Neonatal Technical Specialist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

• To communicate effectively with groups of staff with a wide range of clinical and technical knowledge, in varying locations.

• Convincingly communicate complex information.

• Maintain close ties with suppliers to maximise the accuracy, availability and reliability of critical medical and diagnostic equipment.

• Negotiate with suppliers to obtain the best value for money in procurement of equipment and consumables.

• Work closely with the Clinical Engineering and Estates departments to maximise the availability of equipment and safety of the environment.

• To ensure individual and team learning following incidents where human factors may have contributed to incidents involving medical equipment.

• Develop and maintain external contacts within the Neonatal network.

• Work closely with the POCT team to perform external quality assurance and updates handheld point of care analysers on TMBU.

• Attend daily Neonatal Safety Briefing to share potential safety threats or risks associated with stock control or equipment.

• Attend weekly Consultant meetings to discuss equipment and consumables.

• Attend monthly Neonatal Directorate and W&C Divisional Equipment & CIG Huddles to present an overview of projects and concerns.

• Ensure any equipment safety alerts are cascaded and shared appropriately with the Neonatal Team

Service Delivery and Improvement

• Act as an expert resource, and plan and run a rolling programme of training to Neonatal staff.

• Utilise highly specialised physical skills to calibrate, maintain and repair complex medical and IT equipment.

• Have the technical expertise to act as a trainer for medical devices, training staff to facilitate safety, confidence and competence, ensuring safety in practice

• Investigate and provide specialist advice on reported incidents with medical and IT equipment to address issues of clinical risk and share relevant learning with the neonatal team

• Through ongoing review, be able to select a range of the most appropriate equipment for specific tasks, for technical evaluation and evaluation by clinicians prior to purchase.

• The post holder will be the TMBU first line responder for MHRA and other clinical alerts

• Undertake rigorous testing and evaluation of equipment prior to purchase.

• Engage in suppliers training to the required standard.

• Accurately and competently diagnose and rectify faults and breakdowns in highly specialised medical and diagnostic equipment, in sometimes stressful circumstances.

• Be prepared to support the Sussex NTS in emergency ambulance transfers.

• To act as the Directorate lead specialist regarding certain devices e.g. blood gas machines, nitric oxide system.

• To be responsible for the download, distribution, archiving and management of data relating to management of specific investigations performed in Neonatology.

• Action relevant equipment safety alerts.

• To support Neonatal clinical research trials

• Suggest policies and changes to policies regarding equipment use and assist in the implementation of these policies through training.

• Prepare Business Appraisal Committee assessment forms, charity funding request forms and standing order waivers to ensure the availability of the systems to which they pertain.

• The post holder will assist in technical aspects of clinical trials and act as a link between the device manufacturer and the clinician in such trials.

• Provide feedback to medical device manufacturers whose products are being assessed, suggesting improvements and modifications prior to purchase, and debrief manufacturers in the case of an unsuccessful tender or bid.

• Research and develop specific projects using the expertise of the Clinical Engineering department, suppliers and external organizations.

People Management and Development

• Lead and prioritise a large and extending workload, maintaining a high level of accuracy.

• Use clinical and professional expertise to support decision making.

• To be an advocate for applications and devices, promoting the correct use of these to Neonatal staff of all levels.

• Provide ongoing direct support, guidance and leadership to Band 2/3 Technical Support Worker and other staff involved in stock management.

• Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others in the working environment. Identify and assess potential risks to patients and colleagues in equipment use and provide advice in minimising or avoiding these risks.

Patient Care Delivery

• Plan and coordinate work including the prioritisation and reprioritisation of activities, responding to ever-changing circumstances.

• Manage multiple processes simultaneously, enabling teams and individuals to focus on their own specific objectives and delegating authority.

• Manage complex clinical and administrative applications and devices on a day-to-day basis to maintain maximum functionality and availability and provide full technical support.

• Develop, maintain and implement the operations manuals and training materials for the systems, applications and devices in use.

• Ensure compliance with the Trusts IM&T policy and all aspects of the Data Protection Act and Caldicott principles are adhered to, liaising with UHSussex governance leads.

• Represent the Department as required at appropriate meetings, internal and external to the Trust.

• Create an atmosphere of mutual respect and co-operation between all staff and actively promote opportunities for multi-disciplinary team

• Keep all staff informed of significant problems affecting the functionality or availability of equipment and applications that impact on the service.

• Maintain contemporaneous records.

• Be aware of the central role and impact of the Trusts IT and data systems on the Neonatal service.

• Manage the service records of those devices not dealt with by either the Clinical Engineering or Estates departments.

• Provide oversight, advice and instruction for the TMBU Stock Control team

• Provide training to staff with a wide range of clinical and technical knowledge, including parents or carers in the correct and safe operation of any medical device that they may be discharged with and will be responsible for operating.

Person Specification

Qulification & Experience

Essential

• Relevant academic qualification.
• Good knowledge base of technical equipment.
• Familiarity with MHRA & CAS alerts

Desirable

• Evidence of training and trouble shooting in medical devices.
• Evidence of training in specialist software systems.
• Current UK driving licence.

Skills

Essential

• Experience of resource management.
• Familiarity with capital replacement and charity purchasing
• High level of computer literacy
• Ability to recognise and rectify technical problems

Desirable

• Experience in educating others.

People management & development

Essential

• Evidence of autonomous decision making
• Excellent organisational & administrative skills.

Equality, Diversity & inclusion

Essential

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

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.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)