NHS role

Therapy Assistant

Supports physiotherapists, occupational therapists or speech & language therapists in helping patients recover function and independence.

Salary
£25,760–£27,476
NHS demand
Steady
Next step
Assistant Practitioner

Already here? This is my role →

CareRoute Career Score™
Excellent
relative to other NHS roles

Strong on flexibility and work–life balance; held back by AI resistance.

Salary growth80

Can reach ~£80,000 via Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead.

Job security57

Large workforce (~100,669); stable (+0% YoY).

AI resistance55

Moderately resistant to automation — mixed work.

Work–life balance95

Strong work–life balance; regular hours.

Entry access81

Easy entry — low study load, moderate competition.

Flexibility98

5 onward routes; good flexible-working scope.

Career Score™ is CareRoute's own indicative rating from public NHS-style data — not an official NHS ranking. A composite of six factors; same inputs always give the same score.

Salary
£25,760–£27,476
Next step
Assistant Practitioner
Avg progression
~2 yrs
NHS demand
Steady
Study required
Low
Flexibility
Excellent
Why we scored it 76: Strong on flexibility and work–life balance; held back by AI resistance.

What you'd do

  • Support therapy sessions and exercise programmes
  • Prepare equipment and treatment areas
  • Record patient progress
  • Help patients practise daily-living tasks

Is this you?

You enjoy helping people and working as part of a team
You want hands-on NHS experience
You're drawn to therapies (allied health)
You value secure, structured public-sector work

Typical progression routes

Indicative routes from the career graph — not usage data.

Your salary roadmap

Indicative pay on the highest-reaching route, by year.

£25,760
Yr 0
£27,476
Yr 2
£32,073
Yr 4
£34,592
Yr 6
£49,387
Yr 8
See how to reach £79,504

Skills & requirements

Skills you'll use in this role
Rehabilitation supportPatienceMotivationObservation
What you'll need for your next step → Occupational Therapist
  • Maths & English GCSE (grade 4/C) or equivalent
  • BSc Occupational Therapy (HCPC-approved)
  • UCAS / university application (degree route)
  • Funding or apprenticeship sponsorship
  • HCPC registration (allied health professional)
Latest intelligence

Guides & updates

We're writing in-depth therapies (allied health) guides — pay, entry routes and progression. In the meantime, explore the roles and career map above.

FAQ

Questions, answered straight

Band 3 on the 2026/27 Agenda for Change scale — indicative figures; verify against official NHS sources.
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Where to look next

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