We are looking for Rehabilitation Engineers, B7 level with excellent existing skills and experience to join our team here at Bristol Centre for Enablement, near Cribbs Causeway, Bristol. This is a full time role but flexible working options may be available.
We are a large team of clinical, support and admin staff and cover a large area of Bristol and Bath. We are a busy fast paced service, but with support from the team and opportunities for training and development.
Main duties are the prescription and supply of wheelchair accessories and special seating to clients referred to the service.
The work can involve the application of mechanical & bio-engineering knowledge and technical principles to assess, provide solutions and assume responsibility for the designing, fitting and adjusting of specialised adaptations to wheelchairs, specialist seating equipment and other associated equipment to meet the clinical requirements of patients, maximising their independence, functionality, quality of life and management of posture.
The post holder will provide assistance in leading technical and service developments within the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service.
The post is community based, working at BCE, satellite clinics, hospitals, hospices, residential and nursing homes, schools and colleges and patients homes and workplaces. Extensive travel is required in and around Bristol, North Somerset, B& NES and Gloucestershire.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science / Clinical Engineering or completion of IPEM Clinical Technologist training as a Rehabilitation Engineer.
Registered as a Clinical Technologist on the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT) or the Academy of Healthcare Science (ACHS) register; or registered as a Clinical Scientist on the Health and Social Care Professionals (HCPC) register.
Advanced specialist working knowledge of mechanics and biomechanics and an in-depth knowledge of postural management and positioning, in the relevant pathologies.
Advanced specialist working knowledge of the causes of tissue breakdown and the need for pressure measurement and management.
Knowledge and experience of Computer Aided Design with a working knowledge of Information Technology.
A working knowledge of Quality Management Systems
Significant experience in the design and manufacture of technical equipment from market analysis and conceptual design through to technical drawing of final design, production planning, manufacture, quality control and product commissioning.
Minimum 3 years experience as a Rehabilitation Engineer and within wheelchair services including the assessment and provision of specialist postural seating, Electric Powered Indoor and Outdoor Chairs (EPIOC’s) and specialised powered wheelchair controls.
In-depth knowledge of, and experience in developing the Wheelchair and Special Seating Service policies, procedures and priorities to meet the changing complexities of the Service users.
Experience in the regular supervision of a team of Specialist Rehabilitation Engineers, Rehabilitation Engineers, Workshop Service Engineers and Rehabilitation Technicians.
Knowledge of, and experience in disseminating information and advice relating to various aspects of human resources.
Practical knowledge of
Use of hand tools and power tools- cutting, shaping, forming, assembling or adjusting
cutting, shaping
Joining and bonding – adhesives
Advanced level of experience in independent working and the ability to demonstrate effective communication with professional colleagues in order to contribute to the performance of a multi-disciplinary assessment team.
Experience in the completion of detailed clinical and equipment risk assessments.
Experience in the completion, leading the investigation and reporting of Trust and Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Adverse Incident reports.
Experience in medical report writing techniques and legalities, including the use of terminology associated with clinical aspects of wheelchairs and special seating.
Holds a full UK driving licence and access to an appropriate vehicle for work purposes.
A bility to assess patients skeletal system in seated and lying postures and prescribe equipment to meet the identified needs.
Patient handling skills of a high order, including the ability to relate to disabled patients, their relatives and carers.
Ability to implement evidence based practice into the assessment process.
Be able to undertake unsupervised assessment of patients, both adult and paediatric, to provide manual wheelchairs, powered indoor and indoor/outdoor wheelchairs, associated accessories and specialist postural management devices.
Competent in the ability to recognise an urgent situation, make sound technical and clinical judgements under pressure and follow through immediate actions to manage the situation.
A high level of interpersonal skills are required with the ability to build a trusting relationship, maintain the correct level of professionalism and recognise individual patients personal boundaries.
Competent in communicating complicated information with all members of the multi-disciplinary team including medical professionals, senior & junior managers, health care professionals, engineers and technicians.
Keep clear contemporaneous reports. Reports will be on the specialist clinical assessment of patients, planned outcomes and technical documentation.
