Job summary
Employer heading
Wheelchair Therapist
NHS Band 6
Job overview
AfC Band 6 Wheelchair Therapist - Worthing locality team
Are you a registered occupational therapist, physiotherapist, healthcare scientist or nurse? Have you ever thought of working in a wheelchair service? Are you keen to make a difference to service users and develop your wheelchair knowledge and skills?
We are looking for a wheelchair therapist to join our specialist team of therapists, rehabilitation engineers, assistants and administration staff to provide a comprehensive service to people of all ages living in the Worthing Locality, with a wide range of disabilities.
Main duties of the job
The role includes assessing clients both jointly and on an individual basis either in clinic or in the community. You will need to have relevant transferable skills, but do not need to have wheelchair experience to apply, as training and support will be provided through our local induction programme, supervision, internal and external training opportunities.
You will need experience of working with people with mobility needs and have an appreciation of the challenges faced by wheelchair users and wheelchair services. An organised, practical and motivated approach is required to meet the needs of the service users, as well as excellent communication skills in liaising with service users, their families and carers, professionals and suppliers. Applicants must hold a full valid driving licence.
Working for our organisation
This role will be based at the Sussex Rehab Centre, on the Brighton General Hospital site and covers patients within the Worthing locality. However, travel across trust sites may be required.
The Sussex Rehabilitation Services' Senior Leadership Team is a friendly, multi-disciplinary group, with a range of clinical experience and backgrounds. We are committed to promoting and championing the teams we support, and focused on the delivery of high quality, safe and effective patient care.
We value compassionate leadership, and aim to deliver this as a supportive, honest and trustworthy team. Opportunities for personal development are encouraged.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
a) To provide high quality, client focussed clinical assessment for and prescription of manual and powered wheelchairs and specialist seating to adults and children.
b) To maximise clients’ function and independence by modifying standard
equipment and prescribing appropriate pressure relief.
c) To provide evidence based clinical assessment and intervention to complex patients who require multi-professional input including specialist seating and rehabilitation engineering.
d) To act as a resource for offering expert advice and clinical input.
e) To provide supervision to students and the unqualified therapy staff
Please see the job description and person specification for more details.
Person specification
Other requirements
Essential criteria
- A valid car driver’s licence
Qualifications and/or professional registration
Essential criteria
- Degree/diploma in OT/Physiotherapy/General Nursing or equivalent from abroad
- State registration
Desirable criteria
- Training in clinical supervision of students/staff
- Member of BAOT/CSPM/ NMC
- Experience of using IT systems e.g. patient information systems
Experience
Essential criteria
- Minimum of 18 months clinical experience of the management of clients with complex needs..
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team and appreciation of the contribution of different professions to Health & Social Care.
Desirable criteria
- Minimum of 12 months clinical experience in physical based services.
- Clinical experience in rehabilitation, clinic and community services.
- Clinical experience in seating and posture management for adults and children.
- Clinical experience of working with adults and children with multiple and complex disabilities.
- Experience in training other professionals, voluntary bodies and the public.
- Experience in undertaking audits and service reviews.
- Experience in the management and clinical supervision of students/staff.
Skills and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Assess, prioritise and provide information and advice for children and adults who have permanent and substantial physical disabilities
- Formulation and treatment goals and carrying out of treatment within an OT/physio/nursing and a multi-disciplinary framework
- Clinical experience of managing diverse/complex caseloads
- Ability to communicate highly sensitive and clinically complex information both written and verbally
- Influence and effect change using a range of skills including negotiation, teaching and assertiveness
- Plan and prioritise own caseload including delegating tasks to support staff
- Effectively time manage in order to deal with a large and varied caseload
- Problem solve OT team/MDT issues and accept responsibility for implementation solutions as a senior team member
- Clear, concise, written and verbal reporting
- Excellent organisational skills in work practice
- Awareness of own level of competency and ability to ask for help appropriately
- Ability to respond appropriately to pressure and to demonstrate coping strategies
- Good health record and physical ability to manage clients with a physical disability
- Commitment to continuous professional development
Desirable criteria
- Recommend environmental adaptations within an individual’s home setting
- Ability to measure the joint ranges of clients with complex disabilities/skeletal deformities as part of clinical reasoning for prescription of specialist equipment and modifications
- Ability to research specialist information and source up to date equipment. Collect, collate and report on data
- Presentation skills
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Emma Lewis
- Job title
- Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07818496517
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