AGENDA FOR CHANGE
JOB ANALYSIS
QUESTIONNAIRE
(JAQ)
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INTRODUCTION TO THE JOB ANALYSIS QUESTIONNAIRE (JAQ)
This questionnaire is designed to obtain all the information necessary to
evaluate your job locally. It may seem long and sometimes repetitive but it is
very important that you take the time to complete it fully and provide relevant
and clear examples about your job. If the Evaluation Panel does not have all
the information it needs, it will not be able to evaluate your job properly.
Why do I have to complete a JAQ?
As there is not an appropriate nationally agreed profile for your job, it has to
be assessed by a Panel made up of trained evaluators who, working in
management and trade union partnership, will use the NHS Job Evaluation
Scheme to evaluate the job information provided in the JAQ so that the job
can be placed in the appropriate pay band.
If other people do the same job, do we all need to complete a JAQ?
Where there is more than one person doing a job there are a number of
options for completion, including the following:
One of the jobholders can volunteer (or be selected) to complete a JAQ and
be interviewed by Job Analysts: the completed JAQ is circulated to other
jobholders for comment both before the interview and, if there are changes,
after the interview, before being signed off.
Jobholders can work together to complete a JAQ and then select one to
represent them all at the interview with the Job Analysts. This option works
best where jobholders work together in the same work location.
It is effective, but can be time consuming.
Where jobholders work in different locations, one option is for one jobholder
from each location to complete the JAQ, as described above and then meet
together to produce a single JAQ and select a representative for interview.
Again this is time consuming but would give participants a sense of
ownership. Alternatively, jobholders may nominate one jobholder to complete
the JAQ and then send it to the others for comment and agreement
afterwards.
You will be advised which of the above options has been agreed locally, on a
partnership basis for your job.
How should I complete the JAQ?
It can be completed by hand or electronically, using Microsoft Word. If you
have a choice, it is preferable for the analysts and the Evaluation Panel to
have a JAQ, which has been completed electronically, as it can be duplicated
easily. It is clearer for the panel to read, agreed amendments can be made
neatly and the boxes automatically expand to fit the words.
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Whichever way you choose, answer the questions in your own words and, if
you are familiar with the NHS Job Evaluation Scheme, try to avoid key
phrases which are contained in it as these are unhelpful and do not describe
the type of activity/task. If you want to use the same example to answer a
different question, there is no need to write it out again, you can just refer to
the first example.
Is there any guidance on how to complete it?
The guidance is contained in the interactive help facility and in an electronic
file of that name which can be read electronically or printed and used as a
reference document. It is helpful to read each question in the JAQ and then
read the guidance relating to it before answering the question. For those
sections with a series of Yes/No boxes, it is sensible to work through the
questions first, putting ticks or Yes’s or No’s in the boxes, as appropriate.
Then consider the examples you want to use and allocate them to the Yes
box options. This provides a better range of examples to evaluators and helps
avoid repetitive box filling for you!
Using the Interactive ‘Help’
The electronic interactive ‘Help’ facility can be accessed by moving the cursor
over the corresponding shaded area (usually the question number) and
waiting one second. Guidance will then be displayed on the screen. Please
note that the grey shaded boxes are not associated with the Help system, but
are designated as the areas to enter data. There are slight variations for
Microsoft Word 2002 and Word XP users, which are outlined below. You can
check the Word version you are using by opening Word, clicking "Help" then
"About".
For MS Word 2002 users the Help area may not be shaded but will be
enclosed within coloured brackets.
MS Word 2002 and XP users should ensure that the ‘Balloons’ element of the
tracking/ reviewing is not enabled. If you do not see all of the Help comments
down the side of the document when the file initially opens, the ‘Balloons’
element is not enabled and nothing need be done. This feature can be
disabled through the Review toolbar by clicking 'Show' then 'Balloons' and
then 'Never' or through the Tools menu by clicking 'Options' then 'Track
Changes' then by 'Use Balloons' choose 'Never'. This will not be an issue for
users of Word 2000 or lower.
For advanced PC users, the field codes facility should be off. This facility will
be on if the button that looks like a backwards “P” ¶ is displayed and
depressed on the toolbar.
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What duties should I include?
The JAQ takes into account all the duties you are required to carry out. Think
what you do in a typical week, start from the beginning and work through each
day. If your job varies from week to week or has a monthly cycle, look at your
diary to help to list your activities. You should include those duties agreed by
you and your manager to be part of the job. These may be more, or less, than
the duties listed on your formal job description. When you have completed the
JAQ, it is sometimes helpful to keep it with you for a few days so that you can
add anything else that comes to mind. Be sure however to keep in mind the
date it has to be completed by, so that the process is not delayed.
How much information should I include?
Wherever there is a question that you have ticked or answered ‘Yes’, there
should be a clear, factual answer. It should be detailed enough to enable
someone who does not know the job to understand what you do. Please avoid
including unnecessary information as this can be confusing. Also avoid initials
or jargon, as these may not be understood.
Can I get help from other people?
Yes, it is a good idea to talk to others who know about the job when
completing the JAQ, for example:





Colleagues who do a different job but work closely with you
Colleagues who do the same or a similar job to you
Staff representative(s) for your area of work
Supervisor and/or line manager
Trained staff member dedicated to do this (where available).
HR department will probably be able to supply these. An organisation chart,
induction materials and department reports may also be useful if they include
a description of your work.
Does the JAQ ask me to list what I think I have done particularly well?
No, Job Evaluation is concerned with WHAT you do, not how well you do it. It
takes no account of performance.
What will the Job Analysts do?
