Clinical Technologist

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an engineer/technologist for the Mechanical Engineering Service (MES) at the Freeman Hospital. You will design, manufacture and install mechanical solutions for service users, coordinating with RTAS and other stakeholders across the region.

Requirements include a degree in engineering or science, CAD/CAM proficiency, CNC experience, and a UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or science-related subject or equivalent experience.
• HNC/HND with in-depth, relevant experience.
• Full, valid UK driving licence.
• Registration as Clinical Technologist with RCT or AHCS (or eligible)

Responsibilities

• Provide technical aspects of the Mechanical Engineering Service (MES) at the Freeman Hospital and region.
• Maintain and develop high standards of service provision in line with Quality Management Systems.
• Lead projects – manage a caseload of referrals including assessment, problem solving, design, manufacture and documentation.
• Ensure safe introduction/delivery and handover of manufactured or modified products into clinical, domestic and educational settings.
• Comply with relevant legislation and local requirements.
• Safe operation of engineering/scientific equipment and related IT tools.
• Undertake other MES duties to meet service needs and contribute to R&D projects.

Skills

Problem-solving

Engineering design

2D/3D CAD

CNC machining

TIG welding

Communication skills

Driving licence

Education

Degree in mechanical engineering or related field

HNC/HND with relevant experience

Tools

CNC machines

CAD/CAM software

Job description

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS hospital trusts in the country. We have around 16,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.7 billion.

With strong history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation regionally, nationally and internationally, w e’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country.

As well as providing a wide range of hospital and community services, we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.

Job overview

Mechanical Engineering Services (MES) is a technical engineering consultancy and manufacturing service, provided as part of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Aids for Living (REAL) unit, within Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering (NMPCE).

he service offers 2D and 3D design facilities, coupled with manufacturing capability in support of a number of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals clinical services and other internal and external stakeholders. There is a significant amount of collaboration with the Regional Technical Aids Service (RTAS), in delivering bespoke equipment solutions to suit the needs of individuals living with complex disabilities.

The Clinical Technologist’s role incorporates the design, manufacture and installation of mechanical solutions for service users, working closely with partner services, especially those providing assistive aids and wheelchairs to patients.

Activities include the modification of, or the initial manufacture of items to customer specification, research support, prototyping and production of single items, or small batches utilising the latest technologies and materials.

Main duties of the job

We are currently seeking a suitably qualified, capable and motivated engineer or technologist, to join the team based at the Freeman Hospital, to support the delivery of our services, which include assessment of need, problem solving, risk analysis, design, manufacture and documentation.

The successful applicant will be educated to degree level in an engineering or science-related subject or equivalent (e.g. a HNC or HND qualification with in-depth, relevant experience), with specialist knowledge of engineering design, materials and manufacture, including a proficiency in milling and turning, utilising both manual and CNC machine tools. Experience of fabrication and TIG welding is desirable, although training provision is available to the successful candidate if required.

In addition, if not already registered or eligible for registration, the post holder will be required to complete the IPEM Clinical Technologist Training Scheme, resulting in professional registration as a Clinical Technologist with either the RCT or AHCS, with training available to support achievement.

This is a demanding but rewarding role, requiring excellent technical awareness, communication, planning, organisational and interpersonal skills. Experience in the application of a range of IT packages (Microsoft Office, Databases, 2D / 3D CAD Modelling) is essential, as is a full valid UK driving licence, as regular region wide travel is a remit of the role.

Working for our organisation

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Providing the technical aspects of the Mechanical Engineering Service (MES) at theFreeman Hospital and across the region.

Assists in maintaining and developing high standards of service provision, in accordance with formal Quality Management Systems where appropriate, throughout their area of responsibility.

Project lead – independently managing a caseload of referrals, including initial assessment, problem solving, risk analysis, design, manufacture and documentation.

Ensuring the safe introduction, delivery / handover of manufactured / modified products into clinical, domestic and educational establishments. Providing both verbal and clearly written instructions regarding their safe use.

Compliance with all relevant legislative and other national and local requirements.

Safe and efficient operation of all engineering / scientific equipment on which you have been trained.

Undertake other duties and responsibilities within the scope of MES to meet the changing needs and circumstances of the service.

Contribute to research and development projects.

Person specification

Qualifications & Education

• A recognised mechanical engineering apprenticeship, training scheme or equivalent
• A Degree in relevant subject or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Appropriate Post-Graduate Diploma or equivalent level experience
• Full, valid driving licence
• Registered as a Clinical Technologist with RCT or AHCS

Knowledge & Experience

• Specialist knowledge and skills in medical or scientific equipment relevant to working area
• Good knowledge of materials and principles used in engineering
• Skilled in the operation of machine tools including CNC programming
• Good knowledge of engineering software packages (e.g. 2D / 3D CAD / CAM) and experience of applying them
• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology relevant to area of work
• Knowledge, skill and experience necessary to respond calmly, competently and professionally in the event of a patient experiencing problems, including CPR
• Skilled in welding techniques including TIG

Skills & Abilities

• Proven ability to problem-solve
• Good knowledge of IT software packages (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience of applying them
• Ability to demonstrate equipment in non-technical language
• Good organisational and communication skills

Whilst Newcastle Hospitals are a forward thinking and highly innovative organisation, the use of Third-Party Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents a risk to the integrity of our Recruitment & Selection processes. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual application or to the recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e‑mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.