James Cooper

Prosthetist

Hi, I’m James, a Prosthetist at the Blatchford Clinic in Sheffield.

I began working as a machine operator in a plastic recycling company. This led to making repairs to machines as they would break down. The only maintenance I could not complete was electrical faults. So, I trained and qualified as an Electrician, Initially on domestic and then went into commercial projects for eight years.

My wife is an Occupational therapist. We were out for a meal, and I was excited to hear her talk passionately about the details of her day in the clinic. This inspired me, and the idea of helping people made me consider a career change.

I was immediately drawn to the prosthetics and orthotics degree. It combined practical skills, theory, creativity, and problem-solving. I signed up and graduated from Salford University in 2015 with a BSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics. Following graduation, I started working at the Specialised Ability Centre in Manchester.

As a clinician, I have enjoyed working with patients of all ages and activity levels. I enjoy assisting each individual to achieve an outcome that is meaningful to them, which motivates me to keep up with new ideas and technology within the field.

During my time with Opcare, I worked at many different centers, including a period providing Prosthetic service on the Isle of Man. I progressed to being a senior member of the Manchester clinical team and enjoyed working closely with the Physiotherapy team with the NHS provision of microprocessor knees. More recently, I have been focused on socket technology and enjoyed looking into the benefits of sub-ischial socket designs for Transfemoral limb wearers.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family. My two-year-old daughter keeps me on my toes, and my wife is expecting another baby. Over the last year, I have been kept busy with a house move and renovating the new place.

“I love being a Prosthetist. Working with our service users and being a part of their journey is an absolute honour. This is probably my favourite aspect of my job.”