
[10] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/i-am/secondary-school-or-fe-college/apprenticeships-traineeships-and-cadet-schemes
[11] http://www.csp.org.uk/
[12] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#AfC
[13] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917231824
[14] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917229183
[15] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917184661
[16] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917222701
[17] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917182083
[18] https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917220065
[19] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/occupational-therapist
[20] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-support-worker/roles-healthcare-support-worker/occupational-therapy-support-worker
[21] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/physiotherapist
[22] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/healthcare-support-worker/roles-healthcare-support-worker/radiography-assistants-and-imaging-support-workers