Band 5 Nurse and Band 2 Healthcare Support Worker recruitment is centralised, meaning when you apply you will be considered for a number of roles across the Trust. If you have any questions please email: nursing.careers@ouh.nhs.uk.
Main area Wheelchair Maintenance Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (Hours to be worked between 8am & 4pm Monday to Friday: working pattern can be discussed. Could be 8am-4pm 4 days per week, or shorter hours spread over 5 days.) Job ref 321-MRC-6832088-B5-PUB
Site Oxfordshire Wheelchair Maintenance Service Town Oxford Salary £29,970 - £36,483 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 14/01/2025 23:59 Interview date 21/01/2025
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
Job overview
This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a technician who likes to problem solve, and make a real difference to people's lives. You will be responsible for the repair, servicing, delivery and collection of patients' wheelchairs and associated equipment. You will visit them in their homes, schools, place of work, hospitals and day centres throughout Oxfordshire.
The job is for 30 hours per week. This can be spread over 4 or 5 days, within the service opening hours of Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.
A full valid UK driving licence is essential.
Main duties of the job
The mobile technician will provide a mobile wheelchair repair and maintenance service to the users of powered and manual wheelchairs as well as specialised posture management equipment prescribed by the services. The post also includes the delivery and collection of equipment to and from the user. All work will be clearly documented and carried out to departmental and manufacturers’ standards.
The post requires the use of vehicles provided by OUH to visit hospitals, special schools, nursing homes, private homes, and other establishments to carry out the work. The environments may be unhygienic, dirty or cramped, and the users may be distressed that their equipment is not functioning correctly.
This job also requires that the post holder will be available to provide on call out-of-hours emergency repair service if required (not currently required, but may be in the future). At times, the post holder may be asked to work in the workshop depending on departmental need.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
When working off-site
1. Independently visit wheelchair users to repair, adjust and maintain wheelchairs and associated equipment. This must be done to the required departmental and manufacturers’ standards in a cost-effective manner, ensuring all finished items are correct to the specifications supplied.
2. Independently identify the resources necessary to carry out the diagnosis, maintenance or repair, ensuring that any equipment required is fit for use and is functioning correctly.
3. Undertake risk management where a repair cannot be successfully made to ensure that the patient’s equipment is either safe to use or that a temporary loan is provided.
4. Independently determine the diagnostic/maintenance/repair checks that need to be carried out, applying suitable fault-finding techniques to diagnose problems including those beyond the scope of the manufacturer’s supplied technical documentation.
5. Independently complete safety and diagnostic checks on electrically powered equipment using specialist diagnostic equipment where necessary, both at the patient’s place of residence and at the base workshop.
6. Independently record the processes and equipment used in the servicing of medical devices using the documentation and processes within the quality management system. Complete all required documentation accurately and in real time.
7. Independently deliver and collect equipment to/from the patient’s address, which can include patient’s home, hospital, place of work, school, college, day centre etc.
8. Independently set-up equipment to patient’s needs. Train patients and carers in use of equipment.
9. Drive different type of vehicles, follow driving at work procedure keep vehicles clean, tidy and well maintained. Ensure hazardous items like batteries are securely stored.
10. Ensure spare parts carried meet the potential need of the day’s work to aim for completing repairs in a single visit wherever possible.
11. Ensure loan worker policy is followed and loan worker device is charged and used.
12. Independently complete cleaning of wheelchairs and mobility equipment to the required departmental and manufacturers’ standards, utilising the specialist equipment provided.
13. Independently repair, adjust, maintain and refurbish wheelchairs and associated equipment to the required departmental and manufacturers’ standards in a cost-effective manner ensuring all finished items are correct to the specifications supplied.
14. Independently complete specialist refurbishment of wheelchairs and accessories to the manufacturer’s technical instructions.
15. Supervise junior workshop technician and/or apprentice technician where required.
16. Ensure high standards of quality and workmanship are maintained, and completed tasks comply with departmental quality standards.
17. Ensure warehouse and stores are tidy and in order.
18. Ensure all departmental equipment is fit for purpose, maintaining the workshop environment in a tidy and organised fashion and being responsible for own equipment and tools, ensuring they are maintained and cleaned.
Overall
1. Sensitively exchange information with patients and carers using terminology that ensures understanding by all parties, being aware that English may not be their first language. Be aware of cultural differences of differing ethnic groups. Have an up-to-date knowledge of relevant current legislation in the field of disability.
2. Understand and empathise with patients with disabilities that may make communication difficult.
3. Understand and empathise with families or carers where collection of wheeled mobility equipment is being made following bereavement. There is also a need to be able to communicate with patients who are annoyed, frustrated or distressed about the equipment they have not functioning.
4. Maintain good discipline and timekeeping.
5. Liaise with the Wheelchair Maintenance Service Manager regarding any problems that may arise.
6. Perform any additional duties as required by the Operational Wheelchair Service Lead or Maintenance Service Manager.
7. Attend departmental and other meetings as appropriate.
Person specification
Shortlisting criteria
* GCSE A-C grades including mathematics, English, and a science or engineering subject
* Engineering or science A-level education, or equivalent level 3 qualification
* Experience of independently diagnosing and repairing faults with mechanical and electrical equipment
* Professional mechanical and/or electronics knowledge equivalent to HNC level
* Always conducts themselves in a professional manner
* Positive attitude to all tasks and stakeholders
* Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with clients, carers and relatives regarding the problems with and use of their equipment
* Empathetic towards people with physical and/or learning disabilities
* Able to keep calm, and maintain self-control and professionalism under stressful conditions
* Ability to analyse and diagnose faults in a range of complex mechanical and electrical equipment
* Ability to repair faults in a variety of environments
* Ability to problem-solve and make safe temporary repairs when necessary
* Good verbal and written communication skills.
* Accuracy and attention to detail
* Clinical Technologist registration
* Professional mechanical and/or electronics knowledge equivalent to HND/degree level
* Experience of repairing powered and manual wheelchairs
* Experience of analysing and diagnosing faults with powered and manual wheelchairs
* Experience of working in home environments
* Experience of risk management related to temporary repairs
* Experience of working with disabled people, their families and carers
* Specific technical knowledge of how to use, problem-solve, program and repair a range of manual and powered wheelchairs and associated postural management equipment
COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.
Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.
Next Steps: Please make sure that you read the job description and person specification, and that your supporting statement reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted after the short-listing process, usually within 2 weeks.
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