Neonatal Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Management

1. Plan, coordinate and prioritise work with regards to medical equipment and devices, including liaison with the EBME/HPL Team.

2. Ensuring that the process, specification and delivery of external maintenance contracts used to maintain medical devices within the Neonatal Unit (and associated areas) meet the service needs of the Neonatal Team and conform with Trust standards.

3. Minimising Device related adverse Incidents by delivering a robust medical equipment support and maintenance service.

4. Manage the asset register and service records of those devices in conjunction with colleagues in the wider EBME/HPL Team.

5. Manage complex clinical and administrative applications and devices on a day-to-day basis to maintain maximum functionality and availability.

6. Help to develop training materials and simple guides for the systems, applications and devices in use in the Neonatal Unit.

7. Ensure compliance with the Trusts Information Governance and Information Security policies

8. Represent the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as required at appropriate meetings, internal and external to the Trust.

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

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

Clinical

1. To provide technical support to set up and trouble shoot problems with medical devices.

2. Ensure Safety testing, tagging and calibration of equipment (CFM, Ultrasound, monitors etc)

3. Have the technical expertise to act as a trainer for medical devices, working in collaboration with the neonatal education team, training staff to facilitate safety, confidence and competence, ensuring safety in practice

Work with the CPEs to implement a training programme on all medical devices.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Assist in research of and undertake testing and evaluation of equipment prior to purchase.

7. Support the Surrey Neonatal Transfer Service (NTS) in its equipment management and training.

8. To be responsible for the download, distribution, archiving and management of data relating to management of specific investigations and procedures performed on the Neonatal Unit CFM, pH Studies, Ultrasound images)

9. Action relevant equipment safety alerts.

Leadership & Communication

1. Use clinical and professional expertise to support decision making.

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

3. Provide ongoing direct support and guidance in the wider EBME Team with regard to Specialist Neonatal Unit equipment.

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

5. Maintain close ties with suppliers to maximise the accuracy, availability and reliability of critical medical and diagnostic equipment (software updates etc).

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

7. Support individual and team learning following incidents where human factors may have contributed to medical equipment related incidents.

8. Develop and maintain external contacts within the Neonatal network.

9. Work closely with the POCT team.

10. Attend Neonatal Safety Briefing and unit meetings to share potential safety threats or risks associated with stock control or equipment.

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

Policy and Service Development

1. To support Neonatal clinical research trials

2. Develop, Contribute and Reviews policies and practices for use of specialist equipment on the Neonatal Unit.

Administrative

1. Maintain contemporaneous records.

2. 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.

3. Assisting in the preparation of Business Cases related to the purchase of Medical Equipment on the Neonatal Unit.

Training and Education

1. Advise and participate in the creation and amendment of unit protocols related to equipment use.

2. Contribute to training staff on a wide range of medical and IT devices and platforms knowledge, including

Audit and Research

1. 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.

2. 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.

Personal and Professional Development

1. The post holder should remain up to date with all developments impacting patient care where there is a component of technology and hardware use, to maximise the quality of patient care and the status of the critical care area.

2. Attend relevant educational activities and training programmes to maintain an appropriate level of technical expertise.

3. Attend training sessions to comply with Trust mandatory & statutory training.

Complete yearly appraisal with line manager to identify any learning and development needs.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Further Training

Essential

• oProfessional electronics knowledge acquired through either a degree / HND / HNC or equivalent.
• oSpecialist medical equipment knowledge acquired through postgraduate and manufacturer training.

Desirable

• oQualification in electronic engineering or appropriate experience

Experience

Essential

• oExperience of post qualification medical equipment
• oExperience working in a relevant healthcare environment.

Desirable

• oExperience of working in a Neonatal or Paediatric care setting

Knowledge

Essential

• oNHS Constitution
• oTrust vision, values and strategic objectives
• oSpecialist knowledge of medical electronics and electro-mechanical systems
• oFault diagnosis and testing experience of a wide range of medical equipment
• oGood working knowledge of IT systems and Microsoft software packages

Skills

Essential

• oYou are able to communicate effectively to ensure high standards of care, treatment, service or support as appropriate to your role,
• oAble to use a spreadsheet and advanced database to set up document, record and extract information and write reports

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Peters Hospital

Neonatal Unit, 4th Floor Abbey Wing , Guildford Road

Chertsey

KT160PZ

Employer's website

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