Mobility Therapist

Job Description

Whizz Kidz: the facts

Over 75,000 young people aren’t getting the wheelchair or support that fully meets their needs.

Without the ability to be independent young wheelchair users are restricted in their ability to socialise and participate in society.

We’re here to change that.

As the UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users (9 months -25 years old), we empower young people by providing the wheelchairs, equipment, support and confidence-building experiences they need, and campaigning for a more inclusive society.

And we won’t stop until they are mobile, enabled and included.

Our vision

A society in which every young wheelchair user is mobile, enabled and included.

Our values

We are young people focused, ambitious, collaborative and inclusive.

Job summary

Whizz Kidz is a national charity that provides a unique service to young wheelchair users, offering a holistic assessment process for the provision of suitable wheelchairs with a focus on posture, independence and function. Whizz Kidz NHS is a section of the charity involved in working within NHS services to ensure the provision of the correct equipment for the children and young people within the budget given by the NHS. Whizz Kidz are working alongside Ross Care (who hold the contract) to achieve the goals of the charity, to ensure the correct provision where appropriate.

The role is based in the Kent area. The role includes working from a clinical base to travelling within Kent to visit children and young people in the most appropriate location for the client.

Your role

• Holistic Assessments: Conduct thorough assessments to determine the specific mobility needs of children and young people, ensuring that the equipment prescribed, from buggies to powered wheelchairs, maximizes their independence and functional ability.
• Autonomous Practice: Manage a diverse caseload with a high degree of independence, making well-informed decisions that cater to the unique needs of each client.
• Strategic Influence: Actively participate in the strategic development of services, helping to shape and enhance the quality of care provided to young clients in Kent.

The person

• HCPC Registered therapist
• Experience with seating and prescribing wheelchairs
• Able to work autonomously
• To be an active member of the multi professional team
• To be able to drive
  

Key accountabilities

• To assess and prescribe suitable mobility equipment for the needs of the service user, following clinical procedures and guidelines.
• To be able to use effective clinical reasoning in all aspects of the clinical role.
• To use evidence based practice to guide and maintain a high level of clinical practice within the specialist role.
• To manage a clinical case load efficiently.
• To manage and facilitate clinics and home visits.
• To be aware of the budget and to remain within this budget through discussion with the lead therapist.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive clinical records within relevant clinical databases.
• To handover equipment ensuring it has been set up correctly for the service user.
• To supervise others.
• To assist with clinical audit to ensure professional and local standards are met.
• To safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults whom the service comes into contact with.
  

The post holder will also

• Work within all policies, procedures and budgets set by Whizz Kidz.
  
• Act at all times in the best interest of Whizz Kidz.
• Form effective working relationships with all colleagues members, volunteers and outside organisations as appropriate.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that the policies and procedures relating to Health & Safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times.
• Respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means in line with the Data Protection Act.
• Not disclose to an unauthorised person any confidential information acquired through official duties unless they have received official permission to do so.
  

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be expected within the scope and job rank of the post.

Please note: This post is subject to an Enhanced level DBS Disclosure, which will be sought prior to the confirmation of a job offer.

Person specification

Ideal Candidate

• Possesses experience in neurology, paediatrics, or community-based roles, or demonstrates a strong willingness to adapt clinical skills to a specialised environment.
• Exhibits excellent organisational skills with an adaptable approach to meet the diverse needs of our clientele.
• Is motivated, flexible, and passionate about making a significant difference in the lives of young wheelchair users.

Skills and knowledge

• To be able to assess and prescribe standard mobility equipment
• To have in depth knowledge of, and know the effects and implications for seating and mobility of:
  - medical conditions and syndromes
  - Functional anatomy and physiology
  - Posture, tone, positioning and biomechanicsTo be able to assess and prescribe standard and specialist mobility equipment
• To manage a clinical caseload efficiently
• To be able to assess and clinically reason each prescription
• To be able to handover equipment, ensuring it has been set up correctly
• To have good communication skills for efficient service provision, modifying the communication styles according to need.
• Good computer literacy
  

Experience

• Relevant experience working with children and/or adults with mobility and postural needs.
• Working with assistive technology
• Experience of supervising others

Personal qualities

• Ability to work autonomously
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Able to reflect and offer clinical reasoning skills
• Self motivated and flexible
• Ability to multi task, work calmly under pressure and meet tight deadlines..
• Able to work effectively as part of a team and on their own initiative.
  

What We Offer

• A pathway to professional growth in a supportive and dynamic environment.
• A chance to be part of a vibrant organisation that embraces innovation and change to improve client outcomes.
• Generous benefits package including a pension scheme, private healthcare options, season ticket loans, ample annual leave, and long service awards.
• Flexible working arrangements to promote work-life balance.
  

A few perks

The wellbeing of our colleagues is of paramount importance to our success as an organisation, and we want to ensure that our benefits package provides something of value for everyone, whether it is our generous holiday entitlement, wellbeing days, Healthcare cash plan, long-service awards. We hope you agree!

Annual leave

25 days of annual leave per annum plus Bank Holiday (pro-rata for part time colleagues).

Christmas closure

In addition to annual leave, employees get three days of paid Christmas leave.

Pension

Automatic enrolment for all colleagues with the option to opt out. Contributions of 5% gross salary made by both Whizz Kidz and employees. We will match higher contributions of up to 6% of gross basic salary.

Simply health

Automatic enrolment in a fully paid for cash plan that assists you with everyday health costs. This scheme is also available to your families for an extra charge.

Season ticket loan

An interest free loan of up to £5,000 following the successful completion of the Probationary Period.

You can find out more about our perks here.