Technician (Clinical Skills and Simulation)

Job Summary

Robert Gordon University (RGU) – Aberdeen’s university of choice for thousands of staff and students - has a well-established reputation as an innovative and modern workplace, with multiple awards and recognition of our courses and Schools.

The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Practice is offering an exciting opportunity for a suitably experienced and motivated individual to join our team of Clinical Skills Centre (CSC) staff.

You will support and be responsible for the set‐up of the daily technical elements of all courses using a range of equipment and supplies. The equipment range will include ‐ human patient simulators, part task trainers, computer-based simulators, audio-visual system and appropriate medical and surgical equipment.  

You will ensure effective utilisation of resources under the direction of the Clinical Skills Team and be required to provide a high level of support to the Team to ensure effective ordering of consumables, stock control, maintenance and monitoring of equipment. This will also include ensuring compliance with Health and Safety requirements of equipment and substances hazardous to health (COSHH), co-ordination and monitoring of Clinical Skills Centre room allocation as well as overseeing the provision of service.  

You will also be required to maintain a safe learning environment and participate in the running of scenarios. This will be a varied, interesting and challenging role, which will require flexibility, and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.  A working knowledge of equipment maintenance and Health & Safety are essential to this role and experience of working in a healthcare setting would be advantageous.  You will need to demonstrate excellent communication skills and operate within deadlines to a high degree of accuracy.  

What we can offer you:

A full-time, permanent position (35 hours per week).

A competitive salary, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance.

Opportunities for professional and personal development.

We are an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our staff and to the sustainability of our environment.

To apply, please submit your CV along with a covering letter detailing your suitability for the role.  You should provide evidence of your ability to meet the requirements set out in the person specification.

 

Job Description

RESPONSIBLE TO: Clinical Skills Centre Manager

RESPONSIBLE FOR: No line management responsibilities

PURPOSE OF POST:  To be part of a small team supporting clinical skills and simulation within RGU

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

Responsible for the preparation of the Clinical Skills Centre facilities and equipment as per the supplied scenarios and skills requests in readiness for teaching sessions. Including, the setting up and dismantling of simulation areas and skills stations as required before and after sessions ensuring that the Centre is kept tidy.
Ensure that specialist simulation equipment including the software and hardware, audio-visual equipment and other modalities of simulation education and skills training are installed, used and maintained in accordance with technical and health and safety procedures.
Record, live-stream and edit simulation, clinical skills and OSCE activities on digital audio-visual equipment.
Participate in the delivery of simulation and clinical skills education e.g. operate and programme the patient simulators, adjust the physiological parameters as required during the scenarios as well as provide the patient voice and any necessary laboratory results.
Create moulage/special effects make-up to apply to patient simulators and actors/volunteer patients to enhance the realism and the clinical accuracy of individual scenarios.
Identify simulation equipment faults and repair as necessary in accordance with Health and Safety regulations and ensure that all safety measures and policies that are relevant to the post holder’s duties are known and implemented, e.g. Manual Handling, Clinical Waste, safe use of equipment
Provide guidance to academic staff on available technologies to enhance and develop simulation and skills teaching (e.g. immersive, virtual and augmented reality) and contribute to the development of relevant e-resources.
Liaise with the equipment representatives regarding troubleshooting and system failure to maintain a smooth flow of operations and effective workflows.
Manage stock levels including maintenance of a comprehensive stock and equipment inventory database, as well as tracking servicing and repair of equipment. Monitor all servicing of equipment including responsibility for ensuring the regular testing of equipment, in line with manufacturers’ guidance and compliance with legal requirements and provide data for cost analysis and replacements.
Contribute to and support the development of new techniques, tools, equipment and innovations for teaching, learning or research and produce technical documentation e.g. “how to” sheets liaising and working with the Clinical Skills Manager and academic staff
Source and make recommendations for new equipment encouraging a culture of best practice being promoted
Provide skilled assistance, technical guidance and training to the Clinical Skills Team, students and academics.
Attend training courses provided by the equipment suppliers and cascade knowledge as appropriate.
Support research activity by helping to collate data and documentation, contributing to ongoing evaluation and undertaking appropriate simulation and skills analyses as required.
Keep abreast of trends and maintain proficiency in existing and emerging technologies including basic theory, design and implementation.
Undertake appropriate training and development as required
Participate in meetings, open days, staff development sessions and other events within the University (or externally with other skills/simulation technicians across regional and national boundaries). This also includes developing and delivering elements within staff development sessions
Due to the continued growth of the School the key responsibilities of the post may change over time and a flexible and adaptable approach is therefore essential.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and professional memberships

• Education to degree level or equivalent relevant work experience

Knowledge and skills

• Working knowledge of audio-visual systems (PC, network camera, recording, editing, media storage)

• Knowledge of Health and Safety

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Ability to evaluate and review processes and implement new systems and procedures where appropriate

• Demonstrable working knowledge of equipment maintenance

• Ability to organise and prioritise work effectively

Experience

• Proven ability to work without direct supervision and exercise initiative and independent judgement appropriate to the role

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications and professional memberships

• Degree in a Health or Science related discipline

• Member, or willing to work towards being a member, of the Science Council or certification with either the Society for Simulation in Healthcare

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of computer operating systems

• Ability to find fault and troubleshoot problems

Experience

• Experience of working in a simulation and clinical skills environment

• Experience of working in a healthcare setting

• Experience and understanding of a wide range of Clinical Simulation equipment e.g. human patient simulators, software and hardware, processes and procedures and able to provide a relevant level of technical support to support teaching

 

Behaviours

Behaviour 1: Communication - Ability to receive, understand and convey information requiring careful explanation and information of a complex or conceptual nature, in a clear and accurate manner

Behaviour 2: Initiative and Problem Solving - Experience of using initiative and creativity to resolve problems, identifying practical and suitable solutions.

Behaviour 3: Service Delivery - Experience of giving customers a positive and satisfactory service, by providing accurate and up to date knowledge of services available in own and related areas of work

Behaviour 4: Planning and Organising Resources - Experience of planning, prioritising and organising your own work or resources to achieve agreed objectives 

Behaviour 5: Team Development - Experience of providing advice or guidance to new starts delivering training or instruction to others on specific tasks or activities