We have an exciting opportunity for aRehabilitation Engineer to join our friendly and supportive Wheelchair Serviceteam, delivering high-quality care across Kent and Medway.
Our service supports individuals who requirelong-term mobility equipment and specialist seating solutions to maintainindependence and achieve their lifestyle goals. In this role, you will carryout holistic assessments and prescribe specialist wheelchair equipment.
You will be part of a multidisciplinary ClinicalTeam led by a Clinical Lead, working alongside OT's,Physio's, fellow RE's, technicians, and supportstaff. As part of a fully integrated service including Customer Services,Warehouse Operatives, and Field Service Engineers you will help deliverequipment efficiently, enabling provision of wheelchairs, cushions, andaccessories on the same day as assessment.
The role is primarily clinic-based across twowell-equipped sites in Kent and Gillingham, with additional work in serviceusers homes, schools, day centres, and specialist settings. You willcollaborate with community and acute services.
We offer a supportive and flexible workingenvironment, where you will work independently and with peer support.
You will receive line management from anexperienced RE, with additional support from the ClinicalLead. We are committed to your professional development, offering comprehensivetraining, regular supervision, and ongoing learning opportunities throughPDR/PDP and CPD.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist assessments of mobility, posture, and function for service users with complex, long-term needs, informing tailored wheelchair and seating solutions.
Work collaboratively with service users, carers, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver holistic, person-centred care, valuing individual goals and lived experience.
Provide expert technical advice within the Wheelchair service, applying engineering principles to support clinical decisions, optimise posture, and enhance quality of life.
Contribute to quality assurance and continuous improvement, ensuring safe, effective, and efficient service delivery in line with best practice.
Assess, design, and recommend bespoke equipment adaptations, producing clear technical specifications and drawings to support safe implementation.
Prepare, issue, and set up powered wheelchairs, demonstrate controls, ensure suitability, and confirm safe operation at handover. You will provide clear guidance to service users and carers to promote confidence and independence in use.
Support pressure ulcer prevention and management through specialist seating and advice to service users and professionals.
Contribute to medical device management, including maintenance, repairs, and quality control.
Maintain safe clinical environments, adhere to infection control and health and safety standards, and uphold safeguarding responsibilities.
Safely handle equipment in line with manual handling guidelines.
Job responsibilities
To provide support tothe Wheelchair Service, working with childrenand adults who have health, mobility, postural and social needs. The postholder will be based at the Wheelchair Service centres but will travel, to other locations. This may include schools, hospitals, carehomes and/or Service Users homes. There may be a need for occasional travelto other Ross Care sites.
The Wheelchair Serviceprovided by Ross Care, on behalf of the NHS, has a responsibility to ensurethat all eligible Service Users receive the wheelchair equipment they requireto meet their clinical mobility needs as assessed by the clinical team. Thepost holder will support the delivery of a safe, caring, responsive,effective and well-led Wheelchair Service by:
Providingclinical and technical input to the Wheelchair Service, working closely with ServiceUsers, their families and carers and the multi-disciplinary teams supporting ServiceUsers.
Workingunder the direction of the Clinical Lead to achieve contractual standardsofperformance and excellent personalised customer service.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Workpositively with colleagues to maintain effective relationships within theteam and with services such as the repair and maintenance service.
Reportto and work collaboratively with the Clinical Lead, demonstrating anunderstanding of demand and capacity and efficient ways of working, to ensureprovision of an effective clinical service that meets contractual obligationswithin eligibility criteria and available budget.
Supervisejunior team members, where appropriate, as directed by Clinical Leadproviding opportunities for reflection on clinical and technical practice, inconsultation with the Clinical Director and access to technical expertise asnecessary.
Identifyareas for service development and participate in implementing developments.
Supportdevelopment/review of policies and standard operating procedures.
Attendand support clinics in community/school settings.
Communicateeffectively with Service User groups and with other stakeholders (e.g. ServiceUsers and their families, health professionals etc.)tofacilitate joint working, where appropriate, attend meetings as requestedby the Clinical Lead.
