EBME Technician Supervisor (Community & Library)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

Please note that this is an operational role, the holder of this post is expected to always work on one of the Trust sites or community properties.

• Accountable to the EBME Manager and working as part of the EBME team.
• To work as an EBME technician and oversee EBME technicians and equipment library staff and provide day to day supervision of the Clinical Engineering services in the Community and Virtual Wards.

• To be the first point of contact for resolving & advising on complex faults reported by EBME technicians/Clinical staff.

• To use specialised technical knowledge and experience to repair, maintain and service complex and patient critical medical equipment used for the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

• Communicate with clinical users & technicians to gain full understanding of the nature of fault or problem with the medical equipment. Assess the seriousness of the issues, respond appropriately to the urgency of the requests, and convince senior clinicians and heads of departments on plan of actions.

• Maintain accurate, complete and timely records of all work on the Clinical Engineering electronic record systems and ensure technicians are compliant.

• Monitor & maintain performance targets for EBME and produce & present Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports to ward managers, senior managers and in meetings on a monthly basis.

• Expected to manage own workload and of other EBME technicians and Equipment Library Staff. Main site of work is at University Hospital Lewisham, but the post holder may also be required to start work on any site used by the Trust. Travel between sites may be required within a working day, for example to travel between University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital/Eltham/Queen Marys Hospital Sidcup, etc.

• To provide cover for EBME Technician Supervisors when they are on leave.

• Must hold a current UK Driving Licence as will be expected to visit community sites and patient homes/virtual wards, to check and maintain medical devices.

• Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervise and line manage assigned EBME technicians & Equipment Library staff on a daily basis, and work with EBME management in order to ensure the most effective and efficient use of resources by overseeing the management of the workload prioritising and assigning work and tasks and taking a proactive and planned approach to the work.

• To plan, coordinate and execute planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedules on a quarterly basis and manage delivery within agreed timescales.

• Liaise and persuade clinical staff to adjust planned maintenance schedules in response to urgent service needs

• To manage and monitor Clinical Engineering maintenance contracts, advise on service level contracts, produce specifications for the provision of specialists services, negotiate with suppliers, and review & arrange renewals in advance of expiry of contracts.

• To monitor Managed Equipment Service (MES) contracts, follow through on escalation processes, and advise & resolve performance issues.

• Produce KPI reports for measuring Clinical Engineering performance and present to senior clinicians, management, and in Trust meetings. Address performance issues of assigned staff & services.

• Oversee and maintain quality of all aspects of Clinical Engineering work at all Trust locations, and at all times. Plan and complete regular audits of EBME operations including medical equipment libraries and virtual wards.

• Ensure EBME staff are logging details onto Trust databases correctly, monitor and review data and remedy issues identified. Ensure clinical engineering databases remain accurate and up to date.

• To help develop and maintain operating procedures for quality management system.

• To help develop departmental policies and ensure EBME technicians are compliant

• Resolve and advise on complex faults reported by EBME technicians and senior clinicians.

• To supervise the repairs process for high value equipment ranging from £100k to £1m, ensuring strict adherence to service level agreements (SLAs).

• Assess the seriousness and implications of the equipment issues and respond appropriately to the urgency of the user request, coordinating the workforce as required.

• To plan and coordinate service review group meetings with clinical leads, senior managers, Clinical Engineering and suppliers.

• Develop technical and equipment library competency documents. Create technical and library staff training plans for new starters, train staff on first line maintenance, and sign-off training competencies. Monitor their training needs, provide refresher training where required and maintain records.

• Produce specialist comprehensive reports for departmental managers regarding all aspects of medical equipment including but not limited to usage, repair and maintenance frequency and contractual support.

• Produce specifications documents for the procurement of wide range of complex and patient-critical medical devices (e.g. CT/MRI, ventilators, etc.) for tender documents and other specialised Clinical Engineering services.

• Investigate adverse incidents involving medical devices & produce high quality reports for senior management

• Effectively communicate with clinical users, and senior managers to gain a clear understanding of the nature of equipment management issues.

• Support medical devices training coordinator, practice development nurses, matrons and others to train clinical staff on technical aspects of equipment use or maintenance and care.

• To investigate complaints and escalate to senior management as appropriate.

• To provide on-site technical supervision or carryout specialist repairs on any of the Trust sites.

• The supervisor role is performance driven and will be monitored by the EBME manager on a frequent basis.

• To deputise for the EBME manager when required.

Technical Responsibilities

1. Undertake advanced fault-finding processes to diagnose faults and carry out repair and maintenance for all equipment within the Clinical Engineering department remit and to ensure the equipment functions to manufacturers specifications.

