Job responsibilities
To provide support to
the Wheelchair Service, working with children
and adults who have health, mobility, postural and social needs. The post
holder will be based at the Wheelchair Service centres but will travel, to other locations. This may include schools, hospitals, care
homes and/or Service Users homes. There may be a need for occasional travel
to other Ross Care sites.
The Wheelchair Service
provided by Ross Care, on behalf of the NHS, has a responsibility to ensure
that all eligible Service Users receive the wheelchair equipment they require
to meet their clinical mobility needs as assessed by the clinical team. The
post holder will support the delivery of a safe, caring, responsive,
effective and well-led Wheelchair Service by:
Providing
clinical and technical input to the Wheelchair Service, working closely with Service
Users, their families and carers and the multi-disciplinary teams supporting Service
Users.
Working
under the direction of the Clinical Lead to achieve contractual standards of
performance and excellent personalised customer service.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Work
positively with colleagues to maintain effective relationships within the
team and with services such as the repair and maintenance service.
Report
to and work collaboratively with the Clinical Lead, demonstrating an
understanding of demand and capacity and efficient ways of working, to ensure
provision of an effective clinical service that meets contractual obligations
within eligibility criteria and available budget.
Supervise
junior team members, where appropriate, as directed by Clinical Lead
providing opportunities for reflection on clinical and technical practice, in
consultation with the Clinical Director and access to technical expertise as
necessary.
Identify
areas for service development and participate in implementing developments.
Support
development/review of policies and standard operating procedures.
Attend
and support clinics in community/school settings.
Communicate
effectively with Service User groups and with other stakeholders (e.g. Service
Users and their families, health professionals etc.)to
facilitate joint working, where appropriate, attend meetings as requested
by the Clinical Lead.
Facilitate
sensitive discussion of contentious outcomes with Service Users, carers,
relatives, Wheelchair Service staff and other professional colleagues.
Facilitate
effective communication with Service Users who have communication
difficulties of any kind.
At
all times, comply with controls assurance standards for wheelchairs.
Identify
and report any areas of concern to service and senior managers.
Work
as an autonomous practitioner, managing a caseload of complex Service Users.
Develop
in-depth knowledge of mobility equipment and provide advice and guidance to
other clinical team members.
Demonstrate
clinical and technical competence, effectiveness and best practice in key
areas of clinical service delivery:
Clinical interventions, including assessment
of mobility, posture and pressure care needs, prescription, review, and
handover/set up of prescribed equipment, demonstrating evidence of service
user involvement and collaboration in care planning.
Adjustments to, and appropriate modifications
of, mobility equipment and accessories, following statutory and medical
device regulations.
Production of engineering drawings and
manufacturing instructions for proposed modifications or adaptations.
Assembly and programming of complex powered
wheelchair control systems.
Assembly and
adjustment of modular/complex seating on all suitable wheelbases.
Documentation, ensuring compliance with agreed
record keeping systems and standards.
Caseload management.
Awareness
of and compliance with medical device management, including management of
incidents as directed by Clinical Lead.
Identify
and prescribe appropriate equipment from an agreed product range to meet the Service
Users clinical needs and their agreed aims & objectives.
Ensure
that Personal Wheelchair Budgets (PWB) are offered when Service Users are
eligible.
Ensure
that Outcome measures are implemented in assessments, working with the Service
User to achieve their desired outcomes, including MDT collaborative working
where appropriate.
Take
responsibility for maintaining safe clinic environments.
Understand
and demonstrate knowledge of statutory obligations under the Mental Capacity
Act in relation to capacity and consent.
Following best practice guidelines.
Provide
technical support as necessary to service centre manager and/or warehouse
manager (e.g. training of FSEs, and warehouse technicians, warranty issues,
audit).
Lead
in reviews and evaluation of existing and new equipment as requested by the
Clinical Lead and Product Review Group for that product.
Attend
regular Rehabilitation Engineers/Rehabilitation Engineering Technicians
meetings and contribute to group supervision.
Carry
out physical/low complexity postural assessments and interventions which may
involve kneeling, squatting, crouching, bending, twisting and maintaining
static or awkward postures for short periods of time.
Work
with a variety of hand and powered tools in a range of environments.
Assist
Service Users to transfer from surface to surface by the safest means, using
any appropriate equipment in line with training and individual Service User
needs.
Lift,
carry or adjust wheelchairs and other equipment, potentially several times a
day, on a daily basis (e.g. into and out of storage areas, into and out of
vehicles).
Attend
moving and handling training and comply with Ross Care policies for moving
and handling, at all times.
Be
exposed to unpleasant working conditions, environments or weather conditions
e.g. sweat, bodily fluids, unhygienic surroundings, smoke filled rooms,
cramped conditions.
May
be exposed to verbal, or occasional physical aggression.
Spend
extended periods at computer or laptop.
Drive
on a regular basis, coping with busy and adverse driving conditions.
Provide
training, instruction and demonstrations and advice to Service Users and
their carers, supporting the development of written and online resources.
Provide
training, instruction, demonstrations and advice to other team members, as
appropriate, including opportunities for shadowing and supervised activities.
Support
the development and delivery of internal and external training programmes.
Comply
with Ross Care arrangements for continued professional development.
Attend
appropriate health and safety and other mandatory training in accordance with
Ross Care policies.
Support
the provision of structured training opportunities, including apprenticeships
and student placements.
Adhere
to relevant professional standards of practice, conduct and ethics.
Work
as a senior practitioner and be accountable for own clinical and technical
practice and the supervision of others.
Maintain
and develop own clinical and technical competence and knowledge, including
knowledge and management of mobility and postural support equipment, through
supervision, reflective practice, training and membership of special interest
groups.
Take
responsibility for personal and service development against organisational
objectives
Complete
necessary risk assessments and risk management for all aspects of practice,
including equipment provision, equipment assembly and modifications, moving
and handling, infection control etc.
Ensure
statutory and mandatory training is up to date.
Ensure
evidence-based practice at all times to comply with ongoing registration and
clinical governance requirements.
Participate
in audit activities under the direction of the Clinical Lead.
Take
responsibility for own role in meeting quality expectations, as set out by
professional clinical standards and Ross Care policy and procedures and
national legislation and guidance:
Service User safety (e.g. medical devices,
risk management, asset management, ensuring safe use of wheelchair),
Service User experience (e.g. timely activity,
availability of suitable information, managing expectations),
Clinical outcome (e.g. Service User reported
outcome measures, clinical outcome measures, effectiveness of intervention).
Safeguard
children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom the service comes
into contact, through strict adherence to Ross Care safeguarding procedures
and guidelines.
Report
incidents, complaints and safeguarding incidents in accordance with Ross Care
policies.
Support
with ensuring requirements to maintain ISO registrations are met.
Undertake
the job in line with Ross Care Values:
Achieve business results and add value to the
Company
Focus on internal and external customers
Build and maintain effective teamwork with
colleagues
Embrace change and deal with ambiguity
Perform
duties according to all Company policies, procedures and instructions.
This
job description shall not limit the role, the post holder will be expected to
carry out any other duties that their Manager feels are within their
capabilities and skill set. The above information may not cover every
activity involved with this position but indicates the size and scope of the role
and may be subject to changes as the role develops.
Key Performance Indicators:
Successful management of internal/external
relationships.
Demonstration of good customer
relationships.
Demonstration of effective caseload and
time management.
Evidence
of improved outcomes for Service Users including those associated with repair
service.
Work with clinical and operational
colleagues to deliver contractual service performance of a high quality that
demonstrates a personalised approach with measured outcomes.
