Wheelchair Clinical Specialist Therapist

Band 7 Clinical Specialist Wheelchair Therapist

Permanent

30hours per week

Suffolk Wheelchair Service has an exciting opportunity for a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist to join our team in a specialist B7 role, working alongside our Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapist and Rehabilitation Engineering colleagues.

Based in a community setting in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds. You will be providing highly specialist assessment, reassessment and handover of a wide range of wheelchair seating, cushions and accessories, in relation to postural and mobility needs.

Assessments will be undertaken in clinic and in a variety of community venues, so a full driving licence is essential.

For further information contact Mary-Jane Vingoe, Wheelchair Service Clinical Lead on 01473 351805 option 2 and option 2

We work with children from 3 years old and adults with neurological, medical and orthopaedic and surgical conditions, with varying complexity.

The role involves working on Quality Improvement and governance projects, as well as having a proactive role in service development. Delivering training within the team, to other services and as part of the accreditation course for issuing basic wheelchair equipment for post graduate therapists.

You will supervise staff within the team, students and offer clinical advice to our dedicated admin team.

BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Please see the full job description for more information

Job Summary

To provide highly specialist assessment relating to mobility and function in cases of varying complexity. Assessments will be undertaken at a wheelchair clinic, patient’s home, hospital, school or any other appropriate community location.

To be responsible, in conjunction with other members of the multi-disciplinary team or as a lone worker, for prescribing appropriate equipment from a wide range of options - manual and powered wheelchairs, accessories, special seating and pressure relieving cushions.

To determine clinical diagnosis and treatment of complex and highly complex postural needs such as correction and / or prevention of contractures, deformities and other associated health problems, through the use of special seating systems.

To be active in the prevention and / or treatment of pressure sores through the prescription of appropriate seating and / or cushioning, and the provision of specialist advice to clients, carers and other professionals To provide specialist advice and support to colleagues referring to the service.

To take a lead role in the training and accreditation of qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists at post-graduate level to prescribe basic wheelchair equipment.

To provide clinical advice and support to other members of the wheelchair service team and to other health professionals as required.

To assist the Wheelchair service Manager in the day to day management of the team.

**Key Working Relationships**:
Wheelchair Users and their Carers

Wheelchair Service Staff

Staff from Health, Social Care & Education

Wheelchair Contractor

Manufacturers

Job Responsibilities

Communication

To communicate effectively with clients and carers to establish eligibility and maximise the potential of the assessment process. The use of communication skills will be required where there are barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain and learning disability.

To deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients and/or carers within the clinical setting.

To educate wheelchair users, carers, healthcare s