Wheelchair Therapist

You will be working as part of a team in providing and facilitating a high standard of assessment, provision of wheelchairs and associated equipment to clients under the guidance of a Specialist Wheelchair Therapist and Rehabilitation Engineer. You will use your clinical reasoning and practical skills to work within a variety of clinical and community settings. With support from senior colleagues, analyse assessment results, evaluate risks and use problem solving and clinical reasoning skills to decide on the products required to enable a client's optimum mobility and / or posture, considering cost effectiveness of the prescription and utilising stock held by the service where possible. Taking account of the presenting needs of the client, their carers and service's eligibility criteria in the planning and implementation of client centred interventions., 1. Work effectively as a team member in providing and facilitating a high standard of assessment, provision of wheelchairs and associated equipment to clients under the guidance of a Specialist Wheelchair Therapist and Rehabilitation Engineer
2. Assess and treat own caseload of clients and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner as allocated by team lead based on competency level.
3. Participate in the timely assessment of clients from referral to the provision of equipment.
4. Demonstrate clinical reasoning and practical skills to work within a variety of clinical and community settings.
5. Be aware of relevant wider services to ensure appropriate onward referrals where needed.
6. With support from senior colleagues, analyse assessment results, evaluate risks and use problem solving and clinical reasoning skills to decide on the products required to enable a client's optimum mobility and / or posture, considering cost effectiveness of the prescription and utilising stock held by the service where possible.
7. Take account of the presenting needs of the client, their carers and service's eligibility criteria and to be responsible for the planning and implementation of client centred interventions.
8. Modify and alter standard seating systems to suit a client's changing needs and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, with support from the Wheelchair Therapy Technician and Rehabilitation Engineer.
9. Ensure the safe moving and handling of clients which can include long term immobile and bariatric clients. This may take place in a variety of settings, including clinic rooms, hospital wards, the home and school environment.
10. Manage clinical risk within own client caseload and working environment under the supervision of the clinical supervisor.
11. Maintain accurate and comprehensive client intervention records in line with service standards and the relevant professional body's standards of practice.
12. Maintain an awareness of best practice principles within occupational therapy/ physiotherapy/ nursing and changing trends in postural and mobility services.
13. Be responsible when working in the community as a lone practitioner for personal safety, abiding by the Trust and departmental lone working policy.
14. Maintain a professional portfolio for CPD and demonstrate ongoing reflective practice. Attend and contribute to service relevant meetings and groups.
15. Manage clinical risk within own client case load and recognise potential risks to others, complying at all times with the requirements of health and safety regulations.
At the heart of how we operate is our Trust values:
+ Compassionate Care
+ Working Together,
+ Achieving Ambitions
+ Delivering Excellence
Our values are fundamental to the high-quality care we provide to the people who need us. We are proud to be a community that cares, delivering our services as a team whilst supporting our employees as individuals.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer that actively promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We embrace and celebrate diversity, encouraging applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with an ethnically diverse heritage, those with disabilities, and individuals identifying as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our aim is to grow a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.
We strive to create an environment where every individual is valued and respected. Our recruitment process is designed to support candidates who require reasonable adjustments and to accommodate the needs of applicants.
This post may close earlier than the published closing date if sufficient applications are received.
Correspondence relating to this vacancy will be conducted electronically, please ensure you check your emails, including your junk folder. If you have not heard from us within two weeks please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Are you a registered occupational therapist, physiotherapist, 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 living with a wide range of disabilities.
This maternity cover role includes assessing clients both jointly and on an individual basis either at the Bognor Wheelchair Service 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. Please see the job description and person specification for more details.

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex. Our 6,000 staff serve a population of 1.3 million providing essential medical, nursing, and therapeutic care to adults and children.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, helping people plan, manage, adapt to changes in their health, supporting avoidable hospital admissions and reducing hospital stay times.
We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services including medical, clinical, support and corporate services.
Why work for us?
+ Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, scoring highly in compassionate culture & leadership, and staff wellbeing support

+ Supportive flexible working patterns such as: part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options
+ Excellent training and development opportunities
+ Research opportunities
+ Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton
+ Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
+ Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces
+ Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
+ Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast
+ Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff