Designability is an independent, national charity that enables disabled people to live with greater independence. Our expertise is in user-centred design, creating products with and for disabled people to improve and enrich their lives.

The common thread through all our work is in the design, creation and provision of a product to increase independence for disabled people. This is not just about products people need, but products they want to use. We deliver choice by involving disabled people across our organisation and throughout the design process to create innovative product solutions not available elsewhere. We create great looking, easy-to-use products that go beyond basic functionality and we partner with industry to help as many people as we can – we’ve transformed over 300,000 lives to date.

The Wizzybug Loan Scheme is Designability’s flagship programme, providing a powered wheelchair for children from 14 months upwards, free of charge to families in the UK.  The Wizzybug offers children fun, independence and freedom of movement for the first time in their lives and helps children with conditions or development delay that affects their ability to walk.

We’re seeking an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist to deliver Designability’s clinical services for our Wizzybug Loan Scheme programme. This role is a fantastic opportunity to join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team to make a meaningful difference. You will be part of a small team of experienced therapists that assess and support eligible children that are accepted onto the programme. 

To be effective, the post holder will require the confidence to work autonomously and possess strong organisational and communication skills. Due to the nature of the role, you will need have the ability to respond sensitively to service users with distressing conditions and to those who are terminally ill or have rapidly deteriorating conditions.

To be successful in securing this role, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• You must have a degree in occupational therapy or Physiotherapy and be HCPC Registered. You must also be committed to maintaining and developing your own clinical competence.
• A minimum of 3 years post qualification experience in a relevant field.
• Knowledge and experience in the assessment and provision of wheelchairs, general mobility aids and 24-hour posture management.
• Experience and depth of relevant clinical knowledge in posture management, mobility equipment and paediatric conditions.
• Experience of therapeutic assessment and manual handling skills to be able to accurately assess posture and establish joint range of motion.
• Experience of working with service users with a range of physical disabilities and a knowledge and experience of medical and surgical conditions.
• Thorough knowledge of health, social care and safeguarding policy and practise, particularly relating to paediatrics and wheelchair services.
• Knowledge of clinical governance, professional and ethical issues and of legal issues (data protection, confidentiality, health and safety).
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working, including development of effective networks/partnerships.
• Competent in IT with the ability to use MS Office and knowledge of working with service user databases.

All applicants must be willing to undergo safeguarding checks, including checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and employment references.  

Benefits that come with working for Designability
Looking after its employees is important to Designability – supporting everyone to be happy and healthy means that we live our values of being creative, practical and inclusive and in turn meet our mission to enable disabled people to live with greater independence. We are a Real Living Wage and Disability Confident Employer. We also offer a generous annual leave allowance and substantial employer contribution pension scheme. Our standard default employee pension contribution rate is 6%. In addition to this amount, Designability will contribute 8% of your pensionable pay into this pension plan.

To apply: Please submit your CV and a covering letter, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria contained in the Job Description. Any applications that do not include a covering letter or personal statement will not be considered.     

Closing Date for applications: Interested candidates should apply at their earliest convenience as this vacancy will close once sufficient applications are received.

Interview date: Successful applicants will be offered a mutually convenient interview date. Interviews will be held at our Bath offices.

Start date: At earliest availability.