Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.    General Information

JOB TITLE:                 Senior Renal Technologist

AREA/SPECIALITY:  Renal Technology

GRADE:                      Band 6

DEPARTMENT:         Renal Technology

RESPONSIBLE TO:  Deputy Technical manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Technical manager

LOCATION:                4^th Floor, Borough Wing, Guys

Department Information

The directorate of Transplant, Renal and Urology (TR&U) is one of the largest directorates at Guy’s and St Thomas’ (GSTT) with an income budget of approximately £90 million, employing 530 members of staff. The directorate provides specialist, tertiary referral services to the population of South East London, and West Kent, specialising in renal and pancreatic transplant, robotic surgery, dialysis and acute kidney disease, lithotripsy, laser prostate procedures, functional urology. The directorate also provides local services to the populations of Lambeth and Southwark. Based on the Guy’s Hospital campus of GSTT

The department of Renal Technical Services predominantly supports the large GSTT dialysis service with hospital and satellite services covering South East London, West Kent and the Channel Islands. The Renal Unit provides dialysis support for a large number of patients across the region, with the technical team ensuring that equipment is in working order, ensuring the clinical service is safely delivered and that operational issues can be addressed as quickly as possible. The team also provides responsible oversight to the Urology decontamination service ensuring that the processes employed adhere to national and Trust standards and guidance. The team also work closely with the Urology department to ensure medical equipment is adequately maintained and managed effectively.

Organisational Values:

Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it.  It is important that you understand and reflect these values throughout your employment with the Trust. 

The post holder will:

Caring: we put patients first

Ambitious: we innovate and strive for excellence

Inclusive: we respect each other and work collaboratively

Our values and behaviours framework| describes what it means for every one of us in the Trust to put our values into action. 

1.         GENERAL TECHNICAL DUTIES:

            To carryout repairs, servicing and calibrations on a full range of Haemodialysis machines and       other equipment associated with the Renal Unit, in line with the manufacturers’             recommendations and guidelines.

            To perform and follow the Planned Preventative Maintenance Programmes for all equipment.

            To ensure that records and reports are accurately maintained for each item of equipment using    our CRM reporting system.

            To assist with the installation and removal of Dialysis equipment into specific areas such as the    Satellite Units and the homes of Renal Patients.

            To assist with ordering and maintenance of stock levels for spare parts

            To assist with the On-Going evaluation of new medical and technical equipment, working with       other members of the renal unit as required.

            To participate in the 24 hour “On-Call” support service and Bank Holiday working rota as provided by the department.

            To provide technical support, in various forms as deemed appropriate by the department, to all     staff and patients associated with the Renal Unit

            To assist and participate in staff, patient, technician training, and development courses.

            To consider and participate in any research, development projects and equipment trials taking      place within the Renal Unit.

            To comply and implement all policies and procedures currently in use within the Renal Unit.

            To carryout, any duties that may be considered appropriate to the running of the department.

. 2.        Communication within the Organisation

            To liaise with the following :- Technical Manager; Deputy Technical Manager, Chief          Technicians, Renal Technicians, Medical Consultants, Medical Team, Directorate Manager, I.T.         Manager, Adult and Paediatric Renal Units Nursing Teams, Medical and Support Staff,           Works, EBME, Medical Physics Department, Procurement, Supplies and Stores Departments.         To liaise with renal unit patients, their carers and equipment manufacturers’ service engineers

The following statement forms part of all job descriptions:-

The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures, which are, including:

Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information

Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. Post holders must not without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff.   If any member of staff has communicated any such information to an unauthorised person, those staff will be liable to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.

Following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2005, post holders must apply the Trust’s FOI procedure if they receive a written request for information. 

Information Governance

All staff must comply with information governance requirements. These includes statutory responsibilities (such as compliance with the Data Protection Act), following national guidance (such as the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice) and compliance with local policies and procedures (such as the Trust's Confidentiality policy). Staff are responsible for any personal information (belonging to staff or patients) that they access and must ensure it is stored, processed and forwarded in a secure and appropriate manner.

Equal Opportunities

Post holders must at all times, fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.

Health and Safety

All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trust’s health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.

Infection Control

All post holders have a personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to reduce HCAIs.  All post holders must comply with Trust infection screening and immunisation policies as well as be familiar with the Trust’s Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as Hand Decontamination Policy, Personal Protective Equipment Policy, safe procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps. 

Risk Management

All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trust’s use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.

Flexible Working

As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.

Sustainability

It is the responsibility of all staff to minimise the Trust’s environmental impact by recycling wherever possible, switching off lights, computers monitors and equipment when not in use, minimising water usage and reporting faults promptly.

Smoking Policy

The Trust is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for staff, patients and visitors. Staff are therefore not permitted to smoke on Trust property or in Trust vehicles

Review of this Job Description

This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organisation.   To be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.