Rehabilitation Engineer

North Bristol NHS Trust; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Rehabilitation Engineer (Band 7) to join the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service. The role involves prescribing and supplying wheelchair accessories and seating, applying engineering principles to design and fit adaptations, and leading service developments.

The post involves community-based work across BCE and clinics with extensive travel in the Bristol area. An engineering degree and HCPC/RCT registration are required, with potential for flexible

Qualifications

• Degree in an appropriate engineering discipline (e.g., mechanical, electronic engineering) or equivalent work-based experience.
• Registered as a Clinical Technologist on the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT) or the Academy of Healthcare Science (ACHS) register; or registered as a Clinical Scientist on the HCPC register.
• IPEM Training Scheme for Clinical Technologists in Health Care Science/Degree in Clinical Engineering (UWE).

Responsibilities

• Prescribe and supply wheelchairs accessories and specialist seating to clients referred to the service.
• Apply mechanical and bio-engineering knowledge to assess and design, fit and adjust specialised adaptations to wheelchairs and seating equipment.
• Lead technical and service developments within the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service.

Skills

Computer literacy

Driving licence

Risk assessments

Adverse Incident Reports

Supervision

Technical reporting

Education

Engineering degree

RCT/ACHS/HCPC registration

IPEM Training Scheme

Tools

CAD software

Job description

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

We are looking for Rehabilitation Engineers, B7 level with excellent existing skills and experience to join our team here at Bristol Centre for Enablement, near Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. This is a full time role but flexible working options may be available.

We are a large team of clinical, support and admin staff and cover a large area of Bristol and Bath. We are a busy fast paced service, but with support from the team and opportunities for training and development.

Main duties of the job

Main duties are the prescription and supply of wheelchair accessories and special seating to clients referred to the service.

The work can involve the application of mechanical & bio-engineering knowledge and technical principles to assess, provide solutions and assume responsibility for the designing, fitting and adjusting of specialised adaptations to wheelchairs, specialist seating equipment and other associated equipment to meet the clinical requirements of patients, maximising their independence, functionality, quality of life and management of posture.

The post holder will provide assistance in leading technical and service developments within the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service.

The post is community based, working at BCE, satellite clinics, hospitals, hospices, residential and nursing homes, schools and colleges and patients homes and workplaces. Extensive travel is required in and around Bristol, North Somerset, B&NES and Gloucestershire.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Education and qualifications

• A degree or equivalent in an appropriate engineering discipline (e.g., mechanical, or electronic engineering, applied science) or equivalent work-based experience
• Registered as a Clinical Technologist on the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT) or the Academy of Healthcare Science (ACHS) register; or registered as a Clinical Scientist on the Health and Social Care Professionals (HCPC) register
• IPEM Training Scheme for Clinical Technologists in Health Care Science/Degree in Clinical Engineering (UWE)

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Computer literacy in general Windows utilities and competency in Microsoft Teams, Word, Outlook, Excel etc
• A current valid manual driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• Experience of completion of risk assessments and Adverse Incident Reports
• Undertake advanced levels of assessment, prescription and supply of wheelchairs and special seating equipment
• Ability and experience of supervision and direction of others, formally and informally.
• Produce informative clinical and technical reports and working drawings in regard to technical aspects of provision and modification

Experience

• Significant post-qualification experience in the engineering industry where the work experience has been in a responsible engineering position
• At least 3 years directly working in healthcare as a Rehabilitation Engineer
• Significant wide-ranging mechanical engineering experience in design and manufacture
• Working directly within a wheelchair or posture service role, using significant wheelchair and seating product knowledge
• Practical working knowledge of at least one CAD software package
• Experience of service development projects
• Ability to work within a team environment as well as an independent and autonomous professional.
• Advanced communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Cope with potentially distressing circumstances whilst working with patients with: Rapidly deteriorating, life limiting and terminal conditions; A wide range of disabilities with diverse needs and expectations

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.

BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.

If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

IMPORTANT:

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.