Instruct patients and carers, both clinical and non-clinical, in the safe use of wheelchairs, control systems, special seating systems and the adjustment of special supports and positioning aids.
Ability to use professional, empathetic communication, listening and / or counselling skills with patients and carers to offer information and support as appropriate. Possess excellent communication skills in order to establish and maintain good relations with patient / carer / family / other members of multi-disciplinary team, enabling the extraction of relevant information for full assessment to take place.
Competent in dealing with challenging situations and be able to sensitively exchange relevant information using terminology which aids effective communication, where patient / carer may be angry, aggressive, emotional or suffer from behavioural or psychological disorders.
Ability to communicate and negotiate with manufacturers and contractors. Co-ordinate with manufacturers to provide equipment demonstrations for patient assessment and product up-dates for the multi-disciplinary team.
Capable of making sound decisions and producing informative reports and working drawings that clearly communicate the complexity of the clinical and technical requirements, enabling adaptations and accessories to be constructed and fitted to wheelchairs and special seating equipment.
Capable of supervising a team of Specialist Rehabilitation Engineers, Rehabilitation Engineers, Rehabilitation Technicians and workshop Service Engineers in their clinical and technical work ensuring good team dynamics by motivating team members and promoting a trusting professional relationship.
Ability to select suitable materials and manufacturing processes for the cost effective construction of the medical device designed to meet the patient’s clinical and technical requirements.
Ability to produce and modify plans to meet the identified objectives as a result of ongoing clinical and technical assessments.
Competent in prioritising and planning personal workloads and the assessment waiting lists, ensuring resources are effectively managed.
Ability to recognise areas for service development and implement changes.
Able to arrange the manufacture of equipment by workshop Service Engineers and other contractors to meet specified deadlines.
Plan the activities required to ensure that clinical fitting of adaptations is carried out safely and the intended clinical purpose is achieved.
Work autonomously to carry out the design of innovative equipment and adaptations to manual, powered indoor and indoor/outdoor wheelchairs and associated equipment.
Maintain and adhere to the requirements of the relevant and appropriate professional register and abide by their Professional Code of Conduct.
Maintain awareness of relevant safety standards. Be aware of the risk issues connected with mobility equipment, pressure care products and special seating (current Hazard and Safety bulletins, private and public transportation guidelines, clinical risks such as pressure sores etc.).
Be skilled in the assembly of manufactured and proprietary parts to construct complex assemblies.
Hold the necessary skills required to assemble, fit and accurately adjust specialised postural management devices.
Work within the framework of BCE Quality Manual and Trust Policies and Procedures.
Deputise for the Clinical Services Manager in their absence as required.
Work with the Clinical Services Manager to:
ensure safety standards and legislation are adhered to,
ensure the principles of Clinical Governence are incorporated into the departments work ethos.
ensure the principles of Quality Management System are adhered to and procedures followed.
Communicate verbally and in writing, technical information, often of a complex nature, relating to the assessment and prescription of mobility and special seating equipment other members of the MDT.
As both part of a multi-disciplinary team and autonomously, assess patients for the functional use and clinical requirement of:
Standard manually propelled wheelchair
Energy efficient / active user wheelchair
Special specification wheelchair
Electric powered Indoor wheelchair
Electric Powered Indoor / outdoor wheelchair
Wheelchairs for patients who exceed the weight limit for standard wheelchairs,
Independently assess clients for specialised powered wheelchair control systems. Be responsible for computer programming of each bespoke system and customise its operating programme to suit the client’s abilities and requirements.
As part of the multi-disciplinary team, assess patients for bespoke moulded seating. Assume the responsibility for interfacing the moulded seat onto the patient’s wheelchair and ensuring the combined equipment is safe for its intended purpose.
Ensure that prescribed equipment is set-up and adjusted to suit clinical and technical requirements. Train the patient and relevant members of their support network in the correct application and safe use of issued equipment.
Design, draw and provide clear written instructions for the production, manufacture and clinical fitting of custom made adaptations to wheelchairs, special seating systems and associated equipment to meet the intended clinical and technical requirements of individual patients.
Be responsible for the management of own workload, implementing time management techniques and prioritisation criteria, ensuring optimum output and a quality service.
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