Posture & Mobility Specialist - Sheffield, United Kingdom - Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Verified Company

Sheffield, United Kingdom

1 week ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly team at the Wheelchair & Specialist Seating Service, based at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

We are looking for a dedicated individual with a problem-solving approach, and an interest in optimising functional independence and quality of life through use of specialist equipment and posture management.

This is a role with plenty of variety and the ability to learn new skills, including working with both adults and children, delivering hospital and community-based outpatient clinics, home visits, and working closely with external equipment suppliers.

The post holder will work independently and with autonomy but will also form part of a supportive multi-disciplinary team including experienced Rehabilitation Engineers, Wheelchair Technicians, and a Physiotherapist.

You will be a current Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist or able to show demonstrable experience of working with wheelchairs or specialist seating, such as in a nursing or rehabilitation engineering background.

To manage a specialist clinical caseload of paediatric and adult patients who require non-powered and powered wheelchairs and/or have complex seating needs including postural and pressure management.

You will be involved in the assessment, prescription and handover of equipment.

You will provide guidance and education to clients, carers, and other healthcare professionals in finding solutions to postural, functional and technical challenges.

Activity will be delivered in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, home visits and an outreach service to schools.

Please note that this post involves lone working in the community and driving across the South Yorkshire region, therefore access to a car and a clean driving license is essential.

You will receive full training, support and supervision and be part of an MDT providing holistic, individualised care for people with long-term and often complex needs.

The Sheffield Wheelchair and Special Seating Service is one of the largest of its kind in England, providing a range of specialist mobility equipment to children and adults with limited mobility, including those with complex physical and learning disabilities, and many with multiple pathologies.

The service covers a large catchment area of Sheffield, Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Rotherham (currently special seating only).

The service belongs to the Specialised Rehabilitation Services directorate which also includes the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Prosthetics & Orthotics, and Gait Analysis Lab.

The post is a static post in Wheelchair Services.

To provide training to users, their carers and other professionals in wheelchair/equipment usage. Ability to adjust wheelchairs and manipulate a variety of tools expertly in order to do so.
To provide training to students/other health care professionals regarding the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service and equipment provision.
To triage, receive, screen and interpret referrals, direct to appropriate action/clinic/prescription.
To clinically lead appropriate special seating clinics and seek additional support when required to make joint clinical decisions.
To assess clients using specialised skills and prescribe mobility, seating and pressure distribution equipment independently, whilst adhering to criteria and working within defined protocols.
To carry out routine screening assessments for powered chair eligibility, handover powered wheelchairs and review prescribed powered wheelchairs and attendant controlled powered chairs.
To assess risk to ensure safety of user/carer/self and colleagues and report back to senior member of team when required.
To be responsible for negotiating usercentred goals, ensuring eligibility criteria are fulfilled. To undertake holistic assessments to encourage clients to identify their own goals in the remit of PWB's.
To have uptodate specialist knowledge of wheelchairs / pressure distribution cushions / seating and current practice and use this as an evidence base when making clinical decisions.
To recognise the need and refer users/carers to other agencies/professionals, e.g. GP's, Consultants, District Nurses, etc.
To have a working knowledge of NHS wheelchairs and how to use them, e.g. folding, removing footrests, etc.
Be responsible for assessing manual handling needs of users and assisting accordingly. Be able to use hoist, scales etc. used in the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service.
To assist in toileting, emptying of catheter bags, etc. if necessary when in clinic.
To communicate effectively using a range of verbal and nonverbal communication techniques with the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service team, users, carers, other health professionals, social services, authorised repairers, manufacturers and individuals involved in users care. This will include users who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.
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