Band 7 Senior Rehabilitation Engineer

Job summary
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 08/09/26

Main duties of the job
To provide technical and clinical input to West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre and the 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 independently 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.

About us
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.

Job 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.
Take measurements of 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 Management System. 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
Essential

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

Registration
Essential

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

Experience
Essential

• Extensive experience working with wheelchairs and specialised supportive seating

Desirable

• Experience of casting for bespoke seating
• Experience of working within a Quality Management System

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS FT is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.