Facilitatesensitive discussion of contentious outcomes with Service Users, carers,relatives, Wheelchair Service staff and other professional colleagues.
Facilitateeffective communication with Service Users who have communicationdifficulties of any kind.
Atall times, comply with controls assurance standards for wheelchairs.
Identifyand report any areas of concern to service and senior managers.
Workas an autonomous practitioner, managing a caseload of complex Service Users.
Developin-depth knowledge of mobility equipment and provide advice and guidance toother clinical team members.
Demonstrateclinical and technical competence, effectiveness and best practice in keyareas of clinical service delivery:
Clinical interventions, including assessmentof mobility, posture and pressure care needs, prescription, review, andhandover/set up of prescribed equipment, demonstrating evidence of serviceuser involvement and collaboration in care planning.
Adjustments to, and appropriate modificationsof, mobility equipment and accessories, following statutory and medicaldevice regulations.
Production of engineering drawings andmanufacturing instructions for proposed modifications or adaptations.
Assembly and programming of complex poweredwheelchair control systems.
Assembly andadjustment of modular/complex seating on all suitable wheelbases.
Documentation, ensuring compliance with agreedrecord keeping systems and standards.
Caseload management.
Awarenessof and compliance with medical device management, including management ofincidents as directed by Clinical Lead.
Identifyand prescribe appropriate equipment from an agreed product range to meet the ServiceUsers clinical needs and their agreed aims & objectives.
Ensurethat Personal Wheelchair Budgets (PWB) are offered when Service Users areeligible.
Ensurethat Outcome measures are implemented in assessments, working with the ServiceUser to achieve their desired outcomes, including MDT collaborative workingwhere appropriate.
Takeresponsibility for maintaining safe clinic environments.
Understandand demonstrate knowledge of statutory obligations under the Mental CapacityAct in relation to capacity and consent.Following best practice guidelines.
Providetechnical support as necessary to service centre manager and/or warehousemanager (e.g. training of FSEs, and warehouse technicians, warranty issues,audit).
Leadin reviews and evaluation of existing and new equipment as requested by theClinical Lead and Product Review Group for that product.
Attendregular Rehabilitation Engineers/Rehabilitation Engineering Techniciansmeetings and contribute to group supervision.
Carryout physical/low complexity postural assessments and interventions which mayinvolve kneeling, squatting, crouching, bending, twisting and maintainingstatic or awkward postures for short periods of time.
Workwith a variety of hand and powered tools in a range of environments.
AssistService Users to transfer from surface to surface by the safest means, usingany appropriate equipment in line with training and individual Service Userneeds.
Lift,carry or adjust wheelchairs and other equipment, potentially several timesaday, on a daily basis (e.g. into and out of storage areas, into and out ofvehicles).
Attendmoving and handling training and comply with Ross Care policies for movingand handling, at all times.
Beexposed to unpleasant working conditions, environments or weather conditionse.g. sweat, bodily fluids, unhygienic surroundings, smoke filled rooms,cramped conditions.
Maybe exposed to verbal, or occasional physical aggression.
Spendextended periods at computer or laptop.
Driveon a regular basis, coping with busy and adverse driving conditions.
Providetraining, instruction and demonstrations and advice to Service Users andtheir carers, supporting the development of written and online resources.
Providetraining, instruction, demonstrations and advice to other team members, asappropriate, including opportunities for shadowing and supervised activities.
Supportthe development and delivery of internal and external training programmes.
Complywith Ross Care arrangements for continued professional development.
Attendappropriate health and safety and other mandatory training in accordance withRoss Care policies.
Supportthe provision of structured training opportunities, including apprenticeshipsand student placements.
Adhereto relevant professional standards of practice, conduct and ethics.
Workas a senior practitioner and be accountable for own clinical and technicalpractice and the supervision of others.
Maintainand develop own clinical and technical competence and knowledge, includingknowledge and management of mobility and postural support equipment, throughsupervision, reflective practice, training and membership of special interestgroups.