The Job Analysts are trained NHS staff and when you have finished
completing the JAQ, two analysts (one management, one staff representative)
will go through the JAQ with you to ensure that you have not left anything out,
the examples provided are clear to people who do not know your work and
that the JAQ accurately reflects the job duties and responsibilities you
describe. They will also, where possible, answer any questions concerning
what will be happening next.
Will the Job Analysts make any changes to the JAQ?
They may suggest making some amendments, with your agreement, where
they think that it can be improved or where it may be misunderstood or
misleading. Their aim is to ensure that the JAQ is clear, complete, concise
and correct.
What will happen after I have agreed the JAQ with the Job Analysts?
The completed JAQ needs to be agreed by your manager and signed off by
you, your manager and both Job Analysts at the end of the process. It then
goes to the Evaluation Panel.
Should I refer to any documents?
It may be helpful to refer to a job description or person specification,
especially if it is agreed as up-to-date and accurate. Your line manager or the
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Job Analysis Questionnaire
Date issued 28th February 2008
Job Reference Number SHS S040
JOB TITLE DEPUTY MANAGER – VALIDATION & ASSOCIATED SERVICES GROUP
PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF JOB (JOB STATEMENT)
In no more than two sentences, please describe the principal purpose(s) of your job. This can be taken from your job description.
Management and development of a service that provides NHS Scotland with an independent UKAS 17025 accredited validation service for sterilization and
decontamination equipment.
To project manage major decontamination capital projects and to provide expert specialist and professional decontamination advice and technical services to Health
Boards, NHS Trusts, Directly Managed Units, the Scottish Government, Estates Managers, Departmental Heads and other customers to ensure that equipment
purchased is to specification, installed on time and is within budgeted costs.
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ORGANISATION CHART
Please draw an organisation chart showing your job and the jobs two levels above and two levels below (where possible) by job title only.
Draw a box around your job
Assistant Director
ETB
Validation &
Associated Services
Manager
Project Manager
Sterilizers & Decontamination
Deputy manager
Validation & Associated Services
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer
Validation Engineer
Admin. Assistant
NOTE:- 2008/2009 Divisional Workforce Plan indicates a growth over the next 4 years from the current
8 Validation Engineers to 24 Validation Engineers to meet the increasing demands of the service.
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MAIN TASKS
Please list the main tasks within your job and indicate any tasks, which are only carried out occasionally. Provide enough detail to enable readers to
understand what you do. Please also indicate the approximate proportion of your time spent on each task. This may be over a typical week if your job
has a weekly work cycle or over a month or year for jobs, which vary seasonally.
MAIN TASKS
% of time spent on this,
rounded to the nearest 5%
OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
40%
I am the operational manager for logistical activities of field based team. Tasks include forward planning, scheduling, rescheduling,
customer liaison via email, telephone and face to face meetings (40%)
Manages the operational infrastructure for 8 field engineers.
Draws up work schedules.
Develops operational procedures.
Designs and develops validation strategies with client representatives.
Liaises with HPS, HFS regarding alignment of procedures with Government policy.
Reviews and signs off Test Reports.
Witnesses and conducts commissioning.
Investigates equipment defects.
Troubleshoots technical issues.
The postholder holds the position of Deputy Head of Laboratory within 2 UKAS accredited schemes (SHS Validation Services is a UKAS
accredited Calibration and Testing laboratory).
Conducts and participates in Audit of team activities.
Defines Quality System procedures.
Carries out adjustments & applies calibrations to complex, intricate equipment.
Evaluates SAL, (Sterility Assurance Levels), of processes to quantify risks of cross-infection.
Calculates Microbiological Log reductions, thermal death curves, T, D and K values.
Calculates uncertainty of system measurement to UKAS M3003 levels.
Evaluates test report syntax and content, and compares this with specified requirements to assess if equipment may continue in
service.
Participates in disciplinary hearings.
Travels daily by car.
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MAIN TASKS
% of time spent on this,
rounded to the nearest 5%
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
25%
I am a Project Manager for decontamination equipment installations. Projects range from small installations to full new build equipping
(25%).
Defines equipment specifications.
Develops procurement strategies.
Manages the project schedule.
Requires understanding of EU law in relation to capital item purchasing.
Meets suppliers.
Chairs equipment selection processes.
Debriefs unsuccessful bidders.
Develops Gantt diagrams.
15%
GROUP MANAGEMENT
I am the deputy manager for the validation section. The full remit of the Validation Manager’s activities will be undertaken around
15% of available time owing to the manager being on leave, training courses, etc.
Represents SHS at SGHD level in lieu of Line Manager when appropriate.
DECONTAMINATION ADVISOR
10%
I am a decontamination specialist representing SHS and provide specialist decontamination advice to NHS Boards etc. (10%).
VALIDATION ENGINEER
10%
I perform the role of HTM 2010 / HTM 2030 Test Person (10%).
Conducts periodic and validation tests on all types of decontamination equipment to ensure equipment meets the required standards.
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1.
1.1
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
This factor measures the skills required to communicate, establish and maintain relationships and gain the co-operation of others. It takes account of the
skills required to motivate, negotiate, persuade, make presentations, empathise, communicate unpleasant news sensitively and provide counselling and
reassurance.
Please answer the following questions and provide examples for communication that has occurred in the last 12 months. State whether the
communication is with other employees, patients/clients or their carers, or with the general public/external organisations.
Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
Remember to move the cursor over the yellow shaded area to access guidance notes.
1.1.1
YES
Describe/ explain?
I frequently explain details of tendering process to NHS staff at all levels.
I explain the reasons for not selecting equipment to unsuccessful suppliers in tendering exercises. This is done in writing and
verbally in debrief meetings.
