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Prosthetic or Orthotic Support Worker

Prosthetic support worker inspecting a prosthetic cast

Prosthetic or orthotic support workers manufacture, maintain and repair various types of prostheses or orthoses such as artificial limbs, splints, braces, or special footwear.

The Work

Prosthetic support workers manufacture artificial arms and legs for patients who have either lost a limb or were born missing a limb. Modern prostheses sometimes have a pneumatic, hydraulic or electronic mechanism to allow the limb to move.

Orthotic support workers manufacture special orthotic devices such as wrist supports, neck collars, braces and special footwear, to support a patient’s limbs or spine or to relieve pain caused by illness or injury.

You could be:

Pay

Under the NHS Agenda for Change, qualified support workers can expect to start on Band 4, £29,116 to £31,670 a year. With experience you may progress to Band 5, £31,892 to £39,735 a year. The current pay scales are from April 2024.

A support worker working for a private company can expect to earn around £26,000 a year. Self-employed technicians can earn considerably more.

Conditions

Workforce Employment Status

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Useful Subjects

Getting In

Prospects for prosthetic/orthotic support workers is very good at the moment due to an ageing workforce. You could work in the NHS or for a manufacturing company.

You will find vacancies advertised on the NHS Scotland Recruitment, NHS Jobs, and British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) websites.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

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Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland
2024
4047
3 %
RISE
2029
4169
  United Kingdom
2024
45318
4.2 %
RISE
2029
47237

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What Does it Take?

You should be:

You should have:

Training

Getting On

Video

Courtesy of NHS Education Scotland

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO)
Tel: 0141 561 7217
E-mail: enquiries@bapo.com
Website: http://www.bapo.com
Twitter: @BAPO2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BAPO.org/

NHS Scotland Careers
Website: http://www.careers.nhs.scot
Website (2): https://jobs.scot.nhs.uk/
Twitter: @NHSScotCareers

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Career Area

Health and Medicine

Career Sectors

Alternative Medicine

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