Job Description Job Title: Job Ranking: Responsible to: Location: Senior Mobility ngineer N/A Lead Mobility ngineer Home based to cover South ast ngland and London Hours Per Week: 37.5 Date: January 2014 Job Purpose: To provide specialist rehabilitation engineering skills, advice and support to all aspects of Whizz-Kidz clinical services. This entails assisting in the holistic assessment of clients of all ages, prescription, review and adaptation of assistive technology and specialised postural support systems, in order to maximise clients mobility and independence and achieve that 80% of routine equipment is supplied on day of assessment. The post holder will work as an autonomous, senior practitioner and as an active member of a multi-professional team. The post is part of a mobile service, seeing clients at Wheelchair Services and in community settings, and delivering services at times best suited for the client, which might entail evening and weekend appointments. Whizz-Kidz provides a unique service that will ensure that all service users receive the mobility equipment they require at the right time, in order to enable them to achieve their and their family s / carer s lifestyle goals. This will be achieved by the following: Providing the clinical input for all service users, their families and carers working very closely with the multi-disciplinary team supporting the user Providing the links between clients and other Whizz-Kidz teams, such as the Young People s Team Developing links with hard to reach sectors of the local community by close liaison with the referrers, particularly local Therapists Page 1 of 6
Main Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Clinical 1.1. Work as an autonomous practitioner and be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of own work. 1.2. Undertake holistic assessments as a member of a multidisciplinary team, assessing the rehabilitation engineering aspects of seating and mobility, to prescribe and order the most suitable mobility equipment, in order to achieve Child in a Chair in a Day in 80% of routine referrals. 1.3. Assist with postural assessments of clients with multiple and complex neurological disabilities to ascertain attainable range of movement, muscle tone, and muscle strength. 1.4. Be able to clinically reason decisions made during assessment and prescription process. 1.5. Have in depth knowledge of: Functional anatomy, physiology and their effects and implication for mobility / seating Conditions and syndromes associated with mobility impairments Tissue viability and pressure care intervention Tone management Postural management Complex and multiple disabilities and effects on mobility, seating and function All forms of specialist seating, their construction and assembly 1.6. Have specialist knowledge of all common types of mobility equipment used within Whizz-Kidz and NHS partnerships plus extensive knowledge of other mobility equipment, attending equipment updates and training to maintain knowledge and understanding of the following: Mobility equipment specification, maintenance procedures and prescription consequences and limitations Specialist powered controls and allied components in use on powered wheelchairs Specialist postural cushions and backrests Complex / bespoke accessories / assistive systems for mobility and control Highly specialist seating (i.e. customised seating, Freedom / Leckey seating etc.) and their interfacing 1.7. Provide engineering drawings and manufacturing instructions for proposed modification adaptations (with due regard to the requirements of the Medical Devices Directive and the equipment manufacturers guidelines and instructions). 1.8. Take responsibility for risk assessing modifications to wheelchairs and ensuring appropriate forms are completed. Page 2 of 6
1.9. Be aware of budgetary implications of any prescriptions for the provision of equipment and to promote efficient and cost effective solutions to problems. 1.10. To configure the wheelchairs, seating and accessories and carry out inspections prior to delivery to clinics, in preparation for clinics, or for delivery on the day of assessment. 1.11. Hand over equipment and agree the level of training and supervision required by each service user, or be responsible for appropriate and safe delegation of these tasks. 1.12. Provide specialist technical advice, support and training to service users, their families, carers, Whizz-Kidz team and other healthcare professionals, respecting their views and knowledge. 2. Service Development, ducation and Quality 2.1. Maintain accurate, comprehensive clinical records and relevant databases in line with agreed policies and professional standards on the assessment of the user s needs and subsequent interventions. 2.2. Support the Lead Mobility ngineer in ensuring that clinical record keeping in the team is to a consistently high standard. 2.3. Support the Lead Mobility ngineer in monitoring the clinical quality of the service, ensuring professional and local standards are met, policies and procedures are adhered to, and contribute to / initiate clinical audits as required. 2.4. Work with the Lead Mobility ngineer in ensuring that clinical practice in the team is evidence based and up to date. 2.5. Be responsible for the timely report of adverse incidents and near misses from supervisees and contribute to the completion of individual or strategic risk assessments. 2.6. Work with and beyond the immediate team to promote service development and new ways of working. 2.7. Be responsible for maintaining and developing own competency through continuous professional development activities, and by maintaining a portfolio which reflects personal development. 2.8. Facilitate the development of others by providing an effective learning environment and promoting best practice, giving information, training and advice when required. 2.9. Identify, co-ordinate, deliver and take part in in-service training, ensuring that information is up-to-date and evidence based. 2.10. Support any service changes required through actively promoting a positive attitude within the Whizz-Kidz Clinical Team. Page 3 of 6
