Physiotherapy assistant Emma Jackson sheds light on the varied and often underappreciated responsibilities of physiotherapy support workers and the evolving opportunities.
Support workers in physiotherapy go by many names - physio assistant, technical instructor, therapy assistant - and their responsibilities are just as varied. From patient assessments to administrative support, the scope of practice for support workers ranges widely across organisations and settings. Roles typically span from band 2 to band 4, with emerging opportunities in select band 5 positions.
Versatile roles with variable scope
As physiotherapy support workers, we operate within diverse frameworks that can vary significantly between organisations. While we work closely with physiotherapists to provide patient care, many support workers also see patients independently, conducting assessments or handling discharges. Our work also involves essential administrative duties like ordering equipment, managing patient notes, and coordinating new starters and rotational staff members. Unlike rotational roles, our positions are usually static, which allows us to build deep, practical knowledge of the teams, patients, and specific clinical environments we serve.
Limited career progression but emerging opportunities
One of the main challenges for physiotherapy support workers has been the lack of structured career progression, with many staying at their initial band level despite years of acquired experience and skill. Progression often requires formal training or apprenticeships leading to registered status. Unfortunately, the perception that support work is not a career path in itself has limited opportunities for advancement. However, this is gradually changing.
Forward-thinking organisations are recognising the value that experienced, non-registered support workers bring to their teams, opening new band 5 roles specifically for support workers.
These positions aren’t equivalent to registered band 5 physiotherapy roles but are uniquely designed to leverage the leadership, expertise, and specialised knowledge that seasoned support workers offer. In these roles, support workers help lead their teams, contribute to recruitment and training, and support the supervision of other support workers.
Impact and value in healthcare teams
The introduction of band 5 support roles reflects a promising shift, providing much-needed career development opportunities while enhancing team effectiveness and ensuring better delegation and workload management within the NHS. These roles create fulfilling career paths for support workers and acknowledge the essential role they play in patient care.
If this article resonates with you, sign up for a toolkit on support worker job descriptions to learn more about these evolving roles and opportunities for career development.
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