Clinical Engineering Team Leader

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The job will be carried out with a large degree of autonomy, individual responsibility and personal accountability, unless otherwise stated. Support and advice in all areas will be available from the line manager as identified in the Organisational Chart or clinician.

The Organisational Chart shows the paths of responsibility and accountability of all posts within the Medical Engineering Group.

All duties will be carried out in accordance with NHS guidelines and departmental Quality Assurance (QA) systems and policies in order to ensure that equipment is maintained in an accurate and correctly functioning manner for the safety and benefit of all users and patients.

Medical Equipment Service and Maintenance

• Manage the service and clinical support activities of the Workshop / Team to meet clinical needs.
• Working in Critical Care patient areas throughout the Trust, providing technical support to clinicians, involving exposure to adverse emotional and environmental conditions.
• Troubleshooting on complex equipment whilst its connected to critically ill patients. Involving exposure to adverse emotional and environmental conditions.
• Prioritise workshop activities and utilise staff resources in accordance with section policies and competing service demands.

• Carry out Performance Assurance/QA checks (PPM) and precision repairs/calibration on highly complex multi-parameter medical equipment in a competent, professional manner, which demands good manual dexterity, sensory awareness, use of fine tools and components, in-depth fault analysis and diagnostic skills and the ability to maintain concentration through frequent interruptions, including requests for immediate assistance to clinicians, where the demand for safety, precision, timeliness and accurate documentation is paramount.

• Manage the planning/re-scheduling of PPM checks on equipment after maintenance/repairs.

• Order spares and maintain stock levels to minimise down-time and spares costs.

• Take an active role in the planned replacement and manage the decommissioning/disposal of equipment of a Section, advising on appropriate methods, mindful of risks and statutory requirements.
• Provide clinical or physiological support to the clinical staff in order to optimise patient monitoring outcomes.
• Must be prepared to work flexibly when working as part of the Radiotherapy Technical Services Group to support the needs of the service. This may include out of hours work, weekends and bank holidays
• Must be prepared to work at Satellite sites as required to support and manage device maintenance.
• Must be prepared to work a shift system when working as part of the Radiotherapy Technical Services Group
• Must be prepared to work across the Christie Network when working as part of the Radiotherapy Technical Services Group

Risk Management and Governance

• Undertake risk assessments where required.
• Exercise professional judgment when analysing the causes, circumstances and risks involved when equipment fails in service, advising users accordingly.
• Act on relevant MHRA bulletins and manufacturers updates, liaising with other healthcare professionals to ensure timely execution.
• Make decisions to withdraw safety-critical equipment from use where performance is below acceptable standards.
• Report and investigate clinical incidents/near misses using the appropriate mechanism (hospital incident reporting system), including participating in Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) reporting when necessary.
• Recommend/initiate immediate action to ensure safety and prevent further harm; quarantine equipment and scenes in order to preserve evidence and document observations.

• Carry out all duties in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, relevant statutory regulations, approved codes of conduct and local rules.
• Ensure compliance with the correct use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other risk control measures, e.g. decontamination of equipment to minimise cross-infection risks to staff and patients, are used.
• Manage, assess and report on potential risks immediately, taking corrective action to manage incidents or risks to health, safety and security.
• Demonstrate and encourage good health, safety and security practices in the workplace.
• Duties may require the moving and lifting of heavy equipment and maneuvering around/ under it where safe lifting and handling techniques must be employed.
• Duties may involve the risk of exposure to dust, sharps, fumes, medical gases, chemical solvents, body fluids, electric shock, ionising radiation, strong magnetic fields and cramped/unpleasant working conditions where appropriate precautions/PPE must be used.

Quality and Performance

• Manage the quality of healthcare services, activities and outcomes by implementing appropriate aspects of quality assurance systems, actively developing quality policies, procedures and work instructions, and monitoring compliance with quality assurance.
• Ensure compliance with the maintenance and calibration of departmental test and measurement equipment in a Section, used to ensure the accuracy of medical devices.

• Maintain and promote the development of the departmental ISO Quality System, including carrying out audits of the service provided.

• Ensure all activities are carried out within a quality framework and meet regulatory requirements.
• Propose and author changes to working practices and departmental policies and procedures.

