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Senior Practitioner - Wheelchair Service

Sunderland City Council

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

12 Months Fixed Term

Are you a Health & Care Profession registered Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Registered General Nurse who is looking for an exciting new role?

Due to developments within Wheelchair Services, the Community Therapy Service at Sunderland City Council are seeking a dynamic candidate for the role of Senior Practitioner. The Primary objective of the Community Therapy Service is to support residents in the management of their disability or long-term health condition, enabling people to live safe, fulfilling & independent lives. Applicants should have significant post graduate experience in health or social care, as well as experience of assessing seating & posture and completing assessments for wheelchairs. The Wheelchair Service work with all ages, including children. Candidates should possess the skills to work collaboratively and have effective communication and listening skills, including the ability to produce good quality reports. There will be opportunities to develop leadership skills in this role, the post holder will provide advice and support to wheelchair assessors and line management for the wheelchair assessor assistant. Supervision for the successful candidate will be provided by the Wheelchair Services Team Manager.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work closely with other therapy services and social care colleagues in acute & community settings and will work collaboratively with customers through the Sunderland wheelchair user group. The service strives to maintain high standards of customer care and works with its practitioners to assure continuous professional development, demonstrating best practise and a high commitment to the undergraduate education of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy students. Successful candidates will undertake aninduction programme and ongoing training will be provided.There is a Senior Practitioner development group within the service providing peer support, as well as the opportunity to develop & deliver training packages and involvement with service improvements. Therapies work Monday to Friday, and the council offers flexible working patterns, including a combination of office based and home working.

About us

Annual Leave entitlement starts at 26 days, rising to 31 days after 5 years service, with previous working in council or NHS roles considered for annual leave entitlement, provided there is evidence of continuous service. For candidates already employed in NHS roles, there is the option to maintain existing NHS pension, with contributions from the council for applicants, provided conditions are met. This post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. For an informal discussion please contact: Tracey Rumfitt, Strategic Manager Therapies tracey.rumfitt@sunderland.gov.uk

Date posted

12 December 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£45,441 to £49,498 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

F0001-255964

Job locations

Independent Living Centre

Claymere Road

Leechmere Industrial Estate

Sunderland

SR2 9TS


Job description

Job responsibilities

Main purpose of job Work alongside the Team Manager to deliver an effective, safe, high quality therapy service.

Carries out leadership within the team supporting the Team Manager with the day-to-day management of the workload and staff.

Key responsibilities

Carries a caseload of complex cases under the supervision of the Team Manager.

Provides consultation and casework in respect of appropriately referred customers.

Supports therapists within the service to develop skills and experience with more complex cases.

Key tasks

Assists the Team Manager in the day to day running of the team, undertaking designated activities on behalf of the Team Manager, and delivering duty manager functions for the whole therapy service as part of the management team.

Offers professional clinical advice to colleagues within the service.

Provides expert advice on cases for other therapists including the provision of assistive equipment, complex manual handling equipment and adaptations.

Advises on how to utilise assistive technology to support individuals and groups to enhance independence and safety in functional activity, foster social contacts, reduce social isolation, and promote cognitive function.

Provides a supervisory role to identified individuals within the team as designated by the Team Manager.

To be involved in service improvement for the Team within the responsibility of the post.

Ensures the Team Manager/Service Managers are kept aware of trends, quality, and availability of resources.

Provides training and development programmes for therapy staff within the service.

Contributes to projects on behalf of the Team Manager/Service Managers.

Supports with service developments, audits, and promotion of the therapy service.

Maintains own Continuous Professional Development through a variety of learning methods.

Participates in supervision and appraisal with line manager.

Maintains individual professional registration with the Health & Care Professions Council.

Responsible for staff/equipment

The postholder will be responsible for support and supervision for delegated staff within the team.

The postholder will be responsible for equipment used as part of their therapy role as well as I.T equipment.

Other duties/specific policies

The post holder must carry out their duties with full regard to the Councils Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct and all other Council Policies.

The post holder must comply with the Councils Health and safety rules and regulations and with Health and safety legislation.

The post holder must act in compliance with data protection principles in respecting the privacy of personal information held by the Council.

The post holder must comply with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the management of Council records and information.

To comply with the principles and requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR in relation to the management of Council records and information, and respect the privacy of personal information held by the Council

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main purpose of job Work alongside the Team Manager to deliver an effective, safe, high quality therapy service.

Carries out leadership within the team supporting the Team Manager with the day-to-day management of the workload and staff.

Key responsibilities

Carries a caseload of complex cases under the supervision of the Team Manager.

