Head of Medical Engineering

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries. We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining a healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as part-time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Please note that this role is advertised on behalf of Atlas BFW Management Ltd (Atlas), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and as such, successful applicant(s) will be on Atlas Terms and Conditions. The post holder is responsible for leading and managing the Medical Engineering (EBME) service on behalf of Atlas, ensuring delivery in line with contractual obligations and client requirements.

The main tasks of the role are to ensure effective:

• Strategic leadership & service management
• Asset Management
• Procurement & Contract Management of Suppliers
• People & Performance Management
• Data Management
• Customer Contract Monitoring, Performance Management & Reporting

Reporting to the Director of Operations, they will have significant experience in general management together with experience of either asset management or contract management, preferably within a healthcare setting. Please be aware that with this role, you may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS); further information will be provided if you are successful for interview.

Main duties of the job include:

• Providing leadership, professional management and direction to all staff within the EBME Department, enabling the effective sharing of knowledge, ideas and skills.
• Providing overall leadership and strategic direction for the EBME service, ensuring alignment with organisational and clinical priorities.
• Supporting client organisation in the implementation of medical device strategies and plans.
• Operating within a managed service framework and working in partnership with the client organisation.
• Leading the development and delivery of long-term medical device strategies, including technology planning and service sustainability.
• Establishing and maintaining a structured operating model for EBME across acute, community, and equipment library services.
• Ensuring delivery within agreed financial parameters.
• Managing the EBME service budget within delegated authority.
• Driving continuous improvement and service transformation programmes in response to evolving healthcare technologies and demand.

As experts in healthcare facilities and property management, we deliver fully-managed healthcare facilities services and property management solutions to clients throughout Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre and North Lancashire. Our teams ensure our clients' properties and amenities provide the best environment for their customers, patients, staff and visitors. Our profits are used to help grow our business, whilst providing additional employment, training and development opportunities for local people.

Please note this role will be on an ATLAS contract, not an NHS contract. This advert will close when sufficient applications have been received.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities include:

• Ensuring compliance with all relevant regulatory standards, including UK medical device regulations and applicable international standards.
• Leading risk management processes for medical devices, focusing on high-risk and life-support equipment.
• Supporting medical device governance groups (e.g. Medical Devices Management Committee), ensuring structured reporting and oversight.
• Driving the implementation of quality management systems and audit frameworks.
• Being responsible for reporting defects and failures of medical devices direct to the MHRA and liaising with the client(s) Risk Manager and relevant Clinicians regarding actions to avoid harm to patients and/or staff.
• Assisting the MHRA in its investigation of any such defects and providing reports containing complex, sensitive and business confidential information.
• Being authorised to remove devices from service and initiate immediate action to minimise harm.
• Maintaining a healthy, safe and productive working environment in line with legal, organisational and professional requirements.
• Conforming to all relevant legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Ensuring the correct implementation of the Trust's Management of Medical Devices Policy and the MHRA Managing Medical Devices January 2021 guidance.
• Carrying out risk assessments and taking appropriate action to minimise risks, in relation to legislation, policies and procedures.
• Reviewing the division risk register in relation to medical device maintenance to ensure that identified risks reported to the Trust board are current and proportionate.
• Ensuring the reporting of all accidents and incidents and near misses as per Atlas and its Client(s) Policy.
• Acting as the Atlas lead in investigating all serious incidents involving Medical Equipment.
• Ensuring that the department has in place up-to-date robust contingency plans to meet emergency situations, including the provision of an out-of-hour emergency service.
• Leading on EBME risk and managing risks effectively, including updating Datix and adding mitigations.

Person specification includes:

• Education & Qualifications: Evidence of continuing personal and professional development; Management or professional qualification at postgraduate level; Membership of a relevant professional institute; Registered with the Engineering Council as an Incorporated or Chartered Engineer; Recognised management qualification.
• Knowledge: Significant experience in the technical evaluation and management of medical devices; Management experience including finance/budgetary, HR, service redesign; Proven performance management of services and delivery of targets within agreed timescales; ISO9001 accredited experience within a healthcare environment.
• Experience: Experience of managing a team of technical qualified staff; Substantial NHS specialist experience in all aspects of the management of clinical equipment or equivalent technical experience; Experience of working under a Quality Management System; Extensive Knowledge of test procedures used to verify safety and performance of a wide range of medical equipment; Experience of working in a hospital environment.
• Skills & Abilities: Knowledge of statutory, regulatory and governance obligations relating to medical equipment, acquisition, usage and upkeep; Well-developed leadership and motivational skills; Excellent planning and organisational skills; Self-motivated, flexible with interpersonal skills, able to develop, motivate and maintain effective teams and manage a demanding and challenging workload; IT literate; High level of written and verbal communication skills including presentation skills.
• Work Related Circumstances: Occupational Health Clearance; Flexible and willingness to work extended hours; Physical effort e.g. lifting; Knowledge of procedures and safe working practices for handling equipment containing/contaminated with unpleasant substances including body fluids.

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form. If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently, the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50. You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures. Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this. Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until the published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier. In line with national NHS guidelines, this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking. The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.