Wheelchair Assessor (Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Service/Team

Wheelchair Services, Community Therapies

Responsible to

Wheelchair Services Team Manager

Responsible for staff/equipment

The postholder will be responsible for equipment used as part of their role as well as IT equipment.

Main purpose of job

To assist in the efficient provision of high quality wheelchair assessments to meet the identified needs of adults and children recovering from illness, trauma, decline in long term conditions or experiencing the effects of the aging process.

Key responsibilities

To carry an allocated caseload of customers.

To support customers in the assessment and provision of wheelchairs and accessories to achieve independence, safety, and comfort, including the provision of seating and posture assessments.

To provide holistic assessments of the customer identifying areas of need and ensuring that appropriate provision is made to improve quality of life.

To work to set standards within the service under the supervision of the Team Manager.

Key tasks

To complete assessments ofcustomersneedswhich may include,but not limited to, functional assessments, seating and posture, spatial awareness and safe use of prescribed wheelchair and accessories.

To be adaptable and flexiblewithin the service areas, working alongside senior therapiststo ensureeffectiveprovisionof the identified service.

Work alongsidewheelchair services, therapy colleagues andtheTeam Managerto deliver an effective, safe and high qualityservice.

To work collaboratively with the wider MDT, company representatives and the Regional Rehabilitation Engineering Mobility Service (RREMS) in the provision of wheelchair assessments and when handing over equipment.

To demonstrate the ability to conduct an appropriate and effective assessment to the customer.

To advise customers of thecorrectuse of equipment provided by the Local Authority.

To identify needs and refer customers to other services as appropriate.

To treat all members of the public with equal respect.

To record all assessments in case notes and take responsibility for data input in line with service standards.

To complete wheelchair reports to a high standard.

To recognise limitations and identify to senior therapists when support is required.

To work with colleagues to provide training to wheelchair trusted assessors across the city.

To ensure attendance at safeguarding training, in line with the councils requirements and is responsible for reporting safeguarding issues encountered as part of their role.

Applies the principals of safeguarding in order to protect vulnerable adults and children.

To take an active role in project related activities within the service under the direction of the senior practitioner/Team Manager.

To identify learning needsand areas for development, alongside senior therapists/team managers.

To participate in learning opportunities within the service.

To participate in student education within the service.

Complies with the organisations and services essential training requirements.

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.

Complies with professional standards and code of conduct from the Health & Care Professions Council and Royal College of Occupational Therapy or Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Maintains an up to date Disclosure and Barring Scheme check in line with requirements.

Other duties/specific policies e.g. DBS

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

• Recognised BSc Hons or Diploma in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
• Current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registration

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

Essential

• An ability to provide safe and effective wheelchair, seating & posture assessments.
• An ability to work collaboratively and develop effective relationships with individuals and groups.
• Ability to critically analyse information
• An ability to participate in the wheelchair duty rota assessing customers needs and ensuring customer safety.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the key principals of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Basic IT skills
• Ability to write clear, effective case notes and reports in line with service standards
• Ability to be flexible, prioritise workload and adjust plans according to competing demands
• Ability to participate in and contribute
• towards team training
• Ability to provide training to Trusted Assessors across the city.
• Ability to participate in projects as delegated by the Senior Practitioner/Team Manager

Experience

Essential

• Experience of, or willingness to undertake training for skills in safe and effective moving and assisting vulnerable people
• Experience of working with vulnerable people in either the work environment or through practice education.
• Experience of working in an environment which requires effective communication & listening skills, including report writing

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
• Ability to comply with the Councils values of 'We innovate, we enable, we respect'

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)