Main area Occupational therapist or Physiotherapist Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 820-7270433-ASR
Employer Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre Town Birmingham Salary £46,148 - £52,809 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 13/07/2025 23:59
Band 7 Highly specialist Occupational therapist/physiotherapist
Band 7
Job overview
Birmingham Wheelchair Service is part of the Equipment & Technology Group within Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The service is based out of the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre, however runs clinics and home visits across the whole of Birmingham. The clinical team is made up of a therapy lead, rehabilitation engineers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, an assistant practitioner and a wheelchair technician. Wheelchairs are provided to a range of children and adults ranging from standard wheelchairs to bespoke customised seating in order to improve the patient’s quality of life and independence.
Birmingham Wheelchair Service is looking for a permanent full time band 7 physiotherapist or occupational therapist. If you are enthusiastic and passionate and are looking to increase your skills and knowledge of wheelchairs then this role would be ideal for you.
The successful applicant must have a degree in occupational therapy or physiotherapy and be a member of the HCPC. Significant experience of working with people with physical and neurological disability is required as well as working in a wheelchair service. Excellent assessment and clinical reasoning skills is needed in order to provide wheelchairs and cushions to a range of adults and children with a variety of disabilities.
Please be advised that due to the nature of the interview with a practical skills assessment the interview will be held face to face.
Main duties of the job
* Assess clients with complex needs (physical, cognitive, social and psychological) considering their function, disability and health, taking into account all environments in which they live and work.
* Assess clients individual posture and mobility requirements and provide prescriptions and recommendations for provision of mobility equipment accessories and pressure care equipment, taking into account a wide range of medical conditions
* Prescribe mobility and pressure care equipment on a daily basis for clients referred to the service taking into account criteria and service specification
* Train clients and carers in the use of mobility equipment and accessories and other appropriate therapeutic equipment and treatment approaches, whilst remaining aware of risk assessment and health and safety issues.
* Communicate effectively with clients, family / carer and other professionals both internal and external to organisation to gain agreement on patient intervention.
* Line manage therapists and assistant practitioners within the team.
Working for our organisation
IMPORTANT
* Please ensure you check your Trac account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you during the shortlisting and selection process
* please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address
Be Part of Our Team...
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) has more than 5000 staff working across Birmingham and the West Midlands in a wide range of community nursing and specialist healthcare roles. BCHC delivers over 100 clinical services, in people's homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient facilities. We deliver a wide range of services for children, young people, parents and families as well as adults and community services, two community hospitals, services for people with learning disabilities, the internationally recognised West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre and one of Europe’s leading Dental Hospitals and School of Dentistry.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further details on the main responsibilities, please see the attached job description and person specification.
Person specification
Qualifications
* • HPCP Professional Registration as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist
Experience
* • Significant clinical experience in one of the following fields; neurology, rehabilitation, complex disability
* • Experience in wheelchair or seating services
* • Experience of MDT working
Skills and knowledge
* • Assessment skills developed to work with highly complex patients.
* • Highly developed communication skills. – Ability to present assessment outcomes to MDT working across a number of services and contribute to complex decision making process
* • Ability to analyse complex, clinical assessment information and accurately formulate prescribing plans from assessment information, making careful comparisons when considering a wide range of options
* • Must be able to communicate highly sensitive and / or contentious information to patients, parents, carers, partners of disabled people and other clinicians.
* • Full knowledge of handling and moving procedures for patients. Trained in use of mechanical hoisting aids
* • Have awareness and knowledge of the clinical requirements of spasticity management and its effects of seating a person with complex disability needs. E.g. CP / MS / Spinal Injuries / Head Injuries.
* • Have knowledge of the postural management principles
Other role requirements
* Able to travel independently to multiple locations around the city in one day whilst transporting equipment
In accordance with UK Home Office requirements, Band 2 clinical and non-clinical roles and Band 3 Non-Clinical roles are not eligible for sponsorship.
Please note that the majority of non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Band 3 - 5) with the exception of those which appear on this list - link, will not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK.
All non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Bands 6 - 9) that meet the prescribed salary threshold will be eligible for sponsorship.
The Trust will accept applications from candidates who can evidence their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes.
Disability Confident Employer and Guaranteed Interview Scheme
BCHC offers a guaranteed interview to any candidate who is Disabled, Neurodiverse, has a hidden or long term health condition as recognised under the Equality Act 2010, providing they meet the essential criteria of the job role, as set out in the person specification. We encourage applicants to submit their applications and to request any reasonable adjustments where required.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Birmingham is a fantastic place to live and we serve a wide range of people and communities. BCHC are an advocate of diversity and strive to mirror the community we serve as much possible.
We are committed to and actively promote equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals from all areas of the community who meet the specific criteria are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage/civil partnerships.
Promoting Workforce Equality
In response to data held by BCHC which demonstrates that individuals from particular protected characteristics are under-represented, BCHC are striving to redress these imbalances. In order to do this, the Trust is committed to the employment and career development of individuals with these protected characteristics. As part of this commitment and given this under-representation, the Trust guarantees an interview to any applicants from under-represented groups for positions at Band 8a and above whose application meets the essential criteria for the post as detailed on the Person Specification.
The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of people who identify as Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) and welcomes applicants from these communities. Selection will be on the basis of merit. In order to ensure the diversity of our workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.
Flexible Working
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) supports a variety of flexible working practices and, where possible (given our range of services and community settings) dependent upon the requirements associated with the role, will actively consider requests made and support these where practically possible. This may include hybrid patterns of working to enable colleagues to request the flexibility of a mixture of home/base working.
In accordance with the NHS People Promise, the Trust is committed to facilitating a healthy work/life balance that is essential to health and wellbeing and to making BCHC a ‘Great Place to Work’. We will be happy to discuss and consider all requests relating to working patterns and hours at your interview so please do ask!
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust acknowledges Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini etc; are powerful tools that can help you in various stages of your job application and how they can be used in certain circumstances during your application process with BCHC. You can read more about acceptable use on our internet pages here
Benefits of working for us:
* Full NHS terms and conditions including extensive holidays, Agenda for Change pay with enhancements
* Attractive relocation payment if you relocate to the local area.
* Discounts for local and national retailers
* Dedicated well-being services for all employees
* Flexible working where possible
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Liz Bennison Job title Therapy lead Email address elizabeth.bennison1@nhs.net Telephone number 0121 466 3220 Additional information
The interviews will be held at West Midlands rehabilitation centre, face to face with a practical element to the interview. Interview date will be confirmed shortly.
For further details / informal visits contact:
Name
Liz Bennison
Job title
Therapy Lead
Email address
elizabeth.bennison1@nhs.net
Telephone number
07525388450
Additional contact information
Alternative contact is Amy Roberts or Sarah Padoin, lead OT. 0121 466 3220.
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