Wheelchair Engineer
Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
The closing date is 08 May 2024
Job summary
Wheelchair Services have an exciting opportunity to recruit an engineer to support our workshop team to build, maintain and repair wheelchairs for our patients in Norfolk.
Our warehouse base is in Hellesdon
Main duties of the job
1) Managing assets in accordance with service process
2) Interpret wheelchair prescription to decide if a chair can be issued from stock or requires procuring.
3) Complete asset disposal forms
4) Interpret basic and complex wheelchair prescription forms and set wheelchair up to required specification.
5) Liaise with Stores Coordinator to order required parts for wheelchairs requiring refurbishment or repair, in a timely manner.
About us
Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Information management
- In the absence of the Wheelchair Repair Lead, analyse and interpret wheelchair prescriptions to decide whether a wheelchair in stock could be refurbished cost-effectively and in a timely manner to meet 18 week RTT targets, requesting new wheelchairs where this is unlikely to be the case.
- Complete asset disposal forms for wheelchairs disposed of, listing the reason for disposal.
- Identify appropriate wheelchairs from stock and set up according to clinician request.
- Interpret basic and complex wheelchair prescription forms and set wheelchair up to required specification.
- Liaise with Stores Coordinator to order required parts for wheelchairs requiring refurbishment or repair, in a timely manner.
Knowledge
- To provide technical information on the safe use of equipment to patients and carers, raising any safety/suitability concerns with the use of equipment to Wheelchair Assessment Centre.
- Ensure all electrical wheelchairs, chargers and accessories are tested in line with manufacturer instructions.
- Undertake fault-finding and programming of electric/electronic components, circuits and electromechanical systems including wheelchair remotes and modules. Programme wheelchairs for handover according to prescription/clinical guidance.
- Keep up to date with industry standards and undertake any required technical training suggested by Wheelchair Repair Lead/Clinical team.
- Act in accordance with COSHH and PPE regulations.
Physical skills
- Able to use a wide range of tools/electrical and mechanical equipment to repair and maintain complex and non-complex wheelchairs and accessories.
- Support clinical service by recommending technical solutions to repair issues including welding, respraying using spray booth and manufacturing bespoke parts for wheelchairs (e.g. arm raisers, foot boards), supported by Wheelchair Repair Lead if needed.
- Utilising lifting equipment (e.g. pneumatic ramp) to complete repairs on heavy powered wheelchairs which cannot be completed by Field Engineers outside of the workshop.
Operational Delivery
- To provide technical advice to admin team to troubleshoot wheelchair faults, saving the need for an Engineer visit.
- When disposing of wheelchairs, identify any reusable parts, refurbishing them to the required standard.
- Refurbishment of wheelchairs and associated mechanical and electrical parts to as new standard.
- Request supplies, parts and accessories in preparation for refurbishment, repairs and maintenance.
- Liaise with suppliers/technical departments to resolve technical issues relating to wheelchairs and associated equipment.
Risk and Governance
- Liaise with clinical and administrative colleagues to report technical/safety issues relating to wheelchairs and equipment or to discuss prescriptions as necessary.
- Escalate any patient safety issues/incidents to Wheelchair Repair Lead.
- Conduct electrical safety testing of wheelchair chargers.
Patient contact
- When covering for Field Engineers, Wheelchair Engineers will be required to carry out a daily round of patient visits, repairing, servicing and maintaining wheelchairs in the patients residence, clinical setting etc.
- Attend emergency repairs during the working day when requested by Wheelchair Repair Lead.
- Be aware of specialist needs of patients, both mental and physical, and maintain a professional customer service attitude when dealing with patients and their families/representatives.
- During pit stop repairs at base, discuss with patients/representatives repair and maintenance issues, escalating any clinical issues to the clinical service where required.
- Handover of stock basic wheelchairs to patients at Red House, informing them of its use and any safety information as required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Information management
- In the absence of the Wheelchair Repair Lead, analyse and interpret wheelchair prescriptions to decide whether a wheelchair in stock could be refurbished cost-effectively and in a timely manner to meet 18 week RTT targets, requesting new wheelchairs where this is unlikely to be the case.
- Complete asset disposal forms for wheelchairs disposed of, listing the reason for disposal.
- Identify appropriate wheelchairs from stock and set up according to clinician request.