I explain how items of decontamination equipment work to staff who may be unfamiliar with the equipment. This is done by
giving practical demonstrations and classroom training.
I describe and explain developments, improvements and revisions to information and reporting systems to staff in my section.
1.1.2 Persuade or
influence?
YES
I have recently persuaded an equipment manufacturer to make modifications to equipment design and pipework layout, which I
identified as necessary prior to equipment delivery and installation.
As a lead specialist in the field of decontamination, I am required to influence and persuade clients’ staff to make changes to
working practices where these are long established and staff are reluctant to accept changes. I occasionally have to
demonstrate alternative methods of operating equipment to staff to persuade them that there are more effective methods of
operation.
I regularly have to persuade departmental managers, dentists and GPs to remove equipment from service to enable testing to
be done on the machine. I have to advise them of the benefits of having their machines independently tested and the
consequences of continuing to operate a machine which is overdue for testing.
1.1.3
Negotiate?
YES
I negotiate with suppliers, contractors, estates personnel, managers and operators during all stages of equipping projects.
I negotiate with suppliers at the post-tendering stage to ensure that NHS Scotland receives best value for money in equipping
projects. In recent projects, I have negotiated to have extended warranty periods on equipment supplied free of charge and
negotiated with a supplier to supply a free clean steam generator, worth in excess of £10,000, with a sterilizer equipping
project.
I negotiate with test equipment suppliers to arrange for trial/demonstration equipment for our team to evaluate.
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Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
Remember to move the cursor over the yellow shaded area to access guidance notes.
1.1.4
YES
Motivate?
All staff that I have management responsibility for, are field engineers who work from home. Skilful motivation is required to
ensure that the welfare needs of the staff are met, whilst balancing the needs of the organisation.
I motivate clinician groups during training by giving case histories and explaining why they should be concerned about
something and showing them how they can assure that concern by taking certain actions. Often a lack of awareness leads to
inappropriate actions – installing the awareness can motivate effectively.
I motivate my staff regularly through my ability to provide them with solutions to the typical problems that can occur while they
are on-site carrying out tests. Through my own experience of testing many different types of decontamination equipment, I am
aware that there is the potential for staff to feel isolated and de-motivated with the task in hand if problems occur during
testing. I frequently meet the engineers on-site to provide support and motivation in a hands-on manner.
1.1.5 Use tact /
diplomacy?
YES
Tact and diplomacy is necessary when discussing equipment performance issues with suppliers during equipment
commissioning. I have been involved in disputes with suppliers in relation to equipment performance and I had to be careful not
to infer blame, but to offer ways to improve and resolve, as failure to act could have affected patient safety.
I use tact and diplomacy when discussing results of failed tests with departmental managers, as this can affect production and
may lead to cancellation of patient lists. Managers have to be informed of the consequences of failed tests and the potential risk
of cross infection from instruments processed in machines which are not functioning correctly.
1.1.6
Use empathy?
YES
My staff have a physically and mentally demanding job, which they have to perform as lone-workers. They regularly have to
work in remote locations and stay overnight in hotels, away from their families. A great deal of empathy is required when
dealing with staff in these circumstances.
Recently, one of my engineers informed me that his father was terminally ill, so I re-arranged his work schedule to allow him to
work in locations close to home. This allowed him to be able to go to the hospital at short notice if necessary, whilst still
remaining productive at work.
1.1.7
Counsel?
YES
I monitor engineers’ performance and productivity levels to ensure that first class results are achieved within carefully
prescribed timescales. I counsel employees individually in accordance with NSS Disciplinary Policy &Procedure when
performance or productivity issues arise. Counselling skills have been gained through experience, rather than formal training.
1.1.8
Re-assure?
YES
Because my staff work in different locations every day and do not work on site as a team, I regularly communicate with them
and provide feedback on their work to re-assure them that the job they are doing is appreciated.
I review all test reports and calibration certificates created by the Validation Engineers prior to sending them to customers. This
reassures customers that the reports they receive are accurate and complete.
1.1.9 Give advice,
instruction and training?
YES
I give advice instruction and training on topics including induction, HR issues, working practices and equipment operation to all
new members of staff in my section and on an ongoing basis to all other team members.
I give advice, instruction and training to staff at all levels on how to operate and test newly installed decontamination
equipment at various NHS locations.
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Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
Remember to move the cursor over the yellow shaded area to access guidance notes.
1.1.10 Communicate to
YES
groups/give presentations?
I communicate and give presentations to groups of up to 30 people at one time.
I chair and co-ordinate meetings with manufacturers and specialist NHS staff to ensure projects progress according to plan. This
is performed up to 20 times per year and group size is about 10 - 12 people on average. Attendees typically include theatre
staff, estates staff, Finance/procurement staff, Trust senior management, microbiologists, equipment suppliers and external
contractors.
I give demonstrations 4 – 5 times per year on how to use software packages to my own staff using an overhead projector.
I give formal presentations to groups of up to 30 nursing staff at a time using overhead projector and handouts to instruct them
on highly complex endoscope decontamination procedures to explain concepts and methods about assurance that they are
unfamiliar with. This is carried out approximately 4 - 5 times per year in a classroom environment. The presentations are
necessary because the new types of washers being installed are radically different from the “old” washers and the procedures
and protocols for operating and testing are entirely different and much more complex.
1.1.11 Communicate in a
language other than
English?
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NO
N/A
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Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
Remember to move the cursor over the yellow shaded area to access guidance notes.
1.1.12 Overcome barriers YES
to understanding?