1. To work at all times to high professional standards, and in compliance with all Departments procedures and practices and manufacturers guidance and procedures, regulatory compliance, including compliance with any formal Quality System requirements.

1. Use specialist technical knowledge and high levels of dexterity to work on complex electronic equipment with small components.

1. Handle heavy (>25kg) and high value equipment (up to £100k)

1. To carry out work effectively and efficiently to ensure that equipment is returned to clinical use as soon as it is safe to do so.

1. To maintain complete and accurate records of all assets & work on electronic data systems, ensuring that data is entered accurately in a timely manner as directed so that records are always up to date.

1. Carry out planned Preventative Maintenance as part of scheduled work scheme to ensure: -
   1. Equipment is regularly checked for safety.
   2. It functions to manufacturers specifications.
   3. Carry out calibration and quality control checks

1. Carry out acceptance and electrical safety testing in accordance with local procedures.

1. To contribute to the departmental defect and failure computerised reporting system and ensure scientific and technical records are recorded to high standards for future reference.

1. Practice appropriate workshop/library techniques so that the department is safe, clean and tidy to ensure a safe working environment for all staff.

1. If required by the EBME Manager, act as an identified technician for clinical areas, acting as a first point of contact for technical clinical issues in relation to medical equipment, and to communicate any issues with a clinical area to the Clinical Engineering team.

1. If required by the EBME Manager, act as an identified technician to lead on technical issues relating to a type of equipment, acting as a first point of contact for technical clinical issues in relation to that equipment type (e.g. identified technician for pumps).

1. Inform the EBME Manager and other Clinical Engineering staff of the performance or condition of equipment that they are the identified technician for, and to take a lead role in sharing training and information with the Clinical Engineering team relating to the repair and maintenance of the equipment

1. Assist in maintaining an adequate stock of spares such that the most immediate component parts are available to affect a timely service to the user.

1. Use the Trust purchasing system to raise requisitions for spare parts or the return to manufacturers for repair when requested by management.

1. Carry out the return of items to suppliers for repair and manage the progress such companies make to ensure a timely return.

1. To provide training, advice and to liaise with Operational and Clinical staff on aspects of equipment usage.

1. To share knowledge and skills with the Clinical Engineering team, for example to train other technicians in the team in aspects of areas that the post-holder has received specialist training in.

1. To support the procurement process for medical equipment by supporting equipment in clinical trials and carrying out engineering equipment evaluations.

1. To deal directly with patients who use hospital equipment at home or via virtual wards.

1. To maintain personal training records and professional competency. Keep up to date with changes in regulations and best practice within Clinical Engineering.
2. To carry out any other duties deemed necessary by the EBME Manager that are appropriate for the grade to ensure the appropriate levels of service are maintained by the department

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Minimum of HNC/HND/Degree in electrical/mechanical/biomedical engineering
• Working at Masters degree level or equivalence in the field of EBME
• Trained in the repair and maintenance of a number of key types of complex & high value medical equipment.
• Current car Driving Licence valid for use in UK.

• Auditing qualification
• Supervisor/management qualification

Experience

• At least 5 years hands-on, repair and maintenance experience of complex medical equipment, working within an NHS hospital Clinical Engineering.
• Substantial experience with specialised EBME data base systems
• Development of workshop policies, tasks and configurations for Medical Equipment.
• Development of Planned Preventative Schedules
• Experience in investigating adverse incidents involving medical devices and producing reports for management

• 10 years or more experience in a similar role
• Experience with managing and working within community
• Experience of supporting community services.
• Experience in auditing
• Experience of using the E-Quip database.
• Experience in developing documents for quality management systems

Knowledge & Skills

• Able to diagnose complex problems with medical electronic equipment and carry out repairs to the required standard in a timely & efficient manner.
• High level working knowledge of a broad range of electronic engineering principles and practical applications.
• Understanding and appreciation of mechanical engineering principles.
• Can systematically investigate adverse incidents involving medical devices and produce high quality reports.
• Manual handling ability to collect and deliver sophisticated and heavy medical equipment to/from clinical areas, and to physically handle equipment in the workshop (>25kg in some instances).
• High levels of dexterity to work on complex electronic equipment with small components.
• High proficiency with IT software packages including email, data bases, Word processing, Spreadsheets, EBME management systems
• Good understanding of NHS processes and procedures.
• Advanced knowledge of NHS EBME practices.
• Knowledge of NHS Equipment management.

• Able to organise annual work plans for staff to ensure all devices are serviced within the set time frame dependent on their competencies.
• Auditing skills

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth

London

SE18 4QH

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/