Clinical Lead Wheelchair Therapist

Royal Devon University Healthcare Nhs Foundation Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension

Flexible working

27 days annual leave (rising to 33)

Staff discounts

Job summary

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Exeter is seeking a Clinical Lead Wheelchair Therapist (Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist) to lead the Wheelchair and Specialist Seating Service. You will undertake complex assessments and provide specialist equipment provision with a multidisciplinary team across Devon and surrounding areas.

The role requires HCPC registration, Level 7 qualification or equivalent, and experience in wheelchair services.

Qualifications

• Registered with HCPC as Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist.
• Educated to Level 7 or equivalent knowledge/experience.
• Experience in wheelchair services, specialist seating, posture management or complex rehabilitation.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making.
• Be an effective, supportive clinical leader.
• Excellent communication and multidisciplinary working skills.
• Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Commitment to clinical governance, quality improvement and service development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and undertake specialist wheelchair, postural and seating assessments.
• Manage a complex clinical caseload across clinic, community and domiciliary settings.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to therapy staff.
• Contribute to clinical governance, audit and quality improvement with the Professional Lead.
• Collaborate with physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation engineering colleagues.
• Develop relationships with external partners involved in patient care.

Skills

Leadership

Advanced clinical reasoning

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication

Education

HCPC registration

Level 7 qualification/equivalent

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist to take a leading role in the delivery and development of the Royal Devon Wheelchair and Specialist Seating Service. Based at Exeter Mobility Centre, you will combine advanced clinical practice with leadership, supporting a specialist multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, person-centred care for children and adults with complex mobility, postural and seating needs across Devon and surrounding areas.

Main duties of the job

For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world‑class care to our local communities.

Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as youll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Details

Date posted: 01 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 185-635-14338

Job locations: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8RU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

More detail about the role

As Clinical Lead Wheelchair Therapist, you will provide specialist clinical leadership to the Wheelchair and Specialist Seating Service. You will lead and undertake complex wheelchair, postural and seating assessments, using advanced clinical reasoning to support safe, effective and personalised equipment provision.

You will manage a complex clinical caseload across clinic, community and domiciliary settings, working collaboratively with therapy and rehabilitation engineering colleagues and external partners to identify appropriate solutions for people with a wide range of mobility and postural needs.

You will provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to therapy staff, with line management responsibilities as appropriate to the role. Working alongside the Professional Lead, you will contribute to clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and the ongoing development of the service.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and undertake specialist wheelchair, postural and seating assessments.
• Support the provision of appropriate equipment for children and adults with complex mobility and postural needs.
• Manage a complex clinical caseload across clinic, community and domiciliary settings.
• Apply advanced clinical reasoning and professional judgement when managing complex cases.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and support to therapy staff.
• Undertake line management responsibilities as appropriate to the role.
• Work collaboratively with physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation engineering colleagues.
• Develop effective working relationships with external partners and other services involved in patient care.
• Work with the Professional Lead to support clinical governance, audit and quality improvement activity.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Wheelchair and Specialist Seating Service.
• Promote safe, effective and person-centred practice across the service.

About You

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic clinician who is ready to take on a senior clinical leadership role within a specialist service.

You will:

• Be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist.
• Be educated to Level 7 or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience.
• Have relevant experience in wheelchair services, specialist seating, posture management or complex rehabilitation.
• Be able to demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning and confident decision-making in complex situations.
• Be an effective and supportive clinical leader.
• Have excellent communication and multidisciplinary working skills.
• Be able to work collaboratively across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Be committed to clinical governance, quality improvement and service development.
• Be passionate, and forward thinking, about delivering safe, high-quality and person-centred care.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to take a senior clinical role within a specialist service where you can make a meaningful difference to patient care, team development and the future direction of the service.

You will work alongside experienced therapy and rehabilitation engineering colleagues within a supportive multidisciplinary environment. The role offers the opportunity to maintain specialist clinical practice, develop and support colleagues, and help shape the ongoing development of wheelchair and specialist seating services.

If you are an experienced Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist with an interest in complex mobility, posture management and specialist seating, we would welcome your application. This is an excellent opportunity to bring together advanced clinical practice, leadership and service improvement within a highly specialist area of care.

Working Pattern

Monday to Friday

Interview Date

To Be Confirmed

For further information please contact

Rachael Talbot, Clinical Lead Wheelchair Service at [e-mail] or Jo Turner, EMC Operations Manager at [e-mail]

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Benefits

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you're starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You’ll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You'll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
• Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
• Car lease schemes.
• The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

Desirable

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8RU, United Kingdom

Employer's website: Apply through our website