3. Leadership and Management 3.1. Act as a role model, ensuring high quality professional standards are maintained at all times. 3.2. Work with the Lead Mobility ngineer to manage budgets. 3.3. To make known to the Lead Mobility ngineer any concerns about the provision of services. 3.4. Maintain accurate and timely reports of workload and activities in accordance with Whizz-Kidz requirements and the agreed Service Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and support the Lead ngineer in compiling timely and accurate reports. 3.5. Induct, line manage, support and supervise more junior staff working for the service, ensuring they are competent and confident in their role (e.g. monitoring performance and conducting reviews, monitoring continuous professional development, record keeping and compliance with KPIs). 3.6. Organise and manage own time, using time effectively and balancing demands to meet priorities of the service and the client. 4. Communication and Liaison 4.1. Work closely at all times with other members of staff to ensure efficient and effective service provision. 4.2. Represent Whizz-Kidz by taking an active role in relevant activities, conferences and events. 4.3. Promote effective partnership working with community and NHS services. 4.4. Be able to defuse difficult situations and prevent escalation, or recognise the need to withdraw, and support more junior staff with difficult situations. 4.5. Demonstrate appropriate and effective communication, modifying communication style according to context and people s preferences / requirements. 4.6. Assess service user s understanding of proposed intervention, gain valid informed consent, or have the ability to work within a legal framework with individuals who lack capacity to consent to treatment, ensuring consent for any treatment is documented. 4.7. Identify when referral / liaison with other services is required and discuss this with the individual and carers and ensure referral is made. 5. General 5.1. Safeguard at all times the children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom the service comes into contact, through the strict adherence to Whizz-Kidz Safeguarding procedures and guidelines. Page 4 of 6
5.2. Actively attend induction and mandatory training. 5.3. Report adverse incidents in accordance with the MDA (Medical Device Alert) adverse incident reporting procedure and local policies and procedures. 5.4. Service provision is mobile, seeing clients at NHS Partnership Services, in their own homes and a variety of community settings, including without limitation schools, places of work, residential homes and hospitals. Service delivery is aimed to best suit the client, which may entail evening and weekend appointments. 5.5. When required, to carry out any other tasks within the scope of the role to meet the needs of the Clinical Team and the charity as directed by the Regional Head of Clinical Services and/or the Head of Clinical and Regional Services and/or the Chief xecutive. Standard Clauses The post holder will work within all policies, procedures and budgets set by Whizz-Kidz. The post holder will act at all times in the best interest of Whizz-Kidz. The post holder will form effective working relationships with all staff members, volunteers and outside organisations as appropriate. The post holder must accept responsibility for ensuring that the policies and procedures relating to Health & Safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times. The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means in line with the Data Protection Act. The post holder will not disclose to an unauthorised person any confidential information acquired through official duties unless they have received official permission to do so. The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grade of the post. Page 5 of 6
Person Specification Job Title: Senior Mobility ngineer ssential () / Desirable (D) Knowledge: Knowledge and familiarity with current legislation and philosophies underpinning service provision for people with disabilities in the UK, such as Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act, the quality Act, Data Protection and Health & Safety In depth knowledge of: Conditions and syndromes associated with mobility impairment Posture and positioning relating to wheelchairs and seating Complex disabilities and effects on mobility, seating and function Risks and causes of pressure damage pressure care intervention All forms of specialist seating, their construction and assembly Specialist knowledge of all common types of manual and powered mobility equipment, including: Mobility equipment specification, maintenance procedures and prescription consequences and limitations Specialist postural cushions and backrests Complex / bespoke accessories / systems for mobility and control Highly specialist seating / customised seating and their interfacing Skills / Personal Qualities: Ability to work independently and autonomously xcellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal) Ability to word process and use other IT software, packages and databases Self-motivated and flexible Ability to manage time efficiently Ability to work as part of a team Ability to multi-task, work calmly under pressure and meet tight deadlines Physical capability to adapt equipment and manual handle service users in a variety of settings Ability to supervise and train others xperience: Working with children / adults with disabilities and / or mobility impairments xtensive experience of working with assistive technology / adapting mobility equipment (powered and manual wheelchairs, switches, specialised seating) xperience of producing technical drawings and fabricating simple modifications xperience of managing / supervising others xperience of budget management Qualifications: ducated to degree level or possess a relevant qualification or appropriate experience in a directly related post Registered member of Institute of Physics and ngineering in Medicine as a clinical technologist or clinical scientist. vidence of continuous professional development Postgraduate study relevant to mobility impairments Circumstances: Able to work extended hours/out of hours, including the occasional weekends and overnight stays during the week Be the holder of a full clean driving license and ability to drive a van provided for the role during working hours Please note: This post is subject to an nhanced DBS Disclosure, which will be sought prior to the confirmation of a job offer. All Job Descriptions to be submitted to the Head of HR. Page 6 of 6 D D D