Clinical Engineer (Rehab Engineering and Gait)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Service

To develop an integral role within multi-disciplinary teams working alongside consultants, doctors, physiotherapists and other allied healthcare professionals.

The post holder will have a good appreciation of the clinical needs of the patient groups served by the department and understanding of appropriate and effective delivery of treatment.

To take a clinical caseload of movement analysis and rehabilitation engineering patients, performing measurements and assessments for the suitability of a range of assistive technologies (for example Ankle Foot Orthoses, Functional Electrical Stimulation). This will involve having direct contact with patients, including children, with mobility disabilities and accompanying communication and learning difficulties.

To process, analyse and report movement analysis data, using specialist software (for example 3D movement analysis, digital video, oxygen consumption, plantar pressure measurement)

To explain complex test procedures and results to technical and non-technical clinical staff, interpreting uncertainties and explaining, and where possible correcting, artefacts.

To participate in multidisciplinary review meetings with clinical colleagues (physiotherapists, orthotists and consultants)

To advise on the purchase of new technical equipment for the laboratories.

To translate new research developments into clinical service practice. To provide support, both clinical and technical, for ORLAUs offsite services, working independently through our satellite clinics and contracted mobile gait analysis services.

Engineering project work

The postholder is required to conduct a number of engineering projects. The exact composition will depend on clinical service needs. Projects will be delegated by one of the more senior engineers, however the postholder is required to manage each project, including goal setting, progress monitoring, reporting and budget management.

The postholder will also need to liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, either through existing team meetings or dedicated project meetings.

Projects will include the following:

Development of new techniques for processing and reporting clinical data, overseeing the translation of these into clinical practice (this will involve using specialist software, but also developing software through writing code using packages such as Matlab).

Introduction and commissioning of new technologies. Design and testing of prototype measurement and assistive technologies (this will involve the use of specialist software such as 3D CAD/CAM packages and Matlab)

Translation of ORLAU research projects into clinical practice and design and introduction of new technology (hardware and software) in support of ORLAUs offsite services.

Management

To assume delegated responsibility as lead engineer in movement analysis or rehabilitation engineering in the absence of more senior staff.

To supervise the work of technicians as required. To supervise the project work of ORLAUs Band 6 clinical scientist trainees.

To take responsibility for arranging training placements for clinical scientist trainees from other centres, particularly those coming from partners within the regional training network (Oswestry, Liverpool and North Wales), making sure all paperwork is complete and placements are planned and activities timetabled.

Quality Management

To be aware of the requirements of ISO 9001/13485 and the Quality Management structures within the Movement Analysis Service, including the requirements of the national CMAS standards.

To produce and modify the QA procedures used in ORLAUs clinical services, in particular ensuring new technical developments are supported with appropriate procedures and documentation.

To schedule and organise calibration sessions (movement analysis and rehab engineering equipment).

To conduct internal audits in line with ISO 9001/13485

Education and training

To maintain the in-depth knowledge of technical and clinical subjects which make up the clinical engineering discipline, keeping up to date with research developments.

To provide training for ORLAU staff in areas of expertise on a formal and informal basis. To contribute to ORLAUs educational programme of external courses.

To maintain an understanding of the Modernising Scientific Careers STP training scheme, in particular the requirements for clinical engineering.

To train Band 6 clinical scientist trainees as part of ORLAUs education programme, conducting assessments through the National Schools on-line assessment tool.

Research, Development and Audit

To maintain GCP training and understand the regulatory procedures for running research projects.

To provide engineering support for existing research projects within the department.

To participate in data collection, processing and analysis for subjects involved in current research projects.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Physical Skills, Effort and Working Conditions

Maintain a busy clinical workload (The postholder will spend at least 30% of their working week conducting lengthy patient appointments).

Maintain concentration during prolonged assessment procedures (taking up to 4 hours) ensuring that all the data (medical history, clinical examination, energy of walking test, 3-dimensional movement data, electromyography, pedobarography, and video) required for clinical decision making is acquired during the single assessment. (These assessments require moderate physical effort. The job involves very occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions eg vomit, urine and faeces)

Deal with children, especially those with learning difficulties, attending the unit who can sometimes become distressed during the assessment procedures performed by unfamiliar adults. (around 50% of ORLAUs patients are children and around 25% of adults and children have learning difficulties)

Conduct engineering project work requiring intense concentration in an office shared with other staff and with frequent interruptions.

Person Specification

Qualificatio

Essential

• First degree in relevant engineering discipline
• Education to Masters level
• Professional registration as a Clinical Scientist

Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience of both 3D clinical movement analysis and assistive technologies. The level expected is that of a newly qualified clinical scientist.
• Experience of working with children and/or people with special needs.

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Creative engineering problem-solving skills, ability to innovate and apply established engineering principles in novel applications
• Ability to write, implement and test code (for example Matlab or Python routines
• Excellent analytical and technical skills
• Excellent communication skills, able to communicate with clinical staff, both technical and non-technical, and patients. Able to communicate complex technical information to non-expert staff.
• Current driving licence

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of normal anatomy and physiology, along with common neuromusculoskeletal pathologies.

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

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

ORLAU, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital

Twmpath Lane,

Oswestry

SY10 7AG

Employer's website

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