I frequently travel to decontamination equipment suppliers’ manufacturing facilities in Germany & Switzerland to inspect
equipment and perform Factory Acceptance Testing on new equipment on behalf of clients. This involves communicating
complex technical information with groups of individuals whose first language is not English. I often have to ask them to make
modifications to pipework and electrical wiring circuits and also ask them to make modifications to cycle parameters within the
control software.
Decontamination is now a very high profile area, being linked to Healthcare Acquired Infection, (HAI) and in particular the
public concern about re-transmission of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy’s via decontamination processes. The public
perception to the risks is one of being concerned but not always understanding the vectors of transmission. Such a low level of
understanding presents a barrier when changes to processes are raised and the risk areas must be illustrated to show why care
is needed. For example an emerging but critical area concerns High Level Disinfection of equipment. This process is used where
devices are heat sensitive but is not as effective as sterilisation and therefore even greater care is needed to monitor the
process. Contamination with specific organisms can be very harmful to minority patient groups and such aspects are changing
as micro-organisms evolve rapidly. I need to correlate the most recent medical/scientific publications with our work to ensure
that I keep abreast of emerging developments and transmit the implications of these to other concerned bodies and ultimately
to improvements in practice. When new equipment or procedures are installed, management as well as staff at operator level
are often reluctant to accept changes to procedures and work patterns that may be necessary due to the different design and
mode of operation of the new equipment. The reluctance is often related to failure to understand why a method should be
changed or that a risk exists that they are not aware of. Sometimes risks are understood but the implications of risks may not
be. These barriers to understanding have to be overcome, often by providing a hands-on demonstration, to enable the users to
have confidence in the new equipment and / or by providing training in the area that has been of concern in order to raise
understanding.
1.1.13 Communicate
complicated information?
YES
I am required to project manage several high value, technically complex equipping projects simultaneously and routinely
provide complex technical reports and project updates to senior NHS executives.
A number of different complex financial and technical factors and calculations need to be taken into account when calculating
life-cycle costs of equipment (see 3.1.4) to ensure that the most appropriate and cost effective equipment is procured. I present
this information at equipment selection meetings to staff with varying degrees of understanding.
I chair equipment selection meetings to summarise and present complicated technical and financial tender information to
clients. Membership of selection panels will typically include estates staff, department managers, nursing staff, microbiologists
and finance/procurement staff. Group size is normally approximately 10 – 12 people.
I give formal presentations to groups of up to 30 nursing staff at a time using overhead projector and handouts to instruct them
on highly complex endoscope decontamination procedures. This is carried out approximately 4 - 5 times per year in a classroom
environment. The presentations are necessary because the new types of washers being installed are radically different from the
“old” washers and the procedures and protocols for operating and testing are entirely different and much more complex.
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Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
Remember to move the cursor over the yellow shaded area to access guidance notes.
1.1.14 Communicate
sensitive information?
YES
As manager for 8 engineers, I am required to discuss sensitive personal information in situations such as return-to-work
interviews. I also participate in Occupational Health Service case studies and formal disciplinary hearings for staff members. One
of my staff was recently off with mental health problems and I had to deal with his case with sensitivity and care. I discussed
his personal situation in face to face meetings with him and had to communicate the sensitive information disclosed during the
meetings to my line manager, H.R. and Occupational Health doctors. Communication was both verbal and written. I had to be
careful not to discuss his health situation with his colleagues.
I make contractual arrangements for our engineers to test machines in facilities such as animal research laboratories and CJD
surveillance laboratories. I have to discuss the nature of the tests with my staff and highlight that the contractual information
and results of the testing are highly sensitive and must be treated as strictly confidential. The consequences could be disastrous
if the press or animal rights organisations discovered details of animal testing laboratory locations within NHS hospitals.
As Project Manager for decontamination equipping projects, all Tender submissions are returned to me and I have to
summarise the financial information from all tenderers and present this information to the Trust project teams. I have to stress
the importance of not disclosing one manufacturer’s financial information to another manufacturer, as this could result in legal
action.
1.1.15 Communicate in
an emotive atmosphere?
YES
Communicating with equipment suppliers in relation to equipment performance issues can often end in dispute. Requests to
have modifications made to equipment due to performance issues can lead to very heated debates because of the financial
implications involved for the company and the risk to their professional reputation if their equipment is labelled as “not
compliant”. A great deal of tact and diplomacy is required to ensure that problems are resolved to the client’s satisfaction and
future working relationships with the suppliers are not damaged.
Unsuccessful bidders in tendering exercises normally request a de-briefing meeting to discuss the reasons why they have been
unsuccessful. Occasionally these meetings become very hostile because the suppliers dispute the reasons given for not being
selected.
I have been threatened with legal action by a company because they felt that they have been treated unfairly. The reasons for
not selecting the company had to be presented in a clear, calm, precise and accurate manner because of the significant barriers
to acceptance. Communicating in this highly emotive, type of atmosphere requires a great deal of tact, diplomacy and levelheadedness.
Knowledge about infection control is constantly changing and many of these changes are completely changing the way
decontamination is being carried out and in some respects some manufacturers’ products haven’t reached state of the art levels
causing technical rejection and dismay to the manufacturer.
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Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
Remember to move the cursor over the yellow shaded area to access guidance notes.
1.1.16 Communicate
information which may be
contentious
YES
Informing clients of equipment performance issues identified during a periodic test performed by one of our team can be highly
contentious. Catastrophic failures on decontamination equipment can have extremely serious consequences for patients. In
1972 five patients died as a consequence of such process failure. A fault identified during testing might mean that patients have
been exposed to a risk of cross infection since the last successful test was performed on that machine. Such risks can be minor
or could be life changing/threatening for the patient depending upon what infectious material they have been exposed to. The
results have to be communicated to the client in a tactful, diplomatic and re-assuring manner and co-operation is required to
assist the client with any investigation into the fault. If there has been a failure to decontaminate, this information must be
conveyed without fear of reaction while being aware that this will mean re-tracing of instrumentation and identification of
possible risks.
