Available Training Opportunities

WCRC in partnership with Rehab Skills Lab (Led by Dr Elsje Scheffler and Ms Dietlind Gouws) offer a range of clinical rehabilitation related training courses for rehabilitation professionals.

Whilst a range of courses covering multiple topics such as rehabilitation of persons with amputations, spinal cord injuries, stroke and other neurological conditions are presented ad hoc, courses on wheelchair service delivery and rehabilitation of adults with neurological disorders are presented annually.

Wheelchair service delivery training:

A comprehensive range of wheelchair service delivery training courses are delivered to industry professionals both in South Africa and internationally.

The CPD accredited courses adhere to the World Health Organisation guidelines for less-resourced settings but are, crucially, tailored for the South African context. Designed to give participants a holistic and practical know-how, the courses help professionals to render a service specific to their wheelchair users’ postural, environmental and functional needs.

WCRC currently has 2 trainers (staff members) who are qualified to deliver training on the wheelchair service programs.

The following training is delivered at WCRC:

Wheelchair service delivery training: Basic

This is a five-day training course that provides healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to provide comprehensive, basic wheelchair services. Participants learn how to match environmental, functional and postural support and durability needs of wheelchair users (who have basic postural support needs) with appropriate wheelchair features.

It consists of theoretical, practical sessions as well as clinical work. Course content is aligned with the World Health Organization’s basic Wheelchair Service Training Package.

Wheelchair service delivery training: Basic refresher

This two-day training course is aimed at strengthening the clinical reasoning and confidence of basic level service providers through the review and revision of key assessment and prescription principles. It also helps to improve service providers’ ability to synthesise and integrate assessment findings for appropriate prescriptions.

The facilitation includes clarifying questions and problem-solving clinical problems which may have been encountered by participants. The first full day is dedicated to theoretical and practical sessions and the second day focuses on clinical work with wheelchair users. It is also fully aligned with the World Health Organization’s basic Wheelchair Service Training Package

Wheelchair service delivery training: Intermediate

This five-day training course empowers healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to provide the correct postural support solutions to wheelchair users with intermediate level seating needs. Participants learn how to assess users so that they can prescribe, prepare and fit the correct postural support solution (including products and devices) for the range of deviations commonly encountered when delivering this service.

Facilitation includes teaching participants about a problem-solving approach. It consists of theoretical and practical sessions as well as two days of clinical work. Course content is in line with the World Health Organization’s intermediate Wheelchair Service Training Package.

Wheelchair service delivery training: Advanced

This five-day training course builds on the basic and intermediate level training packages, which are aligned with the World Health Organization’s basic and intermediate Wheelchair Service Training packages. Participants are taught how to assess, prescribe and fit wheelchairs and posture support devices to users (with flexible postural deviations, moderate to severe fixed postural deviations and who are unable to sit) who require complex modifications and/or posture support.

Experienced trainers teach participants a problem-solving approach to advanced level service delivery through theoretical and practical sessions as well as two days of clinical work with wheelchair users.

Certified Neurological Rehabilitation Courses

Basic course on the evaluation and treatment of adults with neurological disorders: The Bobath concept

This three-week course aims to improve theoretical knowledge, practical skills and clinical reasoning and intervention for treatment of persons with neurological disorders.

The Bobath concept is integrated with the principles of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and utilise the principles of motor control, motor learning, neural plasticity and muscle plasticity in its approach to treatment. Participants are taught to analyse and facilitate efficient postural and movement control in preparation for and during functional activity, and observe and analyse dysynergic and/or inefficient movement and function, and influence this through intervention. Experienced trainers assist participants in practical and clinical sessions to develop effective handling skills and incorporate them with appropriate environmental and other influences to regain function.

The curriculum is internationally standardised and will allow participants to attend international advanced courses.

These 5-day courses build on the basic course and aim to improve theoretical knowledge, practical skills and clinical reasoning and intervention for treatment of persons with neurological disorders.

Theory, practical and clinical sessions provide theoretical evidence and focus on in depth movement analysis and treatment intervention.

The curriculum outcomes are standardised, and each advanced course covers a topics focusing in a specific area of neurological rehabilitation.

Please check the Rehab Skills Lab website regularly for updates on these courses or subscribe to the Rehab Skills Lab newsletter here: https://rehabskillslab.co.za/contact/

You can get more information on upcoming course on this link: https://rehabskillslab.co.za/

For further enquiries, please contact the Rehab Skills Lab on this email: training@rehabskillslab.co.za