Job summary
Are you looking for a specialist post in a friendly, dynamic team with excellent professional leadership and opportunities for flexible working?
We are looking for an enthusiastic Clinical Scientist with an Engineering background and excellent clinical and team working skills to work with. This is to provide a multidisciplinary Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) service in Kent and Medway. The caseload is primarily adults with complex disabilities who have communication difficulties.
Please note: Applicants with less experience will be considered with an adjusted PayScale and job development plan. If you have an interest in this area of work, are enthusiastic and willing to learn new skills please don't let your experience hold you back. If you have any questions or unsure please give us a call so that we can talk it through.
Main duties of the job
As a Clinical Scientist and Deputy to the Head of Adult KM CAT, the post holder will be involved in patient care, as well as the day-to-day operational management of the service.
Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology (KM CAT) Service is a specialised Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) service covering Kent and Medway.
The service provides highly specialised advice and solutions on communication needs to clients with severe disabilities and complex needs. The disabilities encountered by many of the Service's clients impact significantly on their independence, ability to communicate, to access education or work, and to their general well-being.
This post is with the Adult Team (based in Canterbury), which is part of the Clinical Engineering Service within the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department of the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust (EKHUFT).
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.
If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.
If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Accredited Masters degree or equivalent in a relevant Engineering or Physics discipline (e.g Biomedical Engineering, Electronics, Medical Physics etc).
- State Registration as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Engineer) with the Health and Care Professions Council.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Relevant PhD, or some clear indication of the ability to carry out research and development work.
- Postgraduate qualifications in Assistive Technology
- Membership of IPEM
- Chartered Engineer or Chartered Scientist status
- Appropriate qualification in management.
Clinical Skills and Experience
Essential
- Significant relevant post-registration experience.
- Ability to repair, maintain and provide advice on highly specialised computer, electronic and mechanical equipment
- Experience of professional and/or supervision/ line management of staff.
- Experience of training others.
- Experience of working with EAT.
- Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary environments.
Desirable
- In-depth experience within the specialist area of EAT or similar engineering services
- Experience in dealing with human resource issues including recruitment, performance management and management of absence.
- Experience of financial management within NHS systems
- Experience of working with clients who require AAC.
Governance
Essential
- Awareness of principal of clinical governance
- Knowledge of AAC and EAT
- Understanding of management processes and systems including quality and risk
Desirable
- Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
- In-depth knowledge of the regulatory framework and standards applicable to the design, development, manufacture and modification of medical devices
- Knowledge of relevant national strategy, policies and procedures
Personal / Professional Attributes
Essential
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to the client group
- The ability to communicate with empathy and tact, especially where there are emotional barriers to understanding and conflicting expectations
- Able to work with profoundly disabled clients and make decisions in what may be distressing or emotional circumstances.
- Able to handle and communicate complex and sensitive information, with clients, carers, families and professionals, in order to provide the best evidence-based care.
Desirable
- Practical and theoretical knowledge of a range of sub disciplines of AT e.g. environmental controls, postural management
- In depth/practical knowledge of AAC and EAT
Other Requirements
Essential
- A full U.K. driving license
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Accredited Masters degree or equivalent in a relevant Engineering or Physics discipline (e.g Biomedical Engineering, Electronics, Medical Physics etc).
- State Registration as a Clinical Scientist (Clinical Engineer) with the Health and Care Professions Council.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
- Relevant PhD, or some clear indication of the ability to carry out research and development work.
- Postgraduate qualifications in Assistive Technology
- Membership of IPEM
- Chartered Engineer or Chartered Scientist status
- Appropriate qualification in management.
Clinical Skills and Experience
Essential
- Significant relevant post-registration experience.
- Ability to repair, maintain and provide advice on highly specialised computer, electronic and mechanical equipment
- Experience of professional and/or supervision/ line management of staff.
- Experience of training others.
- Experience of working with EAT.
- Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary environments.
Desirable
- In-depth experience within the specialist area of EAT or similar engineering services
- Experience in dealing with human resource issues including recruitment, performance management and management of absence.
- Experience of financial management within NHS systems
- Experience of working with clients who require AAC.
Governance
Essential
- Awareness of principal of clinical governance
- Knowledge of AAC and EAT
- Understanding of management processes and systems including quality and risk
Desirable
- Experience in contributing to policy, planning and service development.
- In-depth knowledge of the regulatory framework and standards applicable to the design, development, manufacture and modification of medical devices
- Knowledge of relevant national strategy, policies and procedures
Personal / Professional Attributes
Essential
- Understanding of the roles of other professionals relevant to the client group
- The ability to communicate with empathy and tact, especially where there are emotional barriers to understanding and conflicting expectations
- Able to work with profoundly disabled clients and make decisions in what may be distressing or emotional circumstances.
- Able to handle and communicate complex and sensitive information, with clients, carers, families and professionals, in order to provide the best evidence-based care.
Desirable
- Practical and theoretical knowledge of a range of sub disciplines of AT e.g. environmental controls, postural management
- In depth/practical knowledge of AAC and EAT
Other Requirements
Essential
- A full U.K. driving license
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).