1.1.17 Communicate in a
hostile/antagonistic
atmosphere?
NO
N/A
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2
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
2.1
Please describe the knowledge of work procedures/practices (i.e. methods of doing things) and the administrative, clinical, therapeutic, social
care, scientific, technical, managerial and professional knowledge which you need for your job in the table below. Please look first at the box on
the left and then work across, stating whether you need any knowledge in this area, describing the range of procedures, how the knowledge is
usually obtained and the qualifications/knowledge that you actually require to enable you to do your job.
Further guidance is available in Appendix 1 at the end of the document
*Where courses are part-time please state the full time equivalent or quote the amount of time per week/year required for course completion.
Note:
Knowledge required
in job
Yes/ Q1 Please give examples of the work
No
procedures/practices you need to
know about in your job
Q2 Describe the type and length of
experience or on-the-job training that
is required to gain this knowledge
Q3 Describe the minimum
qualifications that are required for this
job and how long it normally takes to
acquire them*
2.1.1 Administrative
knowledge
YES
Training through on the job experience
with gradual assimilation of knowledge
and experience gained over time. At least
5 years working within the engineering
team required.
N/A
Prepares quotations and invoices.
Reconciles activity against billing.
Signs off time sheets and overtime
requests.
Authorises flex time carry-overs.
2.1.2 Clinical/
therapeutic/ social care
knowledge
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YES
Knowledge of infection control principles Requires unique and extensive specialist
required to minimise risk of iatrogenic or knowledge in the fields of
cross infection.
decontamination science as well as
extensive knowledge in the field of
microbiology.
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Masters Degree in Medical Device
Decontamination.
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Knowledge required
in job
Yes/ Q1 Please give examples of the work
No
procedures/practices you need to
know about in your job
2.1.3 Technical
YES
knowledge (including
knowledge of equipment)
2.1.4 Scientific
knowledge
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YES
Develops validation protocols.
Evaluates test data, Signs off test and
calibration certificates, Evaluates
equipment performance, Prepares
technical specifications, evaluates
equipment specifications, carries out
tender evaluations, designs circuit
diagrams, reads and prepares engineering
drawings using AutoCAD, evaluates safety
of equipment, carries out risk
assessments, performs safety tests,
performs engineer competence
assessments, assesses implications of
microbiological log count reductions,
performs calibrations and adjustments on
equipment to eliminate risk of iatrogenic
or cross infection.
Q2 Describe the type and length of
experience or on-the-job training that
is required to gain this knowledge
Q3 Describe the minimum
qualifications that are required for this
job and how long it normally takes to
acquire them*
Requires unique and extensive specialist
knowledge in the fields of
decontamination science as well as
extensive knowledge in the fields of
microbiology, mechanical and electrical
engineering, operational and project
management, metrology, HR and financial
management An expert in
decontamination science and associated
disciplines, the post holder holds the
position of Deputy Head of Laboratory
within two UKAS accredited schemes (SHS
Validation Services are United Kingdom
Accreditation Service accredited testing
and calibration laboratories).
Degree in Mechanical / Electrical /
Microbiological Engineering.
Masters Degree in Medical Device
Decontamination.
Experience will be acquired through time
spent working with and testing
decontamination equipment 5 years.
Evaluating thermal and chemical kinetics Very wide range of engineering and
Degree in Mechanical / Electrical /
i.e.; via log count reductions, determining scientific practical experience in hospital
Microbiological Engineering.
D, K values, Thermal Death Curves,
engineering environment. At least 5 years
Masters Degree in Medical Device
Sterility Assurance Levels, Physics –
post qualification (First Degree).
Decontamination.
properties of gases, Thermodynamics –
properties of heat transfer, mechanics –
properties of materials, stress and strain,
understanding of mixed gas pressure
systems, measuring or estimating
probabilities to k=2 (95%) using M3003
to define uncertainty calculations,
understanding of properties of
measurement sensors
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Knowledge required
in job
Yes/ Q1 Please give examples of the work
No
procedures/practices you need to
know about in your job
Q2 Describe the type and length of
experience or on-the-job training that
is required to gain this knowledge
Q3 Describe the minimum
qualifications that are required for this
job and how long it normally takes to
acquire them*
2.1.5 Managerial
knowledge
YES
Training through on the job experience
with gradual assimilation of knowledge
and experience gained over time. At least
5 years working within the engineering
team required before management can be
contemplated.
5 years management experience,
including – ability to counsel, motivate,
appraise, discipline, train, delegate,
interview, explain, plan, interpret,
evaluate, direct others, project manage,
negotiate, budget, co-ordinate, etc.
Uncertainty of measurement.
Two-week residential qualification
accredited by UKAS.
Certification by UKAS that competence
has been achieved.
Sterilizer validation
Two-week residential course at Eastwood
Park.
HTM 2010 BTEC Test Person (sterilizers)
certificate.
Washer/Disinfector validation
Two-week residential course at Eastwood HTM 2030 BTEC Test Person
Park.
(washer/disinfectors) certificate.
Measuring compliance with range of
legislation, statutory laws and approved
codes of practice i.e. Pressure Vessel
regulations 2000, HTM2010/30/31,
European standards, Medicines,
Healthcare Regulatory Authority notices
Very wide range of engineering and
Degree in Mechanical / Electrical /
scientific practical experience in hospital
Microbiological Engineering.
engineering environment. At least 5 years
Masters Degree in Medical Device
post qualification
Decontamination.
