Regional Posture and Mobility Service
Referral information
Based in based Selly Oak, we provide technical input into the assessment process and medical device management at the 12 wheelchair services within the region.
Rehabilitation Engineer Service
About our service
The rehabilitation engineer (RE) service is based at West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre in Selly Oak and operates across the West Midlands. We provide technical input into the assessment process and medical device management at the 12 wheelchair services within the region.
The Rehabilitation Engineers provide support at Healthcare Science practitioner level. Besides working within wheelchair services RES work within the Regional Posture & Mobility services regarding the provision of special bespoke seating and central systems for wheelchairs.
To support its career structure RSE are accredited as training centres for IPEM Clinical Technologist Training Scheme, the STP Clinical Scientist Training scheme and the Level 6 Practitioner Training Scheme.
Rehabilitation engineers also host meetings for the Rehabilitation Engineering Service Managers Group (RESMaG), Prosthetic and Orthotic Interest Group (POIG), and support Prosthetic and Orthotic services accross the three regional centres for the West Midlands:
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Birmingham,
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Stoke, and
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Wolverhampton.
Quality Engineer Support
These services provide a useful feedback mechanism between the regional local wheelchair service, rehabilitation engineers, equipment manufacturers and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) by co-ordinating the adverse incident systems for the region. Quality related issues are managed directly with the manufacturers.
Project Engineer Service
Directed by the West Midlands wheelchair managers group (WMWM), the project engineering service supports the collective Wheelchair Services by researching and developing solutions to individual local issues for the benefit of the whole region to include compliance to legislation relating to the management of medical devices. Projects completed in recent years include:
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lap belt training DVD (response to MHRA alert)
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wheelchair stability
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wheelchair transportation
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decontamination of Class 1 medical devices
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wheelchair weights project
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approved repairer audits
Professional Registration
Within the West Midlands all Rehabilitation Engineers are registered either by the Register of Clinical Technologists ( (RCT), as Healthcare Science Practitioners via the ACHS register or as Clinical Scientists via Health Professions Council (HPC) . Staff are encouraged to become members of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) and also seek professional registration on the Engineering Council.
Rehabilitation Engineer Service Assurances
Rehabilitation Engineers are recruited, educated and participate in continual professional development (CPD) centrally to support a consistent standard across the region. Rehabilitation Engineers meet regularly to provide a large (approx. 30 members) peer group. Additionally Rehabilitation Engineers engage in reflective practices (to include case studies) with other multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members.
Rehabilitation Engineers form part of a regional Healthcare Science group, have representation on national Rehabilitation Engineering Service Managers Group (RESMaG) Council / interest groups and established links with IPEM groups e.g. Clinical Technologists Education and Training Panel, IPEM Moderator groups.
Rehabilitation Engineers also have close links with Coventry University, which offers a three-year vocational degree and a one-year graduate diploma course in rehabilitation engineering.
Rehabilitation Engineers operate within a quality management system covering modification and adaption of medical devices in line with the relevant Medical Device Regulation in operating within the UK.
Rehabilitation Engineering forms part of the Health Care Science Group (HCS) whose service structure is underpinned by the Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) initiatives. See: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Chiefprofessionalofficers/Chiefscientificofficer/DH_086661
Rehabilitation Engineering services are committed to work within the Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) structure for the latest information follow http://www.networks.nhs.uk/nhs-networks/msc-framework-curricula