Job summary
This Clinical Scientist post is partly situated within a specialist paediatric rehabilitation engineering service and partly within a regional specialised Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) service. The client group currently served have severe and complex physical, and/or communication, and/or cognitive disabilities and therefore require bespoke assistive technology (AT), and/or electronic assistive technology (EAT) solutions in order to undertake activities of daily living and communication. The equipment has a clinical role in the care of the child, young person or adult. This could be in helping to support to reduce the progression of deformity, in particular, that associated with seating, standing and lying, supporting communication or supporting access to technology.
Main duties of the job
For CCAS, the postholder is expected to attend (and lead as appropriate) specialist assessments and appointments with the multidisciplinary team, ensuring provision of high quality, client focused specialist clinical assessment and prescription of AAC equipment and it's associated technology to children, young people and adults in the region of Sussex, Brighton and Hove and Surrey.
The post holder will be expected to undertake supervision of personnel within the workshop. The post holder will support line management with the day to day running of clinics and services in line with your grade and position.
The postholder is to act as a resource offering highly specialist clinical and/or technical advice and input on all issues related to postural management, AT and EAT (electronic assistive technology), including AAC for professionals and clients across the CCS services.
The postholder is to provide highly specialist clinical engineering services related to assistive technology (AT) and electronic assistive technology (EAT) including AAC to enable CCS services to assess and support clients with the most complex physical communication and learning needs.
The postholder is to take part in other assistive technology related specialist clinics as necessary e.g specialist communication, access and mobility potential (SCAMP).
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex. Our 6,000 staff serve a population of 1.3 million providing essential medical, nursing, and therapeutic care to adults and children.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, helping people plan, manage, adapt to changes in their health, supporting avoidable hospital admissions and reducing hospital stay times.
We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services including medical, clinical, support and corporate services.
Why work for us?
- Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, scoring highly in compassionate culture & leadership, and staff wellbeing support
- Variety of working environments across the community, in patients' homes, within our community hospitals and bases across the county
- Supportive flexible working patterns such as: part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Research opportunities
- Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton
- Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
- Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces
- Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
- Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast
- Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
For RES the post holder is required to attend (and lead as appropriate) specialist clinics on and off site as a clinical scientist and as part of a multidisciplinary team to assess the client and establish the AT requirements. The post holder is to ensure provision of high quality, client focused, specialist clinical assessment and prescription of AT to children and young people referred to the clinics and services at Chailey Clinical Services (CCS). The post holder will be required to design, develop and manufacture equipment or modify and adapt existing equipment to an agreed solution. They require excellent communication skills to liaise with those concerned, the technical aspects of the use of the equipment produced. The post holder will be expected to provide additional specialist input in a range of clinics. They are also expected to provide a technical advisory role to the junior members of staff within the service, CCS and as appropriate outside agencies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First degree in a relevant engineering subject
- Registered on with the HCPC (or ability to be registered 1/2 marks)
Desirable
- oMembership of a professional body e.g. the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) or the Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE)
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of AT and EAT equipment
- Experience of working with people with disabilities
- Knowledge of manufacturing using a range of techniques or materials (competent or prepared to undertake training to operate workshop machinery where required)
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team to solve clinical and/or engineering challenges
Desirable
- Working within and developing quality systems eg ISO13485 or ISO9001
Other requirements
Essential
- Ability to use IT software such as Microsoft Office
- Ability to organise own workload
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff and clients
- A current valid driving licence
- Ability to travel to meet the requirements of the role
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 .
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 .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Chailey Clinical Services
Beggars Wood Road
North Chailey
BN8 4JN