Enhanced Wheelchair Practitioner

This advanced physiotherapy post sits in Dorset Health Care's wheelchair service, where the postholder assesses and manages people of all ages whose long-term mobility is affected. The work centres on independent, complex clinical decisions, including prescribing wheelchairs, pressure-relieving cushions and special seating, with leadership of the multidisciplinary team and mentoring of colleagues. Candidates need HCPC registration and must already hold the right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not offered.

• Carry out comprehensive specialist holistic assessment of patients and carers with highly complex needs, then plan, deliver and evaluate their care
• Independently assess and manage wheelchair service users, making complex clinical decisions on management and outcomes
• Prescribe wheelchairs, pressure-relieving cushions and special seating using advanced assessment skills
• Give advanced clinical and specialist advice, showing leadership and clinical judgement
• Work autonomously within the multidisciplinary team, guidelines and protocols, using advanced history taking and examination
• Critically assess and re-evaluate the clinical situation as patients' conditions change
• Apply knowledge of disease patterns, markers of progression and treatment options at each stage of a condition
• Manage change in the wheelchair service, monitoring and improving standards through supervision, evidence-based practice, audit, research and education
• Promote best practice by integrating evidence into clinical practice
• Work with clients of all ages whose clinical presentations affect long-term mobility
• Provide high-quality, person-centred care that protects safety, privacy and dignity

• Registered practitioner to degree or diploma level
• Learning and assessing in practice qualification or equivalent practice assessor training

• HCPC registration as a physiotherapist and membership of the relevant professional body

• Multidisciplinary working
• Planning complex activities with contingency for unforeseen circumstances
• Using electronic patient or service user records
• Risk management skills and experience
• Proactive supervision and development of multidisciplinary colleagues

• Specialist clinical reasoning and knowledge, underpinned by CPD, for assessment, treatment and evaluation decisions
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to clinical practice
• Diplomacy, negotiation and influencing
• Analysing conflicting situations and adapting to changing priorities
• Coaching and mentoring or preceptoring across professional boundaries

• Enhanced DBS check
• Right to work in the UK without sponsorship

• Recent professional development evidenced in an up-to-date portfolio

• Trust covers the cost of the enhanced DBS check