Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Assessment
• Assists in the process of multidisciplinary clinical assessment by selecting and providing appropriate electronic assistive equipment and configuring this to test patients’ physical, cognitive and sensory abilities.
• Identifies suitable patient-equipment interfaces and measures physical requirements for the patient (e.g. response time, force, spatial accuracy).
• Gives advice on the feasibility and impact on the patient’s environment of providing particular functions (e.g. door entry phone, mounting of display screen on wheelchair).
• Documents the technical requirements of the prescription and agrees these with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Agrees with the patient, carer and assessment team the date on which equipment will be installed having regard to service standards. Where possible proceeds with equipment commissioning immediately on completion of the assessment.

Procurement and Management of Equipment
• Assists in the technical and clinical assessment of medical devices to be included on the department’s preferred product list. Adjusts stock and re-order levels to meet expected requirements.
• Sources non-standard equipment for specific patient needs.
• Supervises others to undertake acceptance testing of new equipment in accordance with Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency requirements, including electrical safety testing of medical devices.
• Enters product details onto Departmental Database, labels equipment to ensure traceability and stores in accordance with the Trust’s Medical Devices Policy.
• Supervises others to clean, decontaminate and refurbish used equipment, removing personal settings and information and restoring to standard configuration. Tests to ensure suitability for re-issue.
• Where suitable equipment is not commercially available, undertakes minor modifications to commercial equipment or makes simple custom made devices in accordance with the EU Medical Devices Directive and Trust Medical Devices policies.
Commissioning of Equipment
• Interprets results of a team members’ assessment in order to produce a system design to satisfy the patient’s prescription in compliance with the EATS team policies and procedures.
• Assembles and installs the patient interface, providing appropriate physical mounting on the wheelchair, bed or on freestanding mounts. Inspects for hazards and where necessary tests for stability.
• Installs ancillary equipment (e.g., intercoms, remote control telephones) ensuring cabling is fixed in a safe and aesthetically acceptable manner.
• Installs and configures hardware, software (e.g. operating system, virus protection software) and application packages (e.g., symbolic communication vocabulary) and domestic wireless networks. Tests individual packages and the system as a whole.
• Configures the system software to meet the functional requirements and physical, sensory and cognitive abilities of the patient.
• Where the controlled equipment is complex configures the system to provide appropriate access to desired functions
• Tests overall installation to ensure that it is in full working order before leaving the premises.
• Trains the patient and their carers in the use of the system ensuring that reliable operation is achieved.
• Customises instruction templates to provide patients and carers with written instructions relating to the specific system that has been installed.
• Advises householders in writing of any hazards (e.g. faulty domestic wiring) encountered while working in the home.

Maintenance and On-going Support
• Investigates and prioritises breakdown reports. Makes repairs to, or substitution of, failed equipment in a timely manner so as to minimise risk to patients.
• Arranges and monitors repair by manufacturers where in-house repair is not possible.
• Participates in an out-of-working-hours response call rota to take  calls from patients and carers and to attend the patient’s home to rectify the problem if necessary.
• Undertakes preventative maintenance ensuring compliance with departmental service standards and with legislative requirements.
• Reviews the patient’s use of the system ensuring that needs are met on an ongoing basis.
• If necessary, reviews the prescription and implements changes including the provision of additional devices where necessary to meet changing patient need.
• Decommissions equipment from the homes of deceased patients in a manner sensitive to the needs of relatives, ensuring that electrical services are left safe and making good where necessary.

Record Keeping and Documentation
• Maintains in the patient’s Clinical Record, either directly or by reference to model files, sufficient documentation to satisfy the Technical File requirements of the Medical Devices Regulations.
• Makes electronic copies of system configurations and stores according to the EATS team procedures and uses to repair/recover failed systems.
• Updates the department’s information system so as to maintain traceability and service history for medical and other devices in use.
• Documents clinical information in a concise and accurate manner in the Clinical Record in accordance with Trust note keeping policies.
• Maintains the confidentiality of clinical information in accordance with the Trust’s data protection policy.
• Develops written procedures for the commissioning, maintenance and refurbishment of equipment and assists in the development of other departmental procedures.

Health and Safety at Work
Takes all reasonable care to avoid injury to self and others by work activities and cooperates with management in meeting statutory requirements. Provides assistance and support to any member of staff in difficulty.

Risk Management
•Undertakes individual risk assessment and management whenever installing, reviewing or adjusting electronic assistive equipment, documenting the findings and actions taken in the Clinical Record.
•Exercises vigilance and investigates incidents and potential incidents using the appropriate reporting channels.
•Employs good practice in equipment management, following departmental procedures where applicable and documenting the reason for deviation from these.
•Is aware of current Safety Notices and acts accordingly.
•Follows good practice with respect to infection control.

Communications and Working Relationships (Internal and external)
•Communicates with patients making adjustments for speech and sensory impairments.
•Communicates with relatives and carers in such a way that the function, purpose and requirements for effective use of the equipment is understood.
•Cooperates and communicates with colleagues within the department adopting a flexible approach to meeting patient’s needs in a timely manner.
•Works closely with multidisciplinary teams supporting individual patients to ensure a coordinated approach to equipment provision and support.
•Liaises with manufacturers and suppliers of equipment to resolve problems and to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of equipment availability and performance.
•Liaises with wheelchair staff/contractors to gain agreement on the means of mounting and interconnection of equipment.

Teaching & Training
•Delivers workshop sessions and supports trainees within the department.
•Trains staff, both from within the department and from other services, on the use, commissioning and care of specific equipment.
•Participates in publicising the work of the service through presentations to visiting groups, publications and general liaison with other disciplines and outside agencies where appropriate.
• Takes responsibility for own training understanding own areas of need and sourcing appropriate training to meet these needs.