Job summary
Band 6 Wheelchair Therapist - Bognor/ Horsham/ Brighton/ Worthing locality teams
Are you a registered occupational therapist, physiotherapist, healthcare scientist or nurse? Have you ever thought of working in a wheelchair service? Are you keen to make a difference to service users and develop your wheelchair knowledge and skills?
We are looking for a wheelchair therapist to join our specialist team of therapists, rehabilitation engineers, assistants and administration staff to provide a comprehensive service to people of all ages with a wide range of disabilities.
This role will be based at the Bognor and/ or Horsham Locality. However, travel across localities may be required.
Main duties of the job
The role includes assessing clients both jointly and on an individual basis either in clinic or in the community. You will need to have relevant transferable skills, but do not need to have wheelchair experience to apply, as training and support will be provided through our local induction programme, supervision, internal and external training opportunities.
You will need experience of working with people with mobility needs and have an appreciation of the challenges faced by wheelchair users and wheelchair services. An organised, practical and motivated approach is required to meet the needs of the service users, as well as excellent communication skills in liaising with service users, their families and carers, professionals and suppliers. Applicants must hold a full valid driving licence.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trusto Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
a) To provide high quality, client focussed clinical assessment for and prescription of manual and powered wheelchairs and specialist seating to adults and children.
b) To maximise clients function and independence by modifying standardequipment and prescribing appropriate pressure relief.
c) To provide evidence based clinical assessment and intervention to complex patients who require multi-professional input including specialist seating and rehabilitation engineering.
d) To act as a resource for offering expert advice and clinical input.
e) To provide supervision to students and the unqualified therapy staff
Please see the job description and person specification for more details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
a) To provide high quality, client focussed clinical assessment for and prescription of manual and powered wheelchairs and specialist seating to adults and children.
b) To maximise clients function and independence by modifying standardequipment and prescribing appropriate pressure relief.
c) To provide evidence based clinical assessment and intervention to complex patients who require multi-professional input including specialist seating and rehabilitation engineering.
d) To act as a resource for offering expert advice and clinical input.
e) To provide supervision to students and the unqualified therapy staff
Please see the job description and person specification for more details.
Person Specification
Other requirements
Essential
- A valid car driver's licence
Qualifications and/or professional registration
Essential
- Degree/diploma in OT/Physiotherapy/General Nursing or equivalent from abroad
- State registration
Desirable
- Training in clinical supervision of students/staff
- Member of BAOT/CSPM/ NMC
- Experience of using IT systems e.g. patient information systems
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 18 months clinical experience of the management of clients with complex needs..
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team and appreciation of the contribution of different professions to Health & Social Care.
Desirable
- Minimum of 12 months clinical experience in physical based services.
- Clinical experience in rehabilitation, clinic and community services.
- Clinical experience in seating and posture management for adults and children.
- Clinical experience of working with adults and children with multiple and complex disabilities.
- Experience in training other professionals, voluntary bodies and the public.
- Experience in undertaking audits and service reviews.
- Experience in the management and clinical supervision of students/staff.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Assess, prioritise and provide information and advice for children and adults who have permanent and substantial physical disabilities
- Formulation and treatment goals and carrying out of treatment within an OT/physio/nursing and a multi-disciplinary framework
- Clinical experience of managing diverse/complex caseloads
- Ability to communicate highly sensitive and clinically complex information both written and verbally
- Influence and effect change using a range of skills including negotiation, teaching and assertiveness
- Plan and prioritise own caseload including delegating tasks to support staff
- Effectively time manage in order to deal with a large and varied caseload
- Problem solve OT team/MDT issues and accept responsibility for implementation solutions as a senior team member
- Clear, concise, written and verbal reporting
- Excellent organisational skills in work practice
- Awareness of own level of competency and ability to ask for help appropriately
- Ability to respond appropriately to pressure and to demonstrate coping strategies
- Good health record and physical ability to manage clients with a physical disability
- Commitment to continuous professional development
Desirable
- Recommend environmental adaptations within an individual's home setting
- Ability to measure the joint ranges of clients with complex disabilities/skeletal deformities as part of clinical reasoning for prescription of specialist equipment and modifications
- Ability to research specialist information and source up to date equipment. Collect, collate and report on data
- Presentation skills
Person Specification
Other requirements
Essential
- A valid car driver's licence
Qualifications and/or professional registration
Essential
- Degree/diploma in OT/Physiotherapy/General Nursing or equivalent from abroad
- State registration
Desirable
- Training in clinical supervision of students/staff
- Member of BAOT/CSPM/ NMC
- Experience of using IT systems e.g. patient information systems
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 18 months clinical experience of the management of clients with complex needs..
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team and appreciation of the contribution of different professions to Health & Social Care.
Desirable
- Minimum of 12 months clinical experience in physical based services.
- Clinical experience in rehabilitation, clinic and community services.
- Clinical experience in seating and posture management for adults and children.
- Clinical experience of working with adults and children with multiple and complex disabilities.
- Experience in training other professionals, voluntary bodies and the public.
- Experience in undertaking audits and service reviews.
- Experience in the management and clinical supervision of students/staff.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Assess, prioritise and provide information and advice for children and adults who have permanent and substantial physical disabilities
- Formulation and treatment goals and carrying out of treatment within an OT/physio/nursing and a multi-disciplinary framework
- Clinical experience of managing diverse/complex caseloads
- Ability to communicate highly sensitive and clinically complex information both written and verbally
- Influence and effect change using a range of skills including negotiation, teaching and assertiveness
- Plan and prioritise own caseload including delegating tasks to support staff
- Effectively time manage in order to deal with a large and varied caseload
- Problem solve OT team/MDT issues and accept responsibility for implementation solutions as a senior team member
- Clear, concise, written and verbal reporting
- Excellent organisational skills in work practice
- Awareness of own level of competency and ability to ask for help appropriately
- Ability to respond appropriately to pressure and to demonstrate coping strategies
- Good health record and physical ability to manage clients with a physical disability
- Commitment to continuous professional development
Desirable
- Recommend environmental adaptations within an individual's home setting
- Ability to measure the joint ranges of clients with complex disabilities/skeletal deformities as part of clinical reasoning for prescription of specialist equipment and modifications
- Ability to research specialist information and source up to date equipment. Collect, collate and report on data
- Presentation skills
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
