Medical Physics Technician

Job overview

We are excited to be able to offer this unique position of Medical Physics Technician, working in the London Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre of the world-renowned, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.  The role is to provide specialist technical support to the Occupational Therapy Service. The post holder would need an engineering qualification and/or relevant experience, in order to excel in a diverse range of tasks including assessment, provision and set up of standard and complex manual and powered wheelchairs; customised seating systems, modifications and fitting of accessories. Additionally, be able to design and fabricate one-off customised aids and deliver staff teaching.

If you feel passionate about working alongside other skilled health professionals and assisting individuals with complex disabilities to achieve independence in daily living, please apply.

Main duties of the job

Using prior engineering qualification and/or relevant experience act as a technical specialist across the Occupational Therapy Department in:

• the assessment, provision and set up of standard and complex manual and powered wheelchairs
• the assessment, provision and set up of standard, complex and customised seating systems
• the undertaking of modifications/adjustment and fitting of accessories to specialist seating systems
• the provision of training on the adjustment and maintenance of wheelchairs and seating systems to staff, patients and carers
• assisting Occupational Therapy Team Leaders in the monitoring of wheelchairs and seating systems maintenance and repair requirements
• the design and fabrication of ‘one-off’ customised aids to allow individuals with complex disabilities to achieve independence in activities of daily living
• maintaining and organising the heavy workshop environment
• ensuring required stock for the completion of duties is maintained

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Patient/client care

On written referral by an Occupational Therapist and in ongoing discussion

1.            Work with and advise individual Occupational Therapists across various specialist teams in identifying patient need, configuring and handing over wheelchairs and postural management devices to prevent physical deterioration and promote independence for adults and paediatrics.

2.            Work with and advise individual Occupational Therapists across various specialist teams in identifying patient need, designing, fabricating and handing over one-off customised aids to promote independence for adults and paediatrics.

3.            To be able to advise and instruct patients and carers on safe use and ongoing maintenance of wheelchairs, postural management devices and one-off customised aids.

4.            Document interventions carried out on behalf of patients within defined timelines.

Policy/service development/implementation

5.         Comments on policies/procedures.

6.         Contributes to service development.

7.         Continually reviews own technical performance and procedures to offer optimal service delivery wherever possible.

Financial and physical resources

8.         Monitors stock levels of equipment and materials for workshop and

initiates ordering process as required.

9.         Updates Health & Safety Rep if any new substances are required which

are covered by COSHH regulations and makes appropriate preparations

before ordering.

10.       On receipt of new substance, ensures it is appropriately stored, obtains

appropriate COSHH documentation and passes on to Health & Safety

Representative.

11.       Checks and maintains tools and equipment for workshop within

manufacturers guidelines and reports need for outside/contract repairer if

required.

12.       Carries out daily care of workshop and store, tidying and locking up

whenever workshop is left unattended.

13.       Carries out administrative duties as required.

Human resources

14.       Participates in staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and is responsible

for complying with agreed personal development plan to meet required

knowledge and competencies.

15.       Explains own role and outlines workshop safety guidelines as part of staff

induction.

16.       Delegates appropriate tasks to other support staff as agreed by their line

manager.

Information resources

17.       Write detailed reports following investigation of faults with mobility systems.

18.       Maintains statistics according to department procedure.

19.       Keeps local resource files up to date.

Research and development

20.       Records data for audits as required.

Freedom to act

21.       All patient related activity is carried out at the request of an Occupational

Therapist, in writing as required by department policy.

22.       Works within patients’ agreed goals.

23.       Refers new patient queries to the Occupational Therapists.

24.       Works with patients in workshop unsupervised and requests assistance as

required, using judgement to make adjustments to wheelchair and seating

systems to meet postural and functional requirements as co-assessed by

the patients Occupational Therapist.

25.       Maintains responsibility for own time management to meet priorities.

26.       Able to answer technical queries from other professional departments

autonomously within own area of practice.

27.       Carry out risk assessments and advise on the safe use of posture and

mobility equipment within available adjustment and with customisations.

Effort and Environment

• Physical

Carries out activities in kneeling, crouching, working in confined space, standing, walking, lifting, pulling, pushing and sustained holding in the manual handling of patients, wheelchairs and hoists. Can be 3-4 hours continually but may be varied by attending meetings, teaching, writing reports etc. Daily, two days a week.

• Mental

Carries out calculations, operates machinery, assesses patients and writes reports, for one-hour periods, several times per day.  Continually interrupted by others making requests for immediate input.  Works with patients with challenging behaviour and those coming to terms with long term devastating disability.  Daily, two days a week.

• Emotional

Daily contact with patients some of whom present with psychiatric illness, psychological problems, challenging behaviour, verbal and occasionally physical aggression. Working with people undergoing the grieving process, coming to terms with long term devastating disability and poor prognosis; these patients can exhibit frustration and anger.  Daily, two days a week

• Working conditions

Exposure to extreme heat in summer due to the building structure in MHC.

Regular exposure to unpleasant smells, dust/dirt, bodily fluids including sputum and human excrement.

Rarely exposed to fleas/lice.

Exposure to noxious fumes and chemicals.

Aggressive behaviour of patients and relatives.

Assuming normal Health and Safety standards are met.

Driving to and from work is not included.

Special Requirements:

To assess, analyse, diagnose and interpret mobility equipment failures and write detailed reports where necessary to inform internal team and relevant external agencies including national safety organisations.

Any other duties commensurate with the grade and in line with the requirement of this post.

This job description gives a general outline of the post and is not intended to be inflexible or a final list of duties. It may therefore be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.