Job summary
The role is to provide clinical support to the Purchasing and Supplies function so that the evaluation and utilisation of clinical products and equipment, throughout the Trust supports clinical and procurement 'best practice'.
The post holder will have an important role in contributing towards the attainment of the department's strategic aims, particularly in respect of improving quality and the development of evidence based healthcare whilst reducing costs.
Interview date: 15th April 2024
Main duties of the job
- In addition, the post holder will liaise with colleagues at all levels to ensure compliance in the use of agreed standardised products, ensuring that the range of items used within the Trust is rationalised to an optimum level.
- The postholder will be significantly involved in the procurement process for equipment for capital projects for both St Helens and Whiston Hospitals.
- Support the re-engineering of supply chain processes by ensuring that products meet clinical activity synchronised with demand at the point of use.
- Manage the implementation of product evaluation, recommendation and selection processes, providing feedback on non compliance as necessary.
- Mobilise and monitor after sales support delivered by preferred suppliers ensuring that this meets agreed objectives.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
- CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
- SAFETY that is of the highest standards
- COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
- SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
- PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
- Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Identify where improved patient care or savings might be achieved through rationalisation of a product, commodity group or suppliers' entire catalogue portfolio.
- Manage the introduction of new products in relation to clinical consumables and surgical items, ensuring objective rationale is applied to clinical governance and value for money issues.
- In conjunction with clinicians and Purchasing & Supplies staff review products, catalogues and suppliers, ensuring opportunities to consolidate and aggregate expenditure and replenishment processes are optimised.
- Provide nursing advice and support to the Purchasing & Supplies Department on all operational issues facing end user staff. Liaising at all levels to ensure effective feedback to aid continuous improvement.
- In conjunction with procurement and clinical staff, identify and calculate financial savings attributable to the actions of the clinical procurement specialist and report these consistent with the department's performance indicators.
- Determine information needs relating to effective product utilisation and evaluation within clinical practice.
- Co-ordinate and lead on product evaluation projects, taking account of research, innovation, clinical evidence, clinical need, benefits, disadvantages and value for money considerations.
- Identify research gaps in product information and where appropriate prepare research proposals and seek external support for clinical Liaising as required with procurement colleagues and the Research and Development Department to secure contractual arrangements.
- Where appropriate, support nursing research and practice development colleagues in training, education and practice development activity.
- Liaise with staff development managers and clinicians regarding education and development needs, emanating from Product Evaluation and Selection initiatives.
- Arrange and participate in workshops, seminars and study days in consultation with and gaining support from, suppliers and educationalists.
- Maintain an awareness of current issues in nursing relating to clinical governance, ensuring any implications are incorporated within procurement decision making.
- Contribute towards the development of suppliers and their products in support of the Trust's continuous product rationalisation initiative, including the implementation of systems to monitor supplier performance.
- Proactively offer advice and guidance to user departments in all matters associated with the evaluation, selection and utilisation of medical devices, meeting with customers on site where this is deemed to be beneficial.
- Ensure all queries, complaints and requests for information from customers and suppliers are dealt with promptly and that all necessary follow-up action is completed satisfactorily in writing, e-mail or by telephone.
- Undertake special projects or any other reasonable duty as directed by the Head of Purchasing & Supplies.
- Provide support to the Head of Purchasing and Supply, and Medical Devices Group preparing and presenting reports, ensuring supporting documents are available and that the Chair is briefed on proposed recommendations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Identify where improved patient care or savings might be achieved through rationalisation of a product, commodity group or suppliers' entire catalogue portfolio.
- Manage the introduction of new products in relation to clinical consumables and surgical items, ensuring objective rationale is applied to clinical governance and value for money issues.
- In conjunction with clinicians and Purchasing & Supplies staff review products, catalogues and suppliers, ensuring opportunities to consolidate and aggregate expenditure and replenishment processes are optimised.
- Provide nursing advice and support to the Purchasing & Supplies Department on all operational issues facing end user staff. Liaising at all levels to ensure effective feedback to aid continuous improvement.
- In conjunction with procurement and clinical staff, identify and calculate financial savings attributable to the actions of the clinical procurement specialist and report these consistent with the department's performance indicators.
- Determine information needs relating to effective product utilisation and evaluation within clinical practice.
- Co-ordinate and lead on product evaluation projects, taking account of research, innovation, clinical evidence, clinical need, benefits, disadvantages and value for money considerations.
- Identify research gaps in product information and where appropriate prepare research proposals and seek external support for clinical Liaising as required with procurement colleagues and the Research and Development Department to secure contractual arrangements.
- Where appropriate, support nursing research and practice development colleagues in training, education and practice development activity.
- Liaise with staff development managers and clinicians regarding education and development needs, emanating from Product Evaluation and Selection initiatives.
- Arrange and participate in workshops, seminars and study days in consultation with and gaining support from, suppliers and educationalists.
- Maintain an awareness of current issues in nursing relating to clinical governance, ensuring any implications are incorporated within procurement decision making.
- Contribute towards the development of suppliers and their products in support of the Trust's continuous product rationalisation initiative, including the implementation of systems to monitor supplier performance.
- Proactively offer advice and guidance to user departments in all matters associated with the evaluation, selection and utilisation of medical devices, meeting with customers on site where this is deemed to be beneficial.
- Ensure all queries, complaints and requests for information from customers and suppliers are dealt with promptly and that all necessary follow-up action is completed satisfactorily in writing, e-mail or by telephone.
- Undertake special projects or any other reasonable duty as directed by the Head of Purchasing & Supplies.
- Provide support to the Head of Purchasing and Supply, and Medical Devices Group preparing and presenting reports, ensuring supporting documents are available and that the Chair is briefed on proposed recommendations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Health related degree or equivalent (ideally evidence of post registration qualification to demonstrate on-going learning and development).
Desirable
- Post registration qualification to demonstrate on-going learning and development.
- CIPS Graduate Diploma or evidence of working towards.
Knowledge
Essential
- An experienced RGN with 3 years clinical experience.
- Minimum of 2 years' experience at Management level.
Desirable
- NHS experience.
- Experience of product research and evaluation.
- Capital equipment procurement.
Skills
Essential
- Computer literate with experience of Microsoft Office, Excel, Access and Word.
- Excellent communicator (verbal and written).
- Excellent report writing skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Professional manner acts with integrity.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- Enthusiastic.
- Self-motivated.
- Team Player.
- Positive Attitude.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Health related degree or equivalent (ideally evidence of post registration qualification to demonstrate on-going learning and development).
Desirable
- Post registration qualification to demonstrate on-going learning and development.
- CIPS Graduate Diploma or evidence of working towards.
Knowledge
Essential
- An experienced RGN with 3 years clinical experience.
- Minimum of 2 years' experience at Management level.
Desirable
- NHS experience.
- Experience of product research and evaluation.
- Capital equipment procurement.
Skills
Essential
- Computer literate with experience of Microsoft Office, Excel, Access and Word.
- Excellent communicator (verbal and written).
- Excellent report writing skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
- Professional manner acts with integrity.
- Strong communication and influencing skills.
- Enthusiastic.
- Self-motivated.
- Team Player.
- Positive Attitude.
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
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).