Takeresponsibility for personal and service development against organisationalobjectives
Completenecessary risk assessments and risk management for all aspects of practice,including equipment provision, equipment assembly and modifications, movingand handling, infection control etc.
Ensurestatutory and mandatory training is up to date.
Ensureevidence-based practice at all times to comply with ongoing registration andclinical governance requirements.
Participatein audit activities under the direction of the Clinical Lead.
Takeresponsibility for own role in meeting quality expectations, as set out byprofessional clinical standards and Ross Care policy and procedures andnational legislation and guidance:
Service User safety (e.g. medical devices,risk management, asset management, ensuring safe use of wheelchair),
Service User experience (e.g. timely activity,availability of suitable information, managing expectations),
Clinical outcome (e.g. Service User reportedoutcome measures, clinical outcome measures, effectiveness of intervention).
Safeguardchildren, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom the service comesinto contact, through strict adherence to Ross Care safeguarding proceduresand guidelines.
Reportincidents, complaints and safeguarding incidents in accordance with Ross Carepolicies.
Supportwith ensuring requirements to maintain ISO registrations are met.
Undertakethe job in line with Ross Care Values:
Achieve business results and add value to theCompany
Focus on internal and external customers
Build and maintain effective teamwork withcolleagues
Embrace change and deal with ambiguity
Performduties according to all Company policies, procedures and instructions.
Thisjob description shall not limit the role, the post holder will be expected to carry out any other duties that their Manager feels are within their capability and skill set. The above information may not cover every activity involved with this position but indicates the size and scope of the roleand may be subject to changes as the role develops.
Key Performance Indicators
* Successful management of internal/external relationships.
* Demonstration of good customer relationships.
* Demonstration of effective caseload and time management.
* Evidence of improved outcomes for Service Users including those associated with repair service.
* Work with clinical and operational colleagues to deliver contractual service performance of a high quality that demonstrates a personalised approach with measured outcomes.
Qualifications
* Clinical Technologist or Clinical Scientist registration
* Enhanced DBS Clearance
* Member of IPEM
Knowledge and skills
* Demonstrate strategies for organising own workload
* Demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach to working, in order to meet competing priorities
* Demonstrate skill development and critical analysis of skill gaps
* Confident in the use of computers with knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office
* Good communication skills, both written and verbal; positive interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate appropriately with colleagues, other professionals, carers and Service Users
* Ability to communicate sensitive information in written and verbal forms to Service Users, other professionals and in-house staff
* Effective strategies to cope with a variety of distressing situations, including challenging behaviour from Service Users
* Ability to work under pressure
* Demonstrate understanding of risk assessment and management within the healthcare environment
* Demonstrate an understanding of health and safety responsibilities and compliance
* Demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance requirements
* Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of moving and handling techniques and procedures
* Understanding of information governance and data protection issues
* Demonstrate an understanding of managing diversity within the local populations and workforce
* Understanding of multi-cultural issues
* Full driving licence and a willingness to drive Ross Care/own vehicles.
* An ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, such as weather, exposure to unpleasant environments, bodily fluids, pets and other unspecified hazards
* Knowledge of legal issues (e.g. data protection, child protection, safeguarding of children and adults at risk of harm, health and safety, adults, human rights etc)
* Knowledge of a range of manual and powered wheelchairs, postural supports and accessories
* Knowledge of a range of medical conditions (e.g. respiratory, neuro, orthopaedic), their management and implications for wheelchair prescription or other intervention
* Demonstrate strategies for involving Service Users and carers in clinical decisions, ensuring all feedback is acknowledged
Experience
* Experience in mechanical or electrical engineering sector
* Experience of working with patients with long-term and deteriorating medical conditions
* Member of relevant special interest group
Additional
* The post holder will work within all policies, procedures and budgets set by Ross Care
* The post holder will act at all times in the best interest of Ross Care
* The post holder must accept responsibility for ensuring that the policies and procedures relating to Health & Safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times
* The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically or by other means in line with the Data Protection Act
* The post holder will not disclose any confidential information acquired through official duties unless they have received official permission to do so
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.
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