Band 7 Senior Rehabilitation Engineer

Find out more about applying to join Team BCHC.

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Community services are a key part of the NHS of the future. Be part ofthat future now.Join us and help achieve better care andhealthier communities.

The position focuses on the regional provision of specialist seating . The purpose of this post is to act as a specialism Lead within the Regional Posture & Mobility Service with specific responsibilities as quality lead for the compliance of internally produced supportive seating with the Medical Device legislation and equipment management. The post will also include clinical duties within the Service including the assessment and casting for bespoke seating. There will also be a share of day-to-day management duties within the Posture & Mobility Services.

Interview dates will be 25/11/26

Main duties of the job

To provide technical and clinical input to West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre andthe Local Wheelchair Services of the West Midlands Region. Within the field of wheelchairs and seating equipment assess, prescribe, commission and overseeing manufacture of equipment adaptations and modifications. The majority of assessments will be carried out as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The team would normally include an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Clinical Scientist and may also include a Doctor. The Senior Rehabilitation Engineer (R.E.) will contribute in terms of the technical, clinical and therapeutic value of equipment, any modifications that may be required and supply details. This requires the individual to be i ndependently mobile with a driving license .To act as the Quality Lead for the Regional Posture and Mobility Service. Responsibility for producing the MWS catalogue and pricing.

Working for our organisation

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) has more than 5000 staff working across Birmingham and the West Midlands in a wide range of community nursing and specialist healthcare roles. BCHC delivers over 100 clinical services, in people's homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient facilities. We deliver a wide range of services for children, young people, parents and families as well as adults and community services, two community hospitals, services for people with learning disabilities, the internationally recognised West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre and one of Europe’s leading Dental Hospitals and School of Dentistry. We deliver all of this with a commitment to integrated, personalised care that is rooted in our local communities. We have an ambition to deliver outstanding, integrated care as one of the key NHS providers in the West Midlands.

If you want to ‘Be Part of Our Team’ and work with a Foundation Trust which is continuously striving for better care and healthier communities, we want to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Assessment

In the field of non-powered and powered wheelchairs, and special seating (to include pressure relieving products) and associated adaptations and accessories, assess patients and carers to determine patient and carers needs, environmental factors and personal goals relating to the improvement of their function, capacity and social interaction.

Take measurements of body size in order to match a patient to equipment and seating pressure, posture and function.

Assess environmental factors (home layout, building access).

Assessment of current equipment provision.

Produce timely, accurate and detailed clinical reports on the assessment undertaken, in accordance with agreed local and regional standards.

Have an in-depth knowledge and be skilled in Special Seating principles required to assess, measure and cast for bespoke seating systems. This includes having the ability to reason with others around clinical knowledge in provision of seating.

Take an active role in screening of specialist referrals to eligibility criteria and identifying appropriate clinical applications.

Lead special seating assessments.

2. Prescription

Maintain a detailed knowledge of wheelchair, specialist controls and special seating equipment available, to ensure the service is at the forefront of postural care

Interpret patient assessment data, resolve any discrepancies or omissions and using this and relevant information from other sources, investigate possible options to meet patient needs.

Evaluate options, by a process of prioritisation and weighting against needs, availability, costs and user/carer preferences.

Report at sufficient level of detail with prescription recommendations. Provide in depth performance specifications on bespoke seating prescriptions meeting the needs of the most complex seating problems.

Determine the required clinical review period, to include cases where no intervention is prescribed.

Perform a risk benefit analysis as appropriate.

To constantly be looking to develop and advance the practice of prescription of seating from assessment through to manufacture with the view of quality, cost effectiveness, clinical appropriateness and the advancement of Regional Posture & Mobility as a leading service in seating provision.

3. Manufacturing of Equipment

Contribute to the development of the Quality Manageme Have an in depth knowledge of the MHRA medical devices guidelines on equipment management.

Undertake the design and monitor the manufacture of equipment plus modifications or adaptations.

Ensure MHRA medical devices guidelines are implemented when providing Special Seating Service solutions.

• Negotiate with relevant contractors, primarily the Mechanical Workshop, to ensure best cost effective provision, to timescales which are in line with patient expectations
• Negotiate with customers and Mechanical Workshop staff on the clinical and engineering design concepts, and how the concepts can be introduced into the bespoke equipment in line with MHRA guidelines.
• Ensure the final product meets design specifications and required performance parameters.
• Provide casts profiles from which moulded seats are manufactured. Ensure casts will allow a moulded seat to be manufactured to meet the assessment goals.

