Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our award winning Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team (REACT) as a Healthcare & Therapy Assistant (HTA).
REACT is based within the community and assesses and supports patients experiencing a short-term 'crisis' to remain in their own home, avoiding an emergency admission to hospital where possible. The integrated, multi-agency team covers a varied caseload, and you will join a team of Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Doctors, healthcare & therapy assistants, social workers and staff from Suffolk Family Carers, Citizens Advice and British Red Cross.
The REACT Service provides 24-hour support, with shifts that will include early, late, nights, weekend and bank holiday working. With a reablement approach our Healthcare & Therapy Assistants support people to regain their level of Independence with activities of daily living.
Please note the successful applicant will be offered either at a Band 2 or Band 3 level depending on your previous experience & qualifications.Band 2 - you are required to have had minimum 12 months care experience but no qualifications required. You will be required to complete the Accelerated Care Certificate to progress to a Band 3. Band 3 - you are required to of had a minimum 6 months NHS experience as well as completing the NHS Care Certificate.
Main duties of the job

• To develop and maintain a flexible, proactive and positive approach to the role, whilst being innovative and open to change in working practices.
• To take responsibility and ownership of high-quality service delivery, to foster a culture of integrity, be an ambassador for REACT raising the profile for the service and support ESNEFTs trust values.
• Manage an effective interface with colleagues from health, social care and voluntary care services to ensure an integrated approach to a patient centred care.
• Support clinicians by completing delegated tasks, to meet the individual needs of patients and service users. Gaining skills through training, to support areas of, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Dietetics, Mental Health, Medicines and Social Care.
• Work in collaboration with patients and their carers, healthcare professionals and agencies, to ensure a joined up and integrated approach to patient care.
• Support end of life and long term life limiting conditions, aimed at reducing unnecessary admissions to hospital or long-term care.
• The role will include providing one to one support with patients in their home environment supporting all aspects of personal care and daily activities, using a reablement approach.

Please watch our YouTube video about the service:REACT - YouTube
About us
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Details
Date posted
20 January 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 2
Salary
24,465 to 26,598 a year per annum pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
432-HR1177-25
Job locations
Constantine House
Ipswich
IP1 2DH
Job description
Job responsibilities
You must hold a valid UK driving licence and be able to travel to patients homes using either their own car or one of the teams pool cars. Both teams work across Ipswich and East Suffolk, with a central base in Ipswich with proposed plans for further bases in Woodbridge and Stowmarket.
Find out more about working for us in REACT as a Healthcare and Therapy Assistant. https://esneft.pagetiger.com/dwmzbmf/1
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. Job description
Job responsibilities
You must hold a valid UK driving licence and be able to travel to patients homes using either their own car or one of the teams pool cars. Both teams work across Ipswich and East Suffolk, with a central base in Ipswich with proposed plans for further bases in Woodbridge and Stowmarket.
Find out more about working for us in REACT as a Healthcare and Therapy Assistant. https://esneft.pagetiger.com/dwmzbmf/1
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NHS Care certificate
• Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
• Level 3 vocational qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake
• Willingness to undertake further study

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience in an NHS healthcare setting.

Knowledge
Essential

• Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patients, relatives and carers.
• Awareness of the nature of the carers role in assisting patients to fulfil basic human needs
• Knowledge of clinical procedures and observations
• Knowledge of relevant legislation

Desirable

• Understanding of risk management, health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.

Skills
Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work as part of team and take instruction from senior staff
• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Ability to support junior staff members

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• NHS Care certificate
• Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
• Level 3 vocational qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake
• Willingness to undertake further study

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience in an NHS healthcare setting.

Knowledge
Essential

• Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patients, relatives and carers.
• Awareness of the nature of the carers role in assisting patients to fulfil basic human needs
• Knowledge of clinical procedures and observations
• Knowledge of relevant legislation

Desirable

• Understanding of risk management, health and safety issues, including safe manual handling.

Skills
Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work as part of team and take instruction from senior staff
• Full UK Driving Licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Ability to support junior staff members

Skills Required