Job responsibilities
This
is a clinical scientist post working in the Rehabilitation Engineering and
Clinical Measurement Services, which provides assistive technology services
for disabled people living in the Leeds area and beyond. Services are provided in collaboration with
rehabilitation services based in the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and also
with other rehabilitation services in Yorkshire. The post holder spends most time with
patients providing technical support across a range of assistive technology
areas including wheelchair services, gait analysis and functional electrical
stimulation, prosthetic and orthotics. The post holder works with patients
including those with profound or multiple disabilities.
The
job holder normally works unsupervised, and takes responsibility for own
decision on patient care in-line with registration. The post holder reports
professionally to the Lead for Rehab Engineering. The post holders work is
managed with expected results defined and outcomes assessed at intervals.
Work is guided by national guidelines, regulations and standards. The post
holder may be asked to interpret regulations relating to their field and
develop guidelines for the organization. Procedures are documented in an ISO
9000 accredited quality management system.
Knowledge,
Skills and Experience Required
The
job holder spends most of their time providing technical advice within
several areas of Medical Physics and Engineering, including clinical
measurement, wheelchair services, gait analysis and functional electrical
stimulation. So the post holder should have an extensive knowledge of gait
analysis, functional electrical stimulation, wheelchairs and postural
management equipment, as well as experience of the delivery of assistive
technology services/Clinical Measurement. The post holder should have a good
knowledge of other areas of Clinical Engineering, including orthotics
(devices to strengthen or straighten joints), prosthetics (artificial limbs),
communication aids, electronic assistive technology and data analysis skills.
Experienced in the clinical
engineering field across more than one area, gaining in-depth knowledge on
clinical assessment procedures, fabrication of customized seating, clinical
testing, monitoring of suppliers, relevant legislation, patient handling,
wheelchairs and seating equipment through study days, short courses, personal
study and working with specialists from a range of disciplines.
Broad rehabilitation engineering
knowledge obtained from specialist course(s) at postgraduate level to Masters
Level equivalence.
The knowledge gained though
in-depth experience and study should be at equivalent to Masters level.
Core
Behaviours and Skills
Personal:
Organise
own work program from objectives.
Planning of work program will be influenced by urgent clinical cases,
access to facilities, coordination with other personnel, and availability of
equipment.
Management:
Interpersonal skills
Organisational awareness
IT: Microsoft Office applications
& CAD
Physical
Skills:
Advanced
workmanship: standard skills including use of tools to make fine adjustments
e.g. with screw driver, micrometer, torque wrench.
Operation
and Measurement Equipment
Manual
handling to position patients with disabilities for accurate assessment or
testing of function.
Assess
joint range, tone and muscle power.
High
degree of precision for accurate identification of anatomical landmarks for
gait analysis marker positions.
Core
Knowledge and Understanding
Clinical
Awareness
of clinical factors affecting AT prescriptions
Awareness
of clinical presentation of commonly encountered medical conditions
Awareness
of other clinical interventions
Technical
Functional
Electrical Stimulation devices, 3D motion analysis system, wheelchair and
seating equipment & manufacturers instruction on operation and
maintenance.
Wheelchair
and seating equipment on the market & manufacturers instruction on
operation and maintenance.
Legislation
and guidance on matters relating to assistive technology services. Examples are: Medical Devices Regulations,
British Standard, BS EN ISO 14971:2001Medical devices Application of risk
management to medical devices
Organizational/Legal
Aims
of LTHT, Department of Medical Physics and Engineering & Clinical
Engineering
Human
resources policies & procedures
Regulations
covering health & safety at work, control of substances hazardous to
health, data protection, disability discrimination, freedom of
information.
Principal
Duties and Areas of Responsibility
Delivery
of Clinical Services
Delivery
of the Gait Analysis Service has these components:
Review and acceptance of referrals
(screening)
Assessment to identify appropriate
tests
Undertakes test (e.g. physical
examination, 3D motion capture)
Data collection, processing and
storage of gait analysis results
Analyses and interprets gait
analysis data for presentation in multi-disciplinary meetings
Reports technical gait analysis
results to clinicians (referrer)
Undertakes quality assurance
procedures relevant to test
Delivery
of the FES service has these components:
Review and acceptance of referrals
(screening)
Assessment and tests to identify
appropriate intervention
Set up of complex highly specialist
equipment, individualized to patients needs
Provides highly specialist
technical advice to patients and associated professionals on the correct use
of the medical device
Reports on outcomes to other
associated clinical professionals
Delivery
of other Clinical Engineering/Clinical Measurement services has these
components:
Provide specialist technical advice
on the selection and use of assistive technology equipment, modifications and
adaptations to service users, carers, healthcare professionals and others in
clinic as part of a multidisciplinary team and elsewhere. The clinical
service that the post holder is expected to support may be functional
electrical stimulation, gait analysis, wheelchair and seating.
Prepare specifications for
modifications to assistive technology equipment for external companies
including the occasional preparation of CAD technical drawings and assessment
of the risks associated with the modifications.
Commission, acceptance test, hand
over, fit and adjust equipment to meet a patients needs. This includes a check that the equipment
has been delivered in accordance with specification, is suitable for the
patient, and that the patient knows how to use it
Review patients with assistive
technology equipment either in a clinic, or at a home visit.
Add technical and clinical
information to the patients case notes following appointments,
Participate in case conferences.
To regularly train patients and
their carers on the safe and effective use of their assistive technology
equipment.
Develop, validate, undertake and
analyse specialist tests on patients and their equipment. This maybe to
diagnose the difficulty that a patient is experiencing with their
equipment. Particular tests that may
be required are: motion analysis equipment, interface pressure, portable
appliance testing on electrical equipment.
To provide technical and scientific
support in other clinical engineering and medical technology areas when it is
deemed necessary.
To provide scientific support to
Renal Dialysis team including analyzing and reporting renal data.
Quality
Management
To participate fully in the
development of the RE/Clinical Measurement quality management system and to
comply with the quality policy, quality manuals and work instructions and
procedures contained therein.
To produce and update written work
instructions and procedures
Monitor services and goods that are
provided to AT services from suppliers with regard to effective &
efficient clinical interventions, management of clinical risk/ regulatory
compliance
Evaluate and advise on equipment
prior to purchase
Risk
Management/ Health and Safety
Responsible for undertaking and
documenting risk assessments to ensure the safe use of assistive technology
equipment by individuals or patient groups.
The performance of alternative equipment may need to be compared, in
order to identify the most appropriate option for the person.
Investigate accidents and adverse
incidents involving assistive technology equipment, obtaining information
from the patient & others in circumstances that may be sensitive.
Advise on and implement response to
Medical Device Alerts from MHRA involving assistive technology equipment and
recalls from suppliers
To ensure the health and safety of
themselves and others by following agreed working procedures and reporting
adverse incidents.
Professional
and Managerial
Contribute to planning, development
and integration of RE service and other rehabilitation services in Leeds and
elsewhere.
To occasionally train healthcare,
educational and social work personnel and students, in own areas of expertise
Contribute to national professional
meetings and initiatives when appropriate.
Undertake, advise on, identify the
need for or initiate research studies as required.
To manage tasks and workload
relating to trainees.
To carry out resource management
tasks to facilitate the effective running of the service including arranging
for the calibration of equipment.
Work with the Leads for RE service
to monitor RE activity (including Medical device alerts, product recalls),
To provide technical input into
Trust supply contract reviews/renewal process.
Contribute to planning, development
of the Renal Scientists team