Conducting employee counselling /
disciplinary hearings. Strong knowledge of
HR policies required. Leads the team for
operational needs. Chairing meetings,
Budgeting and financial planning and
reconciliation.
Skills in people management, ability to
evaluate knowledge levels of target
groups and present information in a way
that can be understood.
Recruitment and interviewing staff.
2.1.6 Additional
specialist knowledge
2.1.7 Knowledge of
legislation, codes of
practice
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YES
YES
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Knowledge required
in job
Yes/ Q1 Please give examples of the work
No
procedures/practices you need to
know about in your job
Q2 Describe the type and length of
experience or on-the-job training that
is required to gain this knowledge
2.1.8 Other types of
knowledge not already
covered but required for
the job
YES
Very wide range of engineering and
Masters Degree in Decontamination
scientific practical experience in hospital
Science plus Degree in engineering.
engineering environment. At least 5 years
Full UK driving licence required.
post qualification.
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All items above represent discrete
granules of knowledge however it is the
sum of the knowledge and the ability to
correlate it in context that enables the
higher level technical aspects of the role
to be fulfilled i.e.; equipment evaluations,
determining validation plans,
determination of decontamination
efficacy. Driving to meetings and
appointments throughout the whole of
Scotland.
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Q3 Describe the minimum
qualifications that are required for this
job and how long it normally takes to
acquire them*
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2.2
Please list below the qualifications or experience actually required for your post.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Microbiological Engineering.
Masters Degree in Medical Device Decontamination.
UKAS M3003 Uncertainty of measurement Certificate.
HTM 2010 BTEC Test Person (Sterilizers) Certificate.
HTM 2030 BTEC Test Person (Washer/Disinfectors) Certificate.
Full UK Driving Licence.
EXPERIENCE:
To fulfil the principal aspects of the role 10 consecutive years post Degree qualification experience is required working in the relevant fields covering all aspects
described in section 2, some of which can be obtained concurrently, others of which cannot be obtained until foundational experience has been established, i.e. 5
years foundational and 5 years higher level. It is the higher level aspects that are required to fulfil the role, the foundational aspects may be sufficient for the
Validation Engineer role.
5 years post Degree qualification working in the field on decontamination equipment, plus
5 years management experience.
Approval by UKAS as authorised signatory.
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3
ANALYTICAL AND JUDGEMENTAL SKILLS
3.1
This factor measures the analytical and judgemental skills required to fulfil the responsibilities of the job satisfactorily, for example, analytical skills to
diagnose a problem or illness and understand complex situations or information; judgemental skills to formulate solutions and recommend/decide on the
best course of action/treatment.
Complete the appropriate boxes about the nature of the judgements you have to make regularly in the course of your work.
Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
3.1.1 Make judgements
where the situation is
straightforward?
YES
3.1.2 Make judgements
where the situation is not
straightforward?
YES
Decisions regarding deployment of staff require careful judgement. The decision on where, when and which particular member
of staff to send to perform a particular task is not straightforward. My decision has to take into account a number of different
factors, including; staff location in relation to the job, staff skills and training, staff availability due to annual leave and other
testing commitments and clinical needs, as certain types of machines need to be given a higher priority than others.
3.1.3 Make judgements
where there is a range of
options to select from?
YES
Equipment selection during tendering processes requires judgements to be made where there are ranges of options to select
from. I need to take into account factors such as equipment cost, compliance with specification, life-cycle costs (see 3.1.4),
after-sales support, compatibility with I.T. systems and manufacturing/delivery timescales.
3.1.4 Assess or interpret
information in order to
make a judgement?
YES
Life cycle costing exercises performed as part of the tendering process for decontamination equipment requires a number of
different items of information to be interpreted in order to make a judgement on equipment selection. Factors to be taken into
account include energy consumption, cost of supplying services to the machine, cost of spare parts, servicing costs/call-out
rates, predicted downtime, cycle times, and throughput capacity. These types of factors must all be taken into account for the
whole life of the equipment to ensure that fair and equal comparisons are made between machines.
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I make judgements about the validity of test results based on time/temperature/pressure relationships and historic test results
for that particular item of equipment.
I take account of equipment uncertainty budgets when signing off engineers’ Calibration Reports to ensure data supplied to
clients is accurate.
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Do you
Yes/ Please give a typical example
No
3.1.5 Make judgements
where expert opinion may
differ or be conflicting?
YES
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As a lead specialist in the field of decontamination, I participate in meetings, joint working groups and equipment selection
panels with other lead specialists from HPS, HFS, National Procurement and the Scottish Government. I am required to
research, analyse and interpret highly complex technical and theoretical information in order to form judgements and develop
options for improving decontamination services. Conflicting opinions, priorities and demands can make it difficult to reach an
agreement. For example in relation to specification of endoscope decontamination equipment, there are three relevant
standards, HTM2030, HTM2031 and EN ISO 15883. Some aspects of the standards will describe how a feature should function
while other aspects will not describe function, but will describe an outcome specification. A machine that complied with
HTM2030 may not comply with ISO EN 15883. Although a manufacturer can claim compliance with HTM2030, the machine
may not necessarily meet the requirements of the user, so I often have to make judgements about the best type of equipment
to suit individual user’s circumstances. A poorly designed machine may be susceptible to contamination from water-borne
organisms such as pseudomonas aeruginosa which can critically affect vulnerable patient groups, such as those with Cystic
Fibrosis. It is therefore vitally important to have a practical awareness of the limitations of equipment as well as knowledge of
specifications and standards when making judgements about equipment.
