3553 - Assistive Technology Technologist

Haringey GP Federation; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An NHS organization is seeking an Assistive Technology Technologist to deliver high-quality services across Yorkshire and Humber. Ideal candidates will possess an Engineering degree, have technical fault-finding skills, and a passion for working with assistive technologies. The role involves field servicing, installation, and maintenance of communication aids, ensuring effective support for clients with severe disabilities. This position offers a collaborative environment within a dedicated team and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Degree or HND in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience in assisting individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to work with complex assistive technology.

Responsibilities

• Field servicing and maintenance of assistive devices.
• Installing communication aids and environmental controls.
• Ensuring safe and effective provision of technology.

Skills

Fault finding

Technical diagnosis

Mechanical knowledge

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Engineering specialism

IT literacy

Education

Engineering Bachelor degree

Tools

CAD software

Engineering tools

Job description

The interview date for this role will be 28th January and/or 30th January.

This is an opportunity to join a dedicated, motivated, exciting and supportive specialised assistive technology team. Our team has an excellent national and international reputation for quality, innovation and research and development. We deliver regional services for communication aids and environmental control across the Yorkshire and Humber region and are directly commissioned by NHS England as a specialised service.

This post is a predominantly field based role for an Assistive Technology Technologist and we are looking for candidates who are registered Clinical Technologists or Healthcare Science Practitioners or who have an actionable plan to achieve this registration within 2 years of appointment. Candidates will thus have an Engineering degree, or other comparable higher qualification with equivalent experience.

If you are highly motivated, hardworking, conscientious, a good team player, willing to learn and develop and passionate about the use of assistive technology and working with people with disabilities, then please look at our website and apply!

Main duties of the job

We are looking for individuals who are skilled multidisciplinary craftspeople; who have significant experience of field servicing in the community (traveling across different sites in personal vehicle); have significant experience of equipment maintenance, repair and configuration; have excellent independent technical fault finding, diagnosis and remediation skills; who have practical engineering knowledge of a wide range of mechanical and electronic processes and tools; have knowledge of assistive technology equipment and the associated benefits to our clients; who have excellent communication skills; and who are able to work with individuals who have severe physical and communication difficulties.

If successful, you will be working across Yorkshire and Humber in installing and maintaining communication aids and environmental controls (including computer access equipment and some wheelchair controls). You will help deliver a high-quality service to our clients. You will be responsible for ensuring the safe and effective provision of this complex technology, and work within a client focused and dedicated multi-disciplinarian team. This team of Allied Health Professionals and HealthCare Scientists work to ensure the needs of our clients, who have severe disabilities, are met.

About us

We reserve the right to close positions early

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing Trust, currently rated Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and achieving significant progress in the delivery of our strategic objectives, including our ambition to be the best Place to Work.

We scored best in the country in the most recent NHS Staff Survey for teamwork, compassionate leadership, and supporting work/life balance. In 2024's survey, the Trust also scored above average in every theme of the NHS People Promise the promise NHS colleagues make to each other to improve the experience of working in the NHS for everyone.

We are proud of the commitment of our colleagues to ensuring a strong and sustainable future and our organisation is highly valued by our local communities.

There has never been a better time to join Barnsley Hospital. It is moving at pace and a we can do this attitude is evident right through the organisation.

Barnsley Hospital NHS FT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and fair treatment to all applicants.

For individuals who may require sponsorship under the skilled worker or health & care visa route please use the link on the right hand side of the advert to check your eligibility, please note that band 2 and 3 entry roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship.

The cost of the DBS (criminal records check) for Band 6 and above roles will only be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Supporting Documents

Please refer to the values-based recruitment guidance and associated documentation.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Awareness

• Appropriate engineering knowledge, acquired through degree or HND or equivalent and significant equivalent experience.
• Comprehensive practical engineering knowledge related to engineering specialism, such as, as relevant, the use lathes, milling machines, band saws, radial drills, soldering and electronics equipment.
• Knowledge of role of assistive technology (AAC & EC) and benefits to service users.
• Knowledge of procedures and process of a PPM program.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and evaluation with relation to equipment provision.
• Knowledge of Medical Devices Directive
• Knowledge of MHRA guidance related to equipment management and manufacture
• Understanding of the need for confidentiality.
• Understanding of the role and application of Health and Safety policy.
• Knowledge of the range of existing assistive technology (AAC & EC) solutions.
• Knowledge of the Community Equipment Code of Practice or other relevant standards.
• Knowledge of relevant medical conditions, physiology and anatomy.

Skills and Abilities

• Highly competent in an engineering specialism relevant to role. Skilled multidisciplinary craftsperson.
• Excellent (advanced) technical fault finding and diagnosis skills.
• Ability to independently make decisions regarding complex technical fault finding and remedial actions.
• Dexterity, coordination and sensory skills for use of fine tools.
• Engineering skills and abilities for fabrication of custom manufactured mechanical and/or electronic equipment.
• Skills in training of clients and other staff in technical topics and the use of equipment.
• Skills in the analysis and interpretation of technical specifications from clinical staff in order to assemble or fabricate and configure equipment for provision to clients.
• Ability to work independently within the applicable competencies and policies
• Ability to demonstrate flexible and innovative thinking in designing solutions for individual clients.
• Ability to work with persons who have severe physical and communication difficulties
• IT literate with experience of a range of common applications
• Drafting and/or CAD
• Programming

Experience

• Significant experience of field servicing of equipment.
• Significant experience of equipment setup, configuration, assembly and provision.
• Significant experience of carrying out equipment planned preventative maintenance.
• Comprehensive experience of engineering/technical fault finding and resolution.
• Experienced in the use of workshop and hand tools for fabrication or assembly of equipment.
• Experience of risk assessment and other relevant procedures relating to the safe provision of equipment.
• Experience of carrying out all stages of effective equipment management.
• Experience of assistive technology (AAC & EC) device configuration and provision.
• Experience in wheelchair provision or maintenance.
• Experience of working with people with disabilities.
• Experienced in the use of CAD.
• Experience in CAM and other advanced manufacturing tools and techniques

Qualifications

• To be eligible for and have a plan to achieve registration as a Clinical Technologist or Healthcare Science Practitioner within 2 years of taking up the post.
• Relevant Engineering Bachelor degree or other qualifications and equivalent experience (as required by registration).
• Registered Clinical Technologist or Healthcare Science Practitioner
• In around 100 words please describe what Equality & Diversity means to you and why they are important.
• In around 100 words please describe what motivates you to work in the field of Electronic Assistive Technology?

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.