Job summary
- Main area
- Wheelchairs
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 08:30 to 16:30)
- Job ref
- 844-7140359
- Employer
- Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St Catherine's Health Centre
- Town
- Birkenhead
- Salary
- £29,970 - £36,483 PA Pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/05/2025 08:00
Employer heading
Wheelchair Therapist- OT or Physio
Band 5
Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust's common purpose:
We will support you and your community to live well.
Our values:
Compassion
Supportive and caring, listening to others.
Open
Communicating openly, honestly and sharing ideas.
Trust
Trusted to deliver, feeling valued and safe.
Wirral Community Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust provides high quality community health and care services which are responsive to the needs of our local population. Services are delivered by our dedicated and innovative multi disciplinary professionals and supported by equally committed staff behind the scenes. We strive to continue developing and improving our services by working with and listening to our populations, partners, commissioners and staff.
WCHC offers you a great opportunity to be a part of a talented, passionate and committed team delivering excellent community based services across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Job overview
Band 5 Wheelchair Therapist - Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Wheelchair Therapist to join our exceptional multidisciplinary wheelchair team.
We are looking for a registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist who is keen to develop their knowledge and skills in this diverse, niche and rewarding area of wheelchairs.
You must have experience working in a wide range of clinical areas, have excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills, and be passionate about delivering personalised care to wheelchair service users.
It is desirable for you to have had some experience working in wheelchairs, but this is not essential providing you can demonstrate a keen interest working in this field, and are self motivated in your professional development, You will be well supported day to day by more experienced Wheelchair Therapists and there will plenty of learning opportunities to develop your competencies in wheelchair assessment and provision.
Main duties of the job
You will work as part of a highly motivated multi-disciplinary team providing assessments and wheelchair provision to people of all ages with a wide range of conditions that have a permanent disability that requires them to use a wheelchair (or associated equipment) on a long-term basis.
It is patient facing position, which is largely clinic based but also requires you to visit service users in their place of residence or other establishment in the community.
Although you will have one base (St Catherine's Health Centre, Birkenhead), you will be required to work across both locations as/ when needed to deliver a seamless and consistent service across Wirral and West Cheshire.
It is essential that you can drive and have access to a suitable vehicle for work purposes.
Working for our organisation
We deliver NHS wheelchair services to adults and children living in Wirral and West Cheshire for Cheshire Merseyside Integrated Commissioning Board (ICB); and have nearly 8,000 wheelchair users with equipment on issue from our service. We pride ourselves in delivering excellent customer service and on-going clinical support to all our users, along with a comprehensive maintenance and repair service which is provided by an approved contractor.
We strive to be a great place to work and thrive; and are committed to investing in you to help you fulfil your potential through a range of learning and development opportunities. Our staff are very much valued, and this is why we offer a range of employee benefits including family friendly policies, additional leave purchase scheme, laptops for remote working, staff wellbeing support services including counselling and inclusive staff networks.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the main responsibilities of the post please refer to the attached Job Description, and please ensure that your supporting information in your application reflects how you meet the person specification for role.
Responsibilities include:
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Utilising therapy skills to assess for, prescribe and provide wheelchairs and associated equipment to an identified cohort of service users.
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Working within the local eligibility criteria for the provision of wheelchairs and associated equipment.
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Offering people who are eligible for new/ re-provision of a wheelchair a personal wheelchair budget in line with legislation and service operating model.
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Handing over and adjusting any prescribed equipment, advising the service user and carers on its safe use.
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Prioritising, organising and managing own workload in the most efficient and effective way.
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Documenting assessments, interventions and equipment details on the Wheelchair Service’s clinical and asset management system.
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Supervise and supporting identified Therapy Assistants/ Support Practitioners and Occupational Therapy/ Physiotherapy students.
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Recognising and working within own competence and professional code of conduct/ standards.
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Taking responsibility for own CPD and learning about this area of clinical practice and wheelchair products.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are interested in this position or would like to know more about the role.
Person specification
Qualifications and Professional Training
Essential criteria
- Degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
- HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist
- Relevant post grad level training or equivalent relevant experience
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with adults and children with long term conditions/ needs and adaptive equipment/ adaptations
- Broad experience working in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy in wide variety of settings
- Up to date portfolio of CPD and self motivated
- Evidence of effective working within an MDT
Desirable criteria
- Clinical experience of working in wheelchairs or similar/ related clinical area
- Understanding of relevant national agenda/ policies, such as personalised care, PWBs
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Computer literate
- Effective communication skills, including report writing and presentation skills
- Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritise caseload
- Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy assessment skills and interventions/ problem solving
- Good risk assessment and management skills
- Ability to influence and use assertiveness skills effectively
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Positive attitude and flexible approach to work
- Empathetic
- Commitment to therapy profession and field of wheelchairs
- Valid UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work purposes
- Manual dexterity and ability to manipulate tools to adjust wheelchairs
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Amanda Ball
- Job title
- Specialist Services Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07717 692954
- Additional information
Jan Hickson, Wheelchair Service Support Manager. Email [email protected] or Telephone 0151 604 7261.
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