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4
PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS
4.1
Note:
This factor measures the planning and organisational skills required to fulfil the responsibilities of the job satisfactorily, for example, for clinical or non-clinical
planning, including strategic planning and organising services, departments, rotas, meetings and conferences.
Does your job require you to plan or organise any of the following? If so, complete the relevant boxes below.
*Time in advance of the event means the period that the plan is to cover, starting with the day it is prepared.
Do you plan or organise
Yes/ Please describe what you do and whether you need to make changes to the plans/arrangements
No
Time in
advance of
the event*
4.1.1
Own time?
YES
I liaise with my line manager regularly but direct my own daily / weekly / monthly activities. This is generally
done monthly in advance. I plan and arrange meetings, I make my own travel and accommodation
arrangements to ensure I am in the right place at the right time and that I am adequately prepared by printing
notes, papers etc in advance.
Monthly
4.1.2
Time of others?
YES
I plan complete annual work schedules for the entire Validation team and direct the team members to attend
different sites as required. The work schedules are organised annually in advance and revised weekly according
to progress and staff / equipment availability. The schedule affects eight field staff. The schedule is organised
via an internet platform planning system bespoke to our team (TUTOS).
Yearly
Over and above the scheduling that takes place there are often ad-hoc ‘off-schedule’ activities that will mean I
have to direct an appropriate member of the team to attend a location to carry out a task. This can involve
other members of the team and/or admin. support and will usually require the co-operation of other
stakeholders.
4.1.3
Rotas?
4.1.4 Meeting
arrangements?
No
YES
N/A
Requirements for meetings arise spontaneously in the course of my work and I decide where attendance is
appropriate then make my own arrangements to attend. Meetings may be low key or at NSS Divisional level
depending on subject and activity.
Monthly
I have to book meetings rooms, arrange parking spaces, book teas/coffees, prepare papers & presentations and
talk to groups of between 3 and 30 persons. Planned meetings are normally arranged monthly in advance.
4.1.5 Conference
arrangements?
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NO
N/A
N/A
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Do you plan or organise
Yes/ Please describe what you do and whether you need to make changes to the plans/arrangements
No
4.1.6 Co-ordinating other YES
agencies/ organisations?
Time in
advance of
the event*
Planning and scheduling the team activity is a regular activity. The workloads are frequently fluid and changing Yearly
owing to machine breakdowns or some stakeholder failure and the objective is to obtain the best deployment of
the team while meeting conflicting demands of clients. Planning is principally my responsibility as defined in my
performance objectives. The technical specification of equipment/systems and software the team uses is
updated regularly to take into account improvements. I take responsibility for planning upgrades to software
templates and design these exclusively. I also have to manage version control.
There are occasional requests from other NSS divisions for input and I also manage the planning of such
activity, for example recently we carried out an analysis of equipment for HPS which required liaison at senior
level with HPS, HFS, NP, suppliers as well as planning deployment of engineers.
I am responsible for co-ordinating manufacturers and contractors activities during equipping projects. I coordinate their activities to ensure that the client can continue to operate his department with the minimum
amount of disruption during installation and commissioning stages. Activities may need to be planned up to one
year in advance.
4.1.7 Project
management?
YES
I am responsible for project management of decontamination equipping projects within NHS Scotland. This
involves meeting clients and discussing requirements, agreeing milestones and checkpoints, discussing finance,
carrying out capacity audits, assessing throughput calculations and comparing with marketplace equipment.
Also specification of type, capacity, arrangement and cycle performance of equipment, (note that none of the
equipment is ‘off-the-shelf’).
Annual
Once a decontamination equipping project is underway, I take full responsibility for its planning, implementation
schedule and factory test, right through to commissioning. Planning is completed via liaison with client and
suppliers, using MSProject and DotProject as visualisation tools with scheduling being applied via tutos. There
can be up to 20 projects in various stages of planning at any time. Planning is often up to one year in advance
for major equipping projects.
4.1.8 Service provision?
YES
The validation team’s activity IS service in various ways. We deliver service via around 50 active projects. Types Yearly
of project are procurement/commissioning and periodic testing. I normally plan our team’s service provision up
to one year in advance. However at the moment, I am planning for service provision to GDP’s, which will not be
fully implemented until 2013.
4.1.9 Educational or
training programmes?
YES
I liaise with my manager in relation to core training activities and plan and deliver training in techniques across
all areas that the group covers. Training programmes are planned up to one year in advance.
Yearly
Our UKAS accreditation requires us to maintain a skills matrix for all of our staff. I am responsible for ensuring
that training programmes are available for new and existing staff to ensure that their competencies can be
signed off against the skills matrix. Staff are not allowed to perform specific tasks if they have not been trained
and assessed for that type of task.
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Do you plan or organise
Yes/ Please describe what you do and whether you need to make changes to the plans/arrangements
No
Time in
advance of
the event*
4.1.10 Long term
strategic planning?
NO
N/A
N/A
4.1.11 Other, please
specify?
NO
N/A
N/A
4.2
Does any of your planning affect departments, staff or management across the organisation or in other organisations?
If ‘Yes’, please describe.
Yes [√]
No [
]
Our section is unique in that being an infrastructure service, it delivers a service to Health Boards throughout NHS Scotland. It is the primary reference service
concerning function and effectiveness of decontamination equipment for NHS Scotland. Calibrations and adjustments carried out by our team are used as
reference values against which Board staff refer to when determining continuing effectiveness of processes. Where values fall beyond certain specifications,
equipment must be revalidated and our team is required and has been accredited by UKAS to do this. All activities therefore impact broadly as well as in depth,
this means that dialogue takes place at operational level as well as at strategic level. I liaise with HPS and HFS in order to ensure our service delivery is in
accordance with Government Policy as directed by the SGHD SSPR (Sterile Suppliers Provision Review) Group. I input Ideas, proposals and influence decisions
that directly affect the operational decontamination policy of every Health Board in Scotland.
