Junior Prosthetic Technician

The role would suit a person with good hand skills, problem‑solving abilities, and someone keen to learn from an experienced team. Any experience is desirable; we welcome trainees.

Responsibilities

• Undertake the manufacture and repair of prosthetic limbs in accordance with specifications set by the prosthetist and component manufacture.
• Ensure all limbs are ready for fitting and delivery within the contract dates used at the service.
• Ensure that all stock is correctly booked out to a relevant job sheet promptly.
• Reduce materials wastage through good working practices.
• Give advice and guidance on the manufacture of prosthetic limbs.
• Work with prosthetists and line manager to stay up‑to‑date with new prosthetic componentry and manufacturing techniques.
• Identify any training needs required to fulfil the position and highlight them to the Line Manager.
• Abide by BCUHB’s health and safety policy while working in the workshop, ensuring personal safety and that of colleagues.
• Always conform with the Services’ Quality policy.

Main Duties

• Specialised forming of thermoformable plastics using techniques such as vacuum forming and various thermoplastics.
• Forming materials and ensuring the safety and strength of the finished assembly supplied to the user.
• Complex lamination processes for thermosetting plastic materials, employing acrylic and polyurethane resins with multilayer manufacturing techniques and strengthening materials such as carbon fibre, glass fibre, and Kevlar, as well as forming two‑part isocyanate foams and acrylic putties.
• Deciding on lamination specifications and ensuring the safety and strength of the completed assembly.
• Specialised metal‑working techniques such as cold working, shape forming, riveting, boring, soldering, tapping holes and cutting.
• Specialised leather manufacture, including blocking, cutting, skiving, shaping, sewing, and bonding using both adhesive and mechanical methods.

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• Level 3 BTEC/SCOTVEC or City & Guilds in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent work experience/qualification.

Desirable Criteria

• A record or portfolio of knowledge and training achieved, e.g. manual techniques, materials, mechanical skills.
• Evidence of further training and experience in manufacturing techniques.
• A record of working in accordance with Health and Safety risk assessments and documents.
• Working knowledge of Quality Assurance systems – BS EN ISO 9001:2015 or BS EN ISO 13485:2016.
• Able to be mobile across the North and Mid Wales area.

Experience

Essential Criteria

• Experience manufacturing using workshop machinery and equipment, including sanding machines and vacuum formers.
• Experience of IT systems including Microsoft Office packages.
• Good level of written communication.

Desirable Criteria

• Practical knowledge and experience of the manufacture of prostheses for all levels of limb amputation site, including knowledge of materials and production techniques.
• CAD‑CAM manufacturing techniques used in the Prosthetics Service.
• Contemporary analogue and digital electronics with microprocessor knees and myo‑electric arms.
• Complex prosthetic test equipment, i.e. fault‑finding/diagnostic techniques for prosthetic limbs.

Other

Essential Criteria

• Experience working in accordance with Health and Safety risk assessments and documents.

Desirable Criteria

• Working knowledge of Quality Assurance systems – BS EN ISO 9001:2015 or BS EN ISO 13485:2016.
• Able to be mobile across the North and Mid Wales area.

Statutory and EEO

Ability to speak Welsh is desirable; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply. Applications may be submitted in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.