Senior Renal Technologist

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to join our Renal Engineering team, providing equipment management, maintenance, repair and support for the organisation.

The role involves the repair, commissioning, planned maintenance, and quality assurance of renal replacement equipment and water treatment devices, including softeners and RO units. Applicants are expected to have a high degree of knowledge of renal engineering, and considerable relevant technical experience. However, consideration will be given to employing an experienced medical engineer at Band 7 Annex 21 for a period of time until sufficient renal engineering experience is gained.

You should be able to provide evidence of continuing personal development, be highly professional, well organised and capable of working under pressure. Some knowledge of quality management would be an advantage, as our department works to a registered quality assurance system (BS EN ISO 9001:2015). You will be expected to work on a number of sites, including patient's homes so a full driving licence and access to a vehicle is required.

You should be qualified to Degree level or equivalent in an electronic or similar subject, although HNC/D may be acceptable with relevant experience. Good interpersonal and communication skills are essential. Following a period of orientation you will be required to participate in the 24-hour On-Call service.

Main duties of the job

You'll be responsible for providing a wide range of technical support for haemodialysis machines, water treatment systems and other associated medical equipment across our hospital dialysis units, satellite units and home haemodialysis patients throughout the Merseyside and Cheshire region to ensure compliance to national standards and guidelines. The successful candidate will also be required to participate in our on-call rota to provide a 24hr/365day a year emergency on call service. You will need to be able to meet the travel requirements of the post and be independently mobile and as such it is essential for you to possess a full car driving licence preferably clean.

Job responsibilities

1. Take responsibility for the correct commissioning and installation of new equipment and ensuring that all equipment complies with the Medical Devices Directive.
2. Carry out all necessary repairs down to component level, calibrations, updating, servicing and safety monitoring of all equipment under the care of the Renal Engineering department. This will involve highly complex, non-routine and unsupervised work in patients' homes, hospital units, dialysis units and intensive therapy units using specialised test equipment and computer interfacing. On occasions this equipment will be patient connected.
3. Act independently, promptly and efficiently in response to emergency and unpredictable situations.
4. There is a regular requirement to comply with all health and safety rules whilst maintaining and repairing equipment that is subject to contamination by hazardous substances and bodily fluids. It is also a requirement to comply with all health and safety regulations when there is a risk of work on equipment whilst mains electrical supplies could be exposed or other lethal electrical hazards could be present. Knowledge of these requirements and regulations is essential.
5. Be involved in equipment development, modification and refurbishment to manufacturers standards. Will need to keep abreast of all equipment developments and be able to install and instruct in the use of them as required.
6. As new equipment is developed will be expected to participate in its evaluation and write reports to aid procurement decisions as required.
7. Be involved in the writing of inspection, safety and service reports as required. This may consist of the writing of reports concerning safety issues regarding a reportable incident, failed equipment or parts, input into alteration of service or safety procedures either individually or as part of a team effort.
8. As part of the Renal Engineering team will be responsible for supervising the microbiological sampling and testing of dialysate and incoming water to ensure that the patient is receiving ultra-pure dialysate and to comply with current quality specifications. Will be involved in taking aseptic samples, whenever applicable, and ensuring correct sampling when carried out by nursing staff. Will be involved in any remedial work necessary to keep samples within specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in Electronics, Applied Physics, Engineering or in a subject deemed appropriate to the specialist area of work.

Desirable

• Registered Clinical Technologist with the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

Experience

Essential

• Proven relevant experience of service, repair and calibration of renal replacement therapy and associated equipment.

Knowledge

Desirable

• Evidence of satisfactory completion of appropriate specialised training courses.
• Have renal physiology and clinical knowledge.

Skills

Essential

• Analytical and fault investigation skills.
• Ability to communicate well with colleagues and other health care professionals at all levels and disciplines.
• Able to work under pressure, unsupervised and on own initiative.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Able to work in all areas within the hospital.
• Able to display computer literacy.
• Able to produce clear details of all work both electronically and written and produce clear reports.
• Have effective organisational skills.
• Have effective personal and interpersonal skills.
• Have effective empathy skills.

Desirable

• Able to display a level of knowledge necessary to repair, maintain and calibrate highly complex renal medical equipment to component level to a very high standard and within a quality system.

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.

Employer name: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Royal Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, L7 8XP

Employer's website: https://www.liverpoolft.nhs.uk/