Job summary
Following service relocation and service improvement
projects CDDFT Wheelchair Services are recruiting a Service Assistant (Band 3).
The role of Wheelchair Service Assistant will be to support
the team clinically and with administrative duties.
We are looking for a positive, enthusiastic, dynamic and
highly organised individual to fill this role and 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 services
users, their families and carers.
This role is part of CDDFT community services therefore 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 sally.irvine@nhs.net
*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 will 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, responsible for
ensuring that 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.
The post holder will have excellent customer
service skills as they will be responsible for liaising with service users,
families and professionals, at times providing direct clinical care and
supporting clinicians in clinics and on community visits.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
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.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years
of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job description
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 and as
per 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 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 to be updated following contact with
patient, families, relatives 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 results in reduction of 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.
Job description
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 and as
per 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 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 to be updated following contact with
patient, families, relatives 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 results in reduction of 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
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent demonstratable experience.
- Minimum of 4 GCSE passes (or Equivalent qualification). Must be able to produce certificates at interview.
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a customer services industry
- Experience of working in an administrative role
- Experience of prioritising own workload independently
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and adults with physical, mental health and learning disabilities
- Experience of using electronic patient records
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- 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
Desirable
- Knowledge of purchasing and supply activities
- Experience of electronic Purchase Order / Purchase to Pay systems
- Involement in the introduction of new innovative technologies.
Special Requirements
Essential
- Good manual dexterity & grip strength, with the ability to use tools to preform essential assembly and adjustment of equipment
- Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice
- Commitment to lifelong learning
- 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
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent demonstratable experience.
- Minimum of 4 GCSE passes (or Equivalent qualification). Must be able to produce certificates at interview.
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a customer services industry
- Experience of working in an administrative role
- Experience of prioritising own workload independently
Desirable
- Experience of working with children and adults with physical, mental health and learning disabilities
- Experience of using electronic patient records
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- 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
Desirable
- Knowledge of purchasing and supply activities
- Experience of electronic Purchase Order / Purchase to Pay systems
- Involement in the introduction of new innovative technologies.
Special Requirements
Essential
- Good manual dexterity & grip strength, with the ability to use tools to preform essential assembly and adjustment of equipment
- Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice
- Commitment to lifelong learning
- 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
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 details
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sedgefield Community Hospital
Salters Lane
Sedgefield
Stockton-on-tees
Cleveland
TS21 3EE
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