Provides consultation and casework in respect of appropriately referred customers.

Supports therapists within the service to develop skills and experience with more complex cases.

Key tasks

Assists the Team Manager in the day to day running of the team, undertaking designated activities on behalf of the Team Manager, and delivering duty manager functions for the whole therapy service as part of the management team.

Offers professional clinical advice to colleagues within the service.

Provides expert advice on cases for other therapists including the provision of assistive equipment, complex manual handling equipment and adaptations.

Advises on how to utilise assistive technology to support individuals and groups to enhance independence and safety in functional activity, foster social contacts, reduce social isolation, and promote cognitive function.

Provides a supervisory role to identified individuals within the team as designated by the Team Manager.

To be involved in service improvement for the Team within the responsibility of the post.

Ensures the Team Manager/Service Managers are kept aware of trends, quality, and availability of resources.

Provides training and development programmes for therapy staff within the service.

Contributes to projects on behalf of the Team Manager/Service Managers.

Supports with service developments, audits, and promotion of the therapy service.

Maintains own Continuous Professional Development through a variety of learning methods.

Participates in supervision and appraisal with line manager.

Maintains individual professional registration with the Health & Care Professions Council.

Responsible for staff/equipment

The postholder will be responsible for support and supervision for delegated staff within the team.

The postholder will be responsible for equipment used as part of their therapy role as well as I.T equipment.

Other duties/specific policies

The post holder must carry out their duties with full regard to the Councils Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct and all other Council Policies.

The post holder must comply with the Councils Health and safety rules and regulations and with Health and safety legislation.

The post holder must act in compliance with data protection principles in respecting the privacy of personal information held by the Council.

The post holder must comply with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the management of Council records and information.

To comply with the principles and requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR in relation to the management of Council records and information, and respect the privacy of personal information held by the Council

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc Hons or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
  • Current Health and Care Professions Registration

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working as an Occupational Therapist in health or social care.
  • Significant experience of working with vulnerable people.
  • Significant experience and skills of advanced, safe, and effective moving and assisting vulnerable people.
  • Significant experience in the provision of assistive equipment.
  • Experience of working in an environment which requires effective communication & listening skills, including report writing.

Skills, Knowledge, Ability (including ability to develop knowledge, skill or experience)

Essential

  • An ability to provide advanced safe and effective Therapy assessments.
  • An ability to work collaboratively and develop effective partnership relationships with individuals & groups.
  • The ability to promote partnership working with multiple agencies.
  • Ability to critically analyse information.
  • Ability to be flexible and adjust plans according to competing demands.
  • Ability to participate in projects as delegated by the Senior Practitioner/Team Manager.

Work Related Circumstances/ Values of the Council

Essential

  • Commitment to Equal Opportunities
  • Compliance with health and safety rules, regulations, and legislation.
  • Ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc Hons or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
  • Current Health and Care Professions Registration

Experience

Essential

  • Significant experience of working as an Occupational Therapist in health or social care.
  • Significant experience of working with vulnerable people.
  • Significant experience and skills of advanced, safe, and effective moving and assisting vulnerable people.
  • Significant experience in the provision of assistive equipment.
  • Experience of working in an environment which requires effective communication & listening skills, including report writing.

Skills, Knowledge, Ability (including ability to develop knowledge, skill or experience)

Essential

  • An ability to provide advanced safe and effective Therapy assessments.
  • An ability to work collaboratively and develop effective partnership relationships with individuals & groups.
  • The ability to promote partnership working with multiple agencies.
  • Ability to critically analyse information.
  • Ability to be flexible and adjust plans according to competing demands.
  • Ability to participate in projects as delegated by the Senior Practitioner/Team Manager.

Work Related Circumstances/ Values of the Council

Essential

  • Commitment to Equal Opportunities
  • Compliance with health and safety rules, regulations, and legislation.
  • Ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sunderland City Council

Address

Independent Living Centre

Claymere Road

Leechmere Industrial Estate

Sunderland

SR2 9TS


Employer's website

https://www.sunderland.gov.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sunderland City Council

Address

Independent Living Centre

Claymere Road

Leechmere Industrial Estate

Sunderland

SR2 9TS


Employer's website

https://www.sunderland.gov.uk (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Strategic Manager, Therapies

Tracey Rumfitt

tracey.rumfitt@sunderland.gov.uk

Date posted

12 December 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£45,441 to £49,498 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

F0001-255964

Job locations

Independent Living Centre

Claymere Road

Leechmere Industrial Estate

Sunderland

SR2 9TS


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