Ergonomics Advisor (Manual Handling Advisor)

Are you an experienced Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist or Nurse with a passion for training and staff wellbeing?

Join our multi-disciplinary Wellbeing team and play a key role in our ergonomics service - helping prevent and reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders while promoting a strong health and safety culture.

In this part-time Band 6 role, you'll use your clinical experience in moving and handling, excellent communication and confident training skills to engage and support staff. There are opportunities to develop, with support to complete manual handling or ergonomic qualifications if required.

In this varied role, you'll:

• Deliver engaging, evidence-based moving and handling training
• Carry out ergonomic and manual handling assessments
• Provide specialist advice on complex handling challenges
• Support wider wellbeing initiatives, risk management, and policy development

You'll be organised and able to work autonomously and with flexibility. You'll be supported by a small ergonomics team and within our wider Health and Wellbeing service. Our Trust is rated Outstanding by the CQC, who highlight that our staff feel valued and supported.

The role is based at St Marks Hospital, Maidenhead, with travel required across our Berkshire sites including in Newbury, Reading & Slough.

There's flexibility to work from home at times, and we'll consider working patterns from 22.5 - 30 hours within our core Monday-Friday, 9-5 schedule.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver evidenced based moving and handling training and education.
• Undertake individualised employee assessments on display screen equipment and manual handling both virtually and face to face.
• Perform individualised risk assessments for patients with complex moving and handling needs.
• Undertaking advanced assessment of difficult and complex workplace issues. Subsequently, implement appropriate and evidence-based equipment provision, in order to reduce the risk of harm to patients, their carers and staff.
• Assist with risk management, including Datix incident management support and policy development.
• Promote health and wellbeing for trust employees.
• To deputise for the Senior Ergonomic Advisor in matters relating to the ergonomics team. This will include attending meetings, deputising for or making decisions with regards to other areas of Health and Wellbeing when required to do so.

Applications for this role will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as vacancies may close early

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Job responsibilities

The "must haves" for this role:

• A qualified and registered Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Nurse with relevant post-registration experience
• Sound knowledge safe manual handling and ergonomics and their application within a healthcare environment
• Driver with UK licence, or the ability and willingness to travel between multiple sites efficiently

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Emma Porter, Senior Ergonomic Advisor on 07880554249 or email Emma.porter@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

• Degree level education or equivalent experience
• Professional Clinical qualification i.e. Physiotherapist, Nurse occupational Therapist
• Registered Health Care Professional e.g. registered with HPC or NMC
• Post graduate qualification in Manual Handling/ biomechanics
• Qualification in Occupational Safety and Health
• Evidence of a recognised teaching certificate/ qualification
• Member of the National Back Exchange

Continuous Professional Development

• Maintenance of professional standards
• Updating of health and safety knowledge
• Evidence of current CPD portfolio

Previous Experience

• Background in physiotherapy, manual handling, ergonomics, or related healthcare profession
• Experience in training and practical demonstration
• Experience of working in an advisory ergonomic/manual handling role within a range of healthcare / social settings

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• An engaging and competent trainer and presenter
• A proven track record of innovation and problem solving
• Knowledge of specialist equipment required when manual handling in clinical practice
• Understanding of NHS structures
• Sound knowledge of all legislation pertinent to manual handling
• Sound knowledge of current guidance/strategy from DOH, RCN, NBE

Additional Requirements

• The ability to travel to meet the requirements of the post

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.

£40,617 to £48,778 a yearper annum, pro rata