Wheelchair Service Team Lead / Clinical Specialist

NHS; Hereford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Wheelchair Service Team Lead / Clinical Specialist

An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead this service due to early retirement. The Service has roughly 2,000 active users including children and adults.

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist (OT), Physiotherapist or Rehab Engineer (RE). Experience of working within wheelchair services is essential. You will be joining a small but enthusiastic and friendly team consisting of 3 OTs, 1 Therapy Support Worker and administrative staff. Supported by a peripatetic RE from The West Midlands Rehab Centre, providing the regional specialist hub to the 12 District Wheelchair services in the West Midlands.

The post holder will have access to a regular supportive regional network of wheelchair service managers driving service developments and improvements.

The team has actively developed and expanded over recent years with scope for further service development. The post provides a mix of complex clinical caseload and service management. We operate through both clinic settings and home visits and have a number of specialist care homes in the area with clients with complex posture. We aim to promote 24 hour postural management and grow good networks for MDT joint working, with proactive links across the acute and community services.

Proactive participation in practice placement education and attendance at PMG is available. We are committed to continuing professional development, in-service training and clinical supervision.

Main duties of the job

The Wheelchair Therapist is responsible for high quality, person-focused assessment prescription of wheelchairs, pressure care, buggies and accessories to clients of all ages (including carers where appropriate) in their own homes, clinic settings and other community environments.

Carry out detailed assessment of mobility, posture, seating needs, skin and environment. Collaboratively agree outcomes, prescribe appropriate equipment, fit and adjust to meet client's needs. Providing instruction in safe use, care, and maintenance.

Excellent clinical knowledge of 24 hour postural management and pressure mapping. Understanding the properties of the pressure care available to the service.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of product ranges available to wheelchair services. Clinical use, review of product range used within the service for suitability of purpose, safety and durability. Knowledge of prescription, ordering systems, lead times, and the modifications available to the equipment range within the guidelines set by the MHRA.

Ensure clients and carers are trained in the safe handling of wheelchairs/accessories. Involving manual handling of wheelchairs and other equipment.

Knowledge of how the PWB scheme works within the service. Advising clients about the scheme and what would be appropriate for their needs.

Provide clinical advice and guidance to other therapists on selecting suitable wheelchairs and seating equipment, providing MDT training of standard wheelchair prescription.

About us

Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire NHS FT, the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.

We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care we'd want for our family and friends.

More than 3,500 people work for the Trust - they tell us it's a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.

We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.

Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: "The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential."

Our values - Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time...all the time.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description for full details of main job description and responsibilities for the role.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

• Professional Qualification to degree level or equivalent in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy or Engineering
• HCPC registered or registered clinical technologist with RCT or academy of health care science in the field of Rehab Engineering
• Evidence of or willingness to undertake further training at Masters level

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Broad, developed and advanced knowledge of relevant patient conditions and therapy interventions
• Demonstration of knowledge of core and highly specialist Therapy skills
• Extensive evidence of ongoing CPD in relevant area
• Experience of multi-disciplinary communication, assessments and record keeping
• Computer Skills including word processing and e-mail
• Able to make independent, sound, advanced clinical decisions and problem solve
• Able to manage and facilitate others in dealing with busy case load and prioritise
• Ability to work autonomously using highly specialist knowledge, skills and initiative in sometimes complex situations acknowledging role boundaries

Experience

• Extensive NHS or equivalent experience in specialist area e.g. in inpatient areas, acute or community services
• Experience of team leadership, management and positive role modelling
• Student practice placement educator and experience of having students
• Experience of using/fitting adaptive equipment
• Supervisory experience

Personal Attributes

• Able to maintain confidentiality and professionalism within the environment that they are working
• Able to demonstrate awareness of own limitations and need to ask for help
• Evidence of ability to communicate effectively including difficult conversations
• Committed to personal and team development
• Ability to adapt and demonstrate flexibility in changing service needs
• Is dynamic and proactive
• Shows evidence of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence
• Reliable

Other Factors

• Ability to fulfil the travel requirements of post
• Able to meet physical & moving and handling requirements of post. i.e. re-positioning of a patient, use of moving & handling equipment, approved manual physical movement practices of patient
• Able to deal sensitively and safely with blood and bodily fluids

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.