Use CAD in order to produce parts that will be manufactured with 3D printing

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc / BEng in Mechanical/ Rehabilitation Engineering / Engineering / Science Degree (Or HNC with professional development / experience to degree level)

registration

• Register of Clinical Technology Registered or Health and Care Professional Council Registered

experince

• Extensive experience working with wheelchairs and specialised supportive seating
• Experience of casting for bespoke seating
• Experience of working within a Quality Management System

In accordance with UK Home Office requirements, Band 2 clinical and non-clinical roles and Band 3 Non-Clinical roles are not eligible for sponsorship.

Please note that the majority of non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Band 3 - 6) with the exception of those which appear on this list - link , will not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK.

All non-clinical roles (Agenda for Change Bands 7 - 9) that meet the prescribed skill level (RQF 6) and salary threshold will be eligible for sponsorship.

The Trust will accept applications from candidates who can evidence their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes.

Disability Confident Employer and Guaranteed Interview Scheme

BCHC offers a guaranteed interview to any candidate who is Disabled, Neurodiverse, has a hidden or long term health condition as recognised under the Equality Act 2010, providing they meet the essential criteria of the job role, as set out in the person specification. We encourage applicants to submit their applications and to request any reasonable adjustments where required.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As part of our ongoing commitment to being a Great Place to Work, we actively foster and support a workplace culture that is inclusive and equitable for all staff, patients and service users.

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with diverse abilities, experiences, and perspectives.

We are also dedicated to supporting the career progression of colleagues from underrepresented backgrounds into this role and more senior roles within the Division and the wider organisation.

Promoting Workforce Equality

In response to data held by BCHC which demonstrates that individuals from particular protected characteristics are under-represented, BCHC are striving to redress these imbalances. In order to do this, the Trust is committed to the employment and career development of individuals with these protected characteristics. As part of this commitment and given this under-representation, the Trust guarantees an interview to any applicants from under‑represented groups for positions at Band 8a and above whose application meets the essential criteria for the post as detailed on the Person Specification.

The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of people who identify as Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) and welcomes applicants from these communities. Selection will be on the basis of merit. In order to ensure the diversity of our workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.

DBS Costs

Please be aware that all new employees starting work with the Trust will be charged for the cost of their DBS check if it is required for the role. The cost will be deducted from your salary in 3 payments over a 3-month period once you start employment. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to these deductions being made. The charges for the DBS include the administration fee. The total costs are £26.40 for a standard check and £54.40 for an enhanced check. The level of check will be determined by the post you are applying for. For bank Workers the full cost of the DBS check (as detailed above) will be deducted from your pay following completion of your online mandatory training. No payment will be made for your online training until it is all complete and verified by the Temporary Staffing Team. Please note: You will not be able to work any bank shifts until you have completed your mandatory training, and your DBS is in place.

Flexible Working

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) supports a variety of flexible working practices and, where possible (given our range of services and community settings) dependent upon the requirements associated with the role, will actively consider requests made and support these where practically possible. This may include hybrid patterns of working to enable colleagues to request the flexibility of a mixture of home/base working.

In accordance with the NHS People Promise, the Trust is committed to facilitating a healthy work/life balance that is essential to health and wellbeing and to making BCHC a ‘Great Place to Work’. We will be happy to discuss and consider all requests relating to working patterns and hours at your interview so please do ask!

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust acknowledges Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini etc; are powerful tools that can help you in various stages of your job application and how they can be used in certain circumstances during your application process with BCHC. You can read more about acceptable use on our internet pages here

Benefits of working for us:

• Full NHS terms and conditions including extensive holidays, Agenda for Change pay with enhancements
• Attractive relocation payment if you relocate to the local area.
• Discounts for local and national retailers
• Dedicated well-being services for all employees
• Flexible working where possible

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust
3, Priestley Wharf
Holt Street
Birmingham Science Park
B7 4BN

Office hours: Monday to Friday: 8.30 am - 5.00 pm

Our patients and their carers and families are the reason we're here, so we want to hear your views about the Trust and our services.

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