Wheelchair Assessor (Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist)
SunderlandCity Council has a thriving Community Therapy Service, encompassing a range ofdiverse and exciting teams and services across the city. The primary objectiveof the service is to support residents in the management of their disability orlong-term health condition, enabling people to lead fulfilling, safe andindependent lives.
Due to developments within the wheelchair service, we have a vacancy for anOccupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to join the service as a WheelchairAssessor. The wheelchair service has a team of highly skilled assessors and area friendly and supportive team.Wheelchair Assessors hold a caseload of adults and children, completingassessments for a range of specialist wheelchairs, seating and posture andaccessories.
Wheelchair assessors work in clinics and community settings incollaboration with colleagues from health and social care, companyrepresentatives and engineers from the Regional Rehabilitation MobilityEngineering Service. Assessments can take place in dedicated wheelchair clinicrooms, customers homes, schools and other community settings.Wheelchair services have implemented a number of significant improvements tothe service which have been coproduced with members of our wheelchair userforum.
Main duties of the job
Essentialrequirements are a recognised degree in either Occupational Therapy orPhysiotherapy and current registration with the Health & Care ProfessionsCouncil. Post graduate experience working as an Occupational Therapist orPhysiotherapy is desirable, role specific training will be provided.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability to provide safe andeffective assessments of customers needs, including their posture, leadingto the provision of a range of wheelchairs and accessories to meet theidentified needs of customers with the aim of enabling and improving quality oflife. Candidates must be able to meet the travel requirements ofthe role.
Wheelchair Assessors use analytical and problem solving skills to reachconclusions & should have the ability to work collaboratively usingeffective communication and listening skills, including skills to produce goodquality reports using I.T. systems.
Supervision will be provided by the wheelchair service Team Manager and thepost holder will work closely with other therapy services and social workcolleagues in community and acute settings.The service strives to maintain high standards of customer care and works withits practitioners to assure continuous professional development, demonstratingbest practise and a commitment to the undergraduate education of Physiotherapyand Occupational Therapy students.
About us
Thepost is for 22.2 hours working across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, thetherapy service work Monday to Friday, and the council offers flexible workingpatterns, including a combination of office based and home working.
Council grades differ from the NHS Banding system, Grade 7-8 posts are suitablefor candidates who are recent graduates, as well as those with previousexperience of working as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist and acareer progression scheme is in place.Candidates should be registered with the HCPC at the point of application forthe role.
Annual Leave entitlement starts at 26 days, rising to 31 days after 5 yearsservice, with previous working in council or NHS roles considered for annualleave entitlement, subject to eligibility.
For candidates already employed as an Occupational Therapist orPhysiotherapist, there is the option to maintain their existing NHS pension,with contributions from the council for applicants, provided conditions aremet.
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 SpecificationQualifications
- 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)
- 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
- Ability to provide training to Trusted Assessors across the city.
- Ability to participate in projects as delegated by the Senior Practitioner/Team Manager
Experience
- 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
- 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.
£37,280 to £46,142 a yearpro rata, plus Regular Car User Allowance
