Apprentice Physiotherapy Assistant — NHS 14-Month Program

*This is a fixed term contract for 14 months*

You will be enrolled with a local education provider and will be required to complete your Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship Standard qualification within the duration of the placement.

We have an exciting opportunity for three Apprentice Physiotherapy Assistants to join our Physiotherapy Department, with roles within our Older Persons Medicine and Respiratory Inpatient Teams and a role in our Musculoskeletal Outpatients Team.

In outpatients our apprentice will support the musculoskeletal physiotherapy team by undertaking a wider range of administrative and housekeeping tasks than a ward based physiotherapy apprentice. So, in addition to working with patients alongside our team in clinics or gym + hydrotherapy classes, your day will include preparing our treatment rooms and stocking up equipment, undertaking and recording equipment + department safety checks, supporting our housekeeper to manage deliveries and contacting patients about appointments and booking appointments.

Excellent communication skills are essential as you will be working as part of a team and with a caseload of patients with possible complex communication needs.

Full time: 37.5 hrs per week

Interview date: 9th April 2026

- To assist qualified physiotherapists with patient care and rehabilitation

- To teach and supervise simple exercise programs prescribed by a qualified physiotherapist or assistant practitioner

- To assist with holistic patient care

- To promote and encourage independent and restoration of function

- To prepare the treatment area and tidy up after patients in line with trust policy

- To communicate responsibly and effectively with patients and carers.

- To communicate with the physiotherapist and other members of the multidisciplinary team regarding the patient’s condition or other relevant information

- Continue personal development in relation to identified objectives.

- Undertake and successfully complete the Level 2 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare support within the 13 month contract of employment

Please note this job is an apprenticeship role, on completion of which you will have achieved the Level 2 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support. This does not result in a Physiotherapy qualification.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
• Flexible working hours
• Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
• Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
• Discounted gym memberships
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
• Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
• Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
• On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
• On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
• Support in career development
• Flexible staff bank
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

In our inpatient roles you will be working within a team of Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy Assistants within busy ward environments to support early mobilisation and acute rehabilitation for patients who are being medically optimised prior to discharge. This could include supporting mobility practice, completion of exercise programmes, supporting qualified staff with patient assessments as well as undertaking a variety of non-clinical tasks such as data capture, documentation and stocking up equipment to support the delivery of physiotherapy services to our patients. Our ward based patients may have drips, drains, wounds and may need support with personal care- this role is largely hands on.

We as a Trust encourage and support your progression beyond your Apprenticeship and will be here to help!

We welcome applications from individuals wishing to become an Apprentice and gain experience in the NHS. You will develop new skills and knowledge whilst working with an established team gaining valuable work experience and a recognised apprenticeship qualification.

Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria:

All applicants must be:

• Aged 16+

• Resident in the UK/EEA for the last three consecutive years

• Must not have a qualification in a similar subject at the same level or above

• Must not be in any form of formal government-funded education upon the start of their apprenticeship

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Good general standard of education

• 4 GCSE’s at Grade D/3 or above (or equivalent) subject to the job specification

• Good standard of literacy and numeracy

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Good IT skills

We are very proud of our Apprentice success rates, with 92% of Apprentices successfully obtaining a substantive post within the Trust at the end of their Apprenticeship contract, and 98% of Apprentices having further plans in place following their Apprenticeship e.g. going on to further education, joining the NNUH staff bank or obtaining employment at another organisation.

Please view the attached job description for full details of the role, and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.

Please note due to high volume of applications for some posts, this post may close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role asap.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 6131 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer). The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.


This advert closes on Wednesday 25 Mar 2026