Job Description

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Rehabilitation engineer to join our Wheelchair Assessment Service.



This role offers the opportunity to be involved in and lead complex postural and mobility assessments, including custom seating, specialist power chair controls, active user assessments, and paediatrics. You will be supported in developing advanced clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills, as well as expertise in complex assessments, postural management, interventions, and the prescription of wheelchairs, seating, and pressure-relieving equipment.



Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate empathetically with service users, relatives, and carers are essential. You will receive guidance and support from the clinical team and service managers.



You will also work alongside Rehabilitation Engineers, who provide technical support and custom-made devices.



This is a permanent post.



You will manage your own caseload of clients with permanent wheelchair mobility needs, as well as postural and pressure care management requirements. A sound clinical knowledge of a range of medical conditions and physical disabilities is essential. You will be expected to work within professional standards and clinical guidelines, promote best practice, and carry out all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.



A key aspect of the role involves building and maintaining strong relationships with referring services to ensure appropriate referrals and accurate prescriptions.



You will be based in Norwich , with responsibilities including clinics and home visits across the region. We currently run clinics at both King's Lynn and Norwich sites.



Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission, the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS Community Trust in the country to be awarded this title.



The wheelchair services sits within a group of community services giving access to close multi disciplinary team working.



Clinical

The post holder will:

Continuously review and monitor prescribed equipment as patients' needs change.



Apply knowledge of the effects of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to patients' social and physical environments.



Use a holistic, client-centred approach to provide assessment, advice, and support to colleagues and individual patients regarding 24-hour postural management needs, including wheelchair prescriptions.



Demonstrate knowledge and expertise in how patients' posture and function may be affected by the progression of postural deformities, and how postural management and interventions can be used to protect posture and maintain function. This knowledge and expertise will be expected to develop further over time.



Understand and apply highly specialised postural management techniques that may reduce the cost of equipment prescriptions. Continued development of this expertise is expected.



Participate regularly in special seating clinics, working in collaboration with the special seating team to provide technical input into equipment setup.



Maintain quality standards for all equipment supplied by the service, including promptly reporting defects or incidents to the appropriate authorities.



Be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients under your care.



Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation--both written and electronic--in line with legal and departmental requirements. Communicate assessment outcomes to relevant professionals through reports and letters.



Actively contribute to data collection and participate in clinical audits as required.



Assess patients in the most appropriate setting based on their needs, including clinics, patients' homes, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, workplaces, or other day placements.



Evaluate patients' environments for the suitability of required equipment.



Establish and maintain effective communication networks with patients, carers, and other professionals and agencies.



Promote understanding of the clinician's role within the Wheelchair Assessment Centre, including negotiating priorities where appropriate.



Raise awareness of the role of the Wheelchair Assessment Centre across the Eastern Region.



Advocate for the importance of postural management and health promotion for patients.



Respond appropriately to queries and concerns raised by patients, carers, and clinicians, referring to other services as necessary.



Professional

The post holder will:

Maintain their own continuing professional development (CPD), keeping up to date with current trends and integrating new developments into practice.



Actively participate in in-service training programmes, including attending and contributing to staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, and external courses.



Engage in reflective practice and maintain a dynamic professional portfolio; contribute to clinical and case supervision regularly.



Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and develop a personal development plan.



Provide both planned and spontaneous advice, teaching, and instruction to relatives, carers, and professionals to promote the goals of the Wheelchair Assessment Centre and ensure consistent practice (e.g. delivery of the Accredited Wheelchair Prescribers course). This will include working with patient groups who may have barriers to understanding (e.g. learning difficulties, psychological issues, cognitive impairments).



Demonstrate the ability to plan, initiate, and deliver induction, training, and education for students and staff in this setting.



Take responsibility for the supervision and written assessment of Occupational Therapy students during practice placements at the Wheelchair Assessment Centre. As competency develops, the post holder will assume the role of Practice Educator.



Reflect on and review personal performance and practice through regular supervision and participation in the appraisal process.



Engage in peer supervision in both formal and informal settings.



Organisational

The post holder will:

Complete all mandatory training as required by the Trust.



Participate in their own annual Personal Development Review.



Take part in clinical supervision in accordance with Trust policy.



Adhere to all Trust policies and local procedures, using discretion in their application where appropriate.



Contribute to clinical audits as needed.



Complete the staff survey when requested.



Conduct risk assessments and complete incident forms as required.