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5
PHYSICAL SKILLS
5.1
This factor measures the physical skills required to fulfil the job duties. It takes into account hand eye co-ordination, sensory skills (sight, hearing, touch,
smell, taste), dexterity, manipulation, requirements for speed and accuracy, keyboard and driving skills.
Does your job require physical skills? If so, please tick the box(es) next to the appropriate activity and provide an example of how the skill
is used.
*Developed skills are normally acquired through considerable practice and/or training and include dexterity.
Note:
Skill required for
5.1.1
van
Description of skill
Driving a car/ small Standard driving skills (car/light van
driving test + practice)
Yes/ Please describe the purpose for which you use this skill
No
YES
Frequent requirement for me to travel throughout all NHS Scotland premises to attend
meetings, perform tests on equipment and to meet suppliers and other team
members. I am an NHS Crown Car user. I often drive in darkness, i.e. early mornings
and late evenings according to meeting times.
5.1.2 Driving a lorry/
heavy vehicle/ patient
transport services
Advanced driving skills (HGV, PSV,
PCV driving test or equivalent +
practice)
NO
N/A
5.1.3 Driving vehicles in
emergency situations
High speed driving skills (ambulance
driving test or equivalent + practice)
NO
N/A
YES
I am frequently required to produce detailed electronic technical reports, technical
tender documentation, tender summaries, work quotations, service level agreements,
invoices and numerous office applications such as e-mail and planning/scheduling
software.
5.1.4
use
Standard keyboard Typing skills normally acquired through
practice or RSA1 or equivalent
5.1.5 Advanced
keyboard use
High speed, accurate typing skills; RSA NO
level 2/3 or equivalent
5.1.6
tools
Skills normally acquired through
practice or during practical training
YES
I frequently use a variety of tools and complex test and calibration instrumentation.
Examples of the tools I use include screwdrivers, spanners, pliers and knives.
Instrumentation I use includes temperature and pressure data logging equipment,
precision digital thermometers, heat sources, pressure transducers and pumps. I
regularly disassemble and assemble surgical instruments to inspect for cleanliness as
part of my testing carried out on Washer/Disinfectors.
5.1.7 Non-intravenous
injections
Skills normally acquired through
practice or during practical training
NO
N/A
5.1.8 Restraint of
patients/ clients
Skills requiring formal training and
updating
NO
N/A
Use of equipment/
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N/A
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Skill required for
Description of skill
Yes/ Please describe the purpose for which you use this skill
No
5.1.9 Manipulation of
objects/ tools where
narrow margins for error
Developed skills*
e.g. laying out instrument trays; fine
adjustment of equipment/plant
YES
The Validation Services department is accredited by UKAS to carry out highly accurate
temperature and pressure calibrations on decontamination equipment on a daily basis.
I regularly calibrate decontamination equipment to an accuracy of 1/100 of a degree
and 1 mBar. Fine adjustment is required to calibrate machines to this level of
accuracy. Accuracy is important because incorrectly calibrated equipment could result
in non-sterile instruments being used to operate upon patients.
I am frequently required to disassemble and reassemble surgical instruments and
trays to inspect for cleanliness and sterility. I do this as part of an annual validation
test on a Washer/Disinfector.
5.1.10
Hand signing
5.1.11
skills
Advanced sensory Developed skills*
e.g. listening for speech defects
Skills requiring formal training
NO
N/A
YES
I am required to listen for vacuum pumps starting/stopping and solenoid valves
opening/closing to determine start and end of cycle stages during equipment testing.
These triggers determine when cycle temperatures, times and pressures must be
recorded. It is important that these figures are noted at the correct time to allow
comparison with previous and future tests. It is this repeatability, which determines
whether a machine passes or fails.
YES
I frequently calibrate decontamination equipment to an accuracy of 1/100 of a degree
and 1 mBar. The process of calibrating the equipment often requires inserting my
hands in to areas where there are risks of steam burns or electric shocks. High levels
of accuracy using precision screwdrivers are required to safely and accurately calibrate
the equipment. I am required to display very good hand and sensory coordination to
enable me to perform fine adjustment of digital equipment under steady state
conditions. Accuracy is important because incorrectly calibrated equipment could
result in non-sterile instruments being used to operate upon patients.
5.1.12 Manipulation of
fine tools; where accuracy
important
Developed skills*
e.g. operating a lathe/manual control of
intravenous infusions
5.1.13 Manipulation of
materials where accuracy
important
Developed skills*
YES
e.g. manipulating materials on a slide or
under microscope
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Presentation of loads for processing through decontamination cycles is essential to
check for performance repeatability. I have to ensure that loads of surgical
instruments, pharmaceutical fluids or laboratory waste are presented in the correct
loading pattern to enable direct comparison with previous tests to be made.
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Skill required for
Description of skill
Yes/ Please describe the purpose for which you use this skill
No
5.1.14 Assembly of
surgical equipment;
accuracy important
Developed skills*
e.g. assembling equipment in
theatre/assembling boiler pump
YES
I am frequently required to dismantle and reassemble some items of surgical
equipment to inspect for cleanliness at the end of a test cycle.
When testing complex items of equipment, panels or components normally need to be
removed to allow access for calibration and testing purposes. The machines have to
be carefully reassembled to ensure that they function correctly and safely after
completion of testing.
I regularly set up discrete articles of test equipment and establish their correct
function via digital parameters.
5.1.