Job summary
Do you have an interest in posture management and seating?
Do you have a problem-solving approach?
Would you like the challenge and satisfaction of working in a community setting with children and adults?
We are excited to be advertising for a Rehabilitation Engineer to work within Suffolk Wheelchair Service, to work alongside our Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapist and Rehabilitation Engineering colleagues. This is a unique role in this specialism which has become available due to retirement.
This is a rare opportunity for either an experienced Rehabilitation Engineer/ Clinical Engineer or someone looking for a development opportunity starting as a B6 and working towards a B7.
The role is at Suffolk Wheelchair Service, based in a community setting at The Disability Resource Centre, Bury St. Edmunds. The role requires the applicant to work countywide across West and East Suffolk and due to the rural location will require a suitable method of travel to access the locality.
The role requires regular quality visits to the Approved Repairer located in Ipswich. There is a dedicated Admin Team for the service.
This is a full-time post but flexible working and alternative hours can be considered.
You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
Main duties of the job
o To provide a highly specialist assessment relating to mobility and function in cases of varying complexity. Assessments will be undertaken at a wheelchair clinic, patient's home, hospital, school or any other appropriate community location.
o To be responsible, in conjunction with other members of the multi-disciplinary team or as a lone worker, for prescribing appropriate equipment from a wide range of options - manual and powered wheelchairs, special seating, accessories and pressure relieving cushions.
o To be responsible for the design and manufacture of bespoke equipment solutions where a commercial alternative is not available, in line with medical device regulations.
o To be active in the prevention and / or treatment of pressure ulcers through the prescription of appropriate seating and / or cushioning, and the provision of specialist advice to patients, carers and other professionals.
o To provide specialist engineering advice and support to colleagues.
o To assess for and prescribe special seating systems to accommodate highly complex postural needs and prevent deformity such as correction and / or prevention of contractures, deformities and other associated health problems.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description for full details.
You will be required to undertake comprehensive assessments of adults and children with a variety of physical, cognitive and/or learning disabilities who use manual wheelchairs, powerchairs and special postural management systems.
We work in clinics, schools, care settings, hospitals and patients homes to provide appropriate mobility and seating solutions.
For further information contact Mary-Jane Vingoe, Wheelchair Service Clinical Lead on 01473 351805 option 2 and option 2 or mary-jane.vingoe@wsh.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description for full details.
You will be required to undertake comprehensive assessments of adults and children with a variety of physical, cognitive and/or learning disabilities who use manual wheelchairs, powerchairs and special postural management systems.
We work in clinics, schools, care settings, hospitals and patients homes to provide appropriate mobility and seating solutions.
For further information contact Mary-Jane Vingoe, Wheelchair Service Clinical Lead on 01473 351805 option 2 and option 2 or mary-jane.vingoe@wsh.nhs.uk
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in engineering or equivalent
- oRegister of Clinical Technologists as a Rehabilitation Engineer (RCT)
- oThe Academy of Healthcare Science as a Rehabilitation / Clinical Engineer (ACHS)
- oThe Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist (HCPC).
- Current full UK Driving Licence
Desirable
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Relevant experience of working in a wheelchair or seating service, working in line with service eligibility criteria.
- Experience of working with a quality management system.
- Knowledge of current medical device legislation.
- Knowledge and experience of risk assessment and risk management
- Ability to keep accurate clinical records and produce complex wheelchair prescriptions.
- Self-motivated and committed to continuing professional development
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with children
- Experience of supervising and training other staff
- Knowledge of electronics
- Experience of moving and handling dependent people.
- Experience of CAD software
- Up to date knowledge of relevant wheelchair products available to the NHS
- Experience of contributing to research programmes
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills-verbal and written.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to take sensitive yet rational decisions in line with eligibility criteria
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to contribute to service improvement and organisational development.
Desirable
- Ability to think laterally
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Must work within defined professional scope and collaborate appropriately without encroaching on the responsibilities of other team members
- Able to cope under pressure in a demanding work environment
- Ability to travel to all required locations to carry out post
Desirable
- Flexible approach to working duties
- Able to demonstrate good listening skills, patience and kindness.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in engineering or equivalent
- oRegister of Clinical Technologists as a Rehabilitation Engineer (RCT)
- oThe Academy of Healthcare Science as a Rehabilitation / Clinical Engineer (ACHS)
- oThe Health and Care Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist (HCPC).
- Current full UK Driving Licence
Desirable
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Relevant experience of working in a wheelchair or seating service, working in line with service eligibility criteria.
- Experience of working with a quality management system.
- Knowledge of current medical device legislation.
- Knowledge and experience of risk assessment and risk management
- Ability to keep accurate clinical records and produce complex wheelchair prescriptions.
- Self-motivated and committed to continuing professional development
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with children
- Experience of supervising and training other staff
- Knowledge of electronics
- Experience of moving and handling dependent people.
- Experience of CAD software
- Up to date knowledge of relevant wheelchair products available to the NHS
- Experience of contributing to research programmes
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills-verbal and written.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to take sensitive yet rational decisions in line with eligibility criteria
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to contribute to service improvement and organisational development.
Desirable
- Ability to think laterally
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Must work within defined professional scope and collaborate appropriately without encroaching on the responsibilities of other team members
- Able to cope under pressure in a demanding work environment
- Ability to travel to all required locations to carry out post
Desirable
- Flexible approach to working duties
- Able to demonstrate good listening skills, patience and kindness.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