- Interpret basic and complex wheelchair prescription forms and set wheelchair up to required specification.
- Liaise with Stores Coordinator to order required parts for wheelchairs requiring refurbishment or repair, in a timely manner.
Knowledge
- To provide technical information on the safe use of equipment to patients and carers, raising any safety/suitability concerns with the use of equipment to Wheelchair Assessment Centre.
- Ensure all electrical wheelchairs, chargers and accessories are tested in line with manufacturer instructions.
- Undertake fault-finding and programming of electric/electronic components, circuits and electromechanical systems including wheelchair remotes and modules. Programme wheelchairs for handover according to prescription/clinical guidance.
- Keep up to date with industry standards and undertake any required technical training suggested by Wheelchair Repair Lead/Clinical team.
- Act in accordance with COSHH and PPE regulations.
Physical skills
- Able to use a wide range of tools/electrical and mechanical equipment to repair and maintain complex and non-complex wheelchairs and accessories.
- Support clinical service by recommending technical solutions to repair issues including welding, respraying using spray booth and manufacturing bespoke parts for wheelchairs (e.g. arm raisers, foot boards), supported by Wheelchair Repair Lead if needed.
- Utilising lifting equipment (e.g. pneumatic ramp) to complete repairs on heavy powered wheelchairs which cannot be completed by Field Engineers outside of the workshop.
Operational Delivery
- To provide technical advice to admin team to troubleshoot wheelchair faults, saving the need for an Engineer visit.
- When disposing of wheelchairs, identify any reusable parts, refurbishing them to the required standard.
- Refurbishment of wheelchairs and associated mechanical and electrical parts to as new standard.
- Request supplies, parts and accessories in preparation for refurbishment, repairs and maintenance.
- Liaise with suppliers/technical departments to resolve technical issues relating to wheelchairs and associated equipment.
Risk and Governance
- Liaise with clinical and administrative colleagues to report technical/safety issues relating to wheelchairs and equipment or to discuss prescriptions as necessary.
- Escalate any patient safety issues/incidents to Wheelchair Repair Lead.
- Conduct electrical safety testing of wheelchair chargers.
Patient contact
- When covering for Field Engineers, Wheelchair Engineers will be required to carry out a daily round of patient visits, repairing, servicing and maintaining wheelchairs in the patients residence, clinical setting etc.
- Attend emergency repairs during the working day when requested by Wheelchair Repair Lead.
- Be aware of specialist needs of patients, both mental and physical, and maintain a professional customer service attitude when dealing with patients and their families/representatives.
- During pit stop repairs at base, discuss with patients/representatives repair and maintenance issues, escalating any clinical issues to the clinical service where required.
- Handover of stock basic wheelchairs to patients at Red House, informing them of its use and any safety information as required.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable background within electrical/mechanical engineering
Desirable
- Working in an NHS setting
- Direct experience in maintaining wheelchairs/medical devices
Skills, ability and knowledge
Essential
- IT skills including experience of Microsoft Office
- Be able to kneel, bend, stoop and work in cramped environments if necessary
- Be able to manually handle loads of up to 20KG safely
- Able to work to manufacturer instruction
Desirable
- Utilising electronic diagnostic/programming tools
- Professional manufacturer training relating to wheelchairs and associated equipment
Communication
Essential
- Ability to communicate with a variety of healthcare professionals
- Good written and verbal communication and reasoning skills
- Good customer relations and interpersonal skills
Qualifications
Essential
- oNVQ Level 4 or equivalent experience in either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable background within electrical/mechanical engineering
Desirable
- Working in an NHS setting
- Direct experience in maintaining wheelchairs/medical devices
Skills, ability and knowledge
Essential
- IT skills including experience of Microsoft Office
- Be able to kneel, bend, stoop and work in cramped environments if necessary
- Be able to manually handle loads of up to 20KG safely
- Able to work to manufacturer instruction
Desirable
- Utilising electronic diagnostic/programming tools
- Professional manufacturer training relating to wheelchairs and associated equipment
Communication
Essential
- Ability to communicate with a variety of healthcare professionals
- Good written and verbal communication and reasoning skills
- Good customer relations and interpersonal skills
Qualifications
Essential
- oNVQ Level 4 or equivalent experience in either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
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.