Finance

• Manage the efficient use of physical, staffing financial resources in order to meet the clinical needs

Contracts

• Monitor and liaise with contractors regarding managed service contracts to ensure their service commitments are accurately and acceptably performed

Data Management

• Maintain and verify adequate records of the Team, ensuring compliance with the departmental quality system, equipment management database, NHS and other statutory requirements.
• Quality Assurance and analysis of archived Patient or Clinical data of equipment used in Clinical areas in order to assist clinical staff

Procurement and Commissioning

• Manage the evaluation and commissioning process for new equipment, including the delivery of clinical user training.
• Test new equipment to ensure it meets all statutory, purchase and user requirements; develop new test protocols as required and record onto the Trust asset inventory.
• Communicate with Suppliers and Equipment Users to resolve problems and identify training deficiencies prior to commissioning.
• Manage the new equipment evaluation and procurement process including determining the clinical requirement, potential users and proposed location; designing appropriate evaluation procedures to effectively compare and assess products; evaluating any installation needs and its impact upon the proposed location; liaising with interested Parties

Staff Recruitment, Training and Development

• Participate in the Human Resource activities of the workshop in terms of performance, training, discipline, sickness absence monitoring, staff appraisal and, recruitment and selection processes.
• Communicate effectively on the use and application of complex technical equipment with professional users at all levels including patients/end users.

• Provide technical support and advice to professional users and develop ideas to overcome problems.
• Provide operational and technical service training to departmental staff, user training to other Trust staff, and develop support material as appropriate.

• Keep abreast of scientific, technological and clinical developments to maintain a level of technical competence and clinical awareness appropriate to current duties.
• Develop new knowledge and competences in line with departmental requirements.
• Produce and maintain a Personal Professional Portfolio, giving evidence of Continuing Professional Development and competence.
• Design and deliver structured training courses on effective equipment use to staff at all levels in the clinical areas covered.
• Will be an IPEM Supervisor for the Clinical Technology Training Scheme
• Will be an IPEM Moderator for the Clinical Technology Training Scheme
• Will actively promote professional registration within the department

Other

The job description indicates the duties and responsibilities that are appropriate to meet the present needs of the service. Since these needs may change, as may the resources of staff and material available, it is necessary to recognise that the employee must be willing to undertake other and/or different duties that may, after discussion, be assigned by the Radiotherapy Physics Technical Services Group Leader or his/her deputy.

Qualifications

Essential

• HNC/ Degree level qualification in relevant engineering discipline
• Masters equivalent level specialist training in medical technology engineering
• Registered clinical Technologist (or meets registration requirements)
• Management training

Desirable

• Incorporated Status with registered Engineering Council UK professional body

Experience

Essential

• Substantial post-graduate / post-qualification medical equipment maintenance experience working in a relevant healthcare environment
• Several years' supervisory experience.
• Specialist equipment training on complex multi-parameter medical equipment

Desirable

• Audit Experience
• Procurement Experience
• Multi-disciplinary working experience

Skills

Essential

• Management skills & experience in running aspects of an equipment management /maintenance organisation.
• Able to lead by example by demonstrating good manual dexterity & co-ordination to facilitate the use of precision tools
• Good written & verbal communication skills.
• Adept in the use of software for equipment management purposes
• Ability to work safely & effectively under pressure
• Good multi-tasking abilities
• Ability to maintain concentration for long periods, often with frequent interruptions
• Effective problem solver with highly developed logical fault finding skills

Desirable

• Computer literate with in-depth knowledge of Word and Excel

Knowledge

Essential

• Specialist knowledge and experience of medical equipment and the special circumstances which apply when working in a hospital environment
• In-depth knowledge of MHRA and good equipment management practice
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of working within and developing an ISO Quality System
• In-depth knowledge of equipment management system software use
• In-depth knowledge of Physiological Measurement /Patient Monitoring Techniques.

Desirable

• In-depth knowledge of E-Quip equipment management system. Attended many Physiological Measurement training courses

VALUES

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

OTHER

Essential

• Required to carry out duties outside of normal working hours as part of on-call or over-time period
• Will be required to work on other sites.
• Capable of working in clinical areas, which may include proximity to distressing patient situations, where sympathy, tact and discretion are to be maintained at all times
• Appropriately dressed. Ongoing ability to lift/move equipment of moderate weight and be physically capable of maneuvering around/under it when being maintained
• Able to attend training courses away from home

Desirable

• Full driving licence

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).