Wheelchair Service Assistant

NHS; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Tees Valley is seeking a Wheelchair Service Assistant to support clinical and administrative functions within the Wheelchair Services Department at Sedgefield Community Hospital. The successful candidate will contribute to effective service delivery through patient interaction, stock management, and administrative duties. The role requires strong communication skills and the ability to work independently while meeting diverse needs. Full UK driving license is essential, and salary ranges from £24,937 to £26,598 a year pro rata.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer services industry.
• Experience working with children and adults with physical and learning disabilities.
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day running of the service providing administrative support.
• Conduct equipment audits and provide demonstrations and instructions.
• Ensure health, safety, and infection control standards are met.

Skills

Exceptional IT skills including spreadsheets and online ordering systems

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Minimum of 4 GCSE passes or equivalent

Tools

Electronic Patient Records

Electronic Purchase Order systems

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Wheelchair Service Assistant

The closing date is 20 January 2026

Following service relocation and service improvement projects, CDDFT Wheelchair Services are recruiting a Service Assistant (Band 3).

The Wheelchair Service Assistant will support the team clinically and with administrative duties. We are looking for a positive, enthusiastic, dynamic and highly organised individual to contribute to the ongoing development of this service.

The role will be based at the Wheelchair Services Department within Sedgefield Community Hospital; you will work Monday - Friday 08:30-16:30.

Elements of the role will be patient facing; therefore you must be able to communicate confidently and professionally with our service users, their families and carers.

This role is part of CDDFT community services, so you must be able to travel independently between trust sites and to patient properties, transporting items of equipment where required.

If you would like to find out more about this role please contact Sally Irvine (Wheelchair Services Clinical Team Lead) on 07803150527 or email [e-mail].

*PLEASE NOTE CERTIFICATES FOR ALL ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS MUST BE PROVIDED AT INTERVIEW.

Main duties of the job

County Durham & Darlington Wheelchair Service provides specialised assessment & provision of equipment for adults & children with mobility, postural & pressure care needs.

The post holder will be responsible for supporting the day‑to‑day running of the service, providing administrative support, undertaking clinical duties and coordinating stock management. Duties include supporting the administrative team with tasks such as appointment bookings, ordering and receipting in of goods.

Attending care homes to complete equipment audits, handing over equipment to service users, providing demonstration and instruction on use.

Organisation and safe storage of stock, ensuring health, safety and infection control standards are met, timely and correct disposal of waste and returned items.

The post holder will be expected to actively contribute to service development including use of new and innovative technologies.

Excellent customer service skills are required to liaise with service users, families and professionals, at times providing direct clinical care and supporting clinicians in clinics and on community visits.

About us

We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester‑Le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.

For the most up‑to‑date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Job responsibilities

• Accurate counting of stock products within the department.
• Putting stock away accurately and tidily in correct locations.
• Disposing of packaging and waste in a timely manner according to trust guidelines.
• Assembling and labelling stock, ensuring it is accessible and rotated/organised according to planned handover appointments.
• Responsible for the maintenance of records associated with the service.
• Responsible for assisting with department reviews to advise on optimum stock quantity levels.
• Taking action to highlight delivery discrepancies, identifying errors and contacting suppliers for a resolution, liaising with prescribing clinician where necessary.
• Alerting clinicians and central appointment team when all items for a service user have arrived to enable handover appointment to be scheduled in a timely manner.
• Supporting the administrative team with admin tasks such as booking appointments and responding to emails and tasks.
• Where email communications are received to notify the team that original products ordered cannot be delivered, liaise with clinicians to identify alternatives and progress orders as quickly as possible.
• Plans and organises workload to ensure deliveries are put away quickly, avoiding possible Health & Safety issues within departments.
• Responsible for the sourcing and ordering of departmental products from multiple sources on varying delivery lead times.
• Understands the role of procurement services, reviews procurement reports and contacts suppliers for updates on deliveries if unexpected delays have been identified.
• Responsible for completing basic handovers of equipment and adjustments/alterations, within clinic and in patients' homes as requested by senior clinical staff.
• Works jointly with clinicians where a second person is required to facilitate safe manual handling and for lone worker requirements.
• Monitors and maintains overview of all items on order, following up with suppliers if there appears to be unexpected delays, escalating concerns about delays to service lead and contacting patients to update them and provide explanation.
• Participate in audits and stock takes as and when requested.
• Clinical records updated following contact with patient, families, relatives and carers and liaison with other professionals specific to patients, along with details and updates regarding patient specific orders and equipment.
• Achieve team and individual agreed targets and objectives.
• Responsible for contributing to the induction of new staff, explaining department processes in their area of work.
• Monitors and reviews stock items stored for one stop shop, requests draw down of consignment stock to ensure appropriate selection of products are available for direct issue.
• Arranges timely collection of returns and equipment not required.
• Provides advice and support to patients, carers, relatives who wish to return items, request repairs or replacement items.
• Frequent exposure to dirty linen, clinical waste bags, samples, unpleasant aromas.
• Providing cover (along with teams administrative colleagues) to ensure goods delivered are receipted on the electronic purchase order system in accordance with individual Trusts procedures and policies allowing payment of invoices. Accurate receipting reduces invoice queries. Any invoice queries received should be dealt with promptly ensuring payment to suppliers and avoiding risk of accounts being placed on hold.
• Responsible for returning goods to suppliers in accordance with individual Trusts procedures.
• Plans workload to ensure all deliveries are receipted promptly and that urgent/priority deliveries are actioned immediately.
• Maintains office records.
• Responsible for maintaining clean, tidy and safe working environments with all products stored, avoiding accidents to persons or goods.
• Actively participates in service development and quality improvement, including advancements in new technologies.

Person Specification

Special Requirements

• Good manual dexterity & grip strength, with the ability to use tools to perform essential assembly and adjustment of equipment.
• Commitment to client‑centred, non‑discriminatory practice.
• Commitment to lifelong learning.
• Must have a full UK driving licence and the ability to travel independently across the county (including clinics and home visits).
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day (including manual handling of patients and inanimate objects), and to work within an environment with competing demands.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 GCSE passes (or equivalent qualification). Must be able to produce certificates at interview.

Experience

• Experience in a customer services industry.
• Experience of working in an administrative role.
• Experience of prioritising own workload independently.
• Experience of working with children and adults with physical, mental health and learning disabilities.
• Experience of using electronic patient records.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Exceptional IT skills including the use of spreadsheets and online ordering systems, email communications.
• Data Entry skills.
• Exceptional communication, organisation, problem solving and motivation skills.
• Knowledge of purchasing and supply activities.
• Experience of electronic Purchase Order / Purchase to Pay systems.
• Involvement in the introduction of new innovative technologies.

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 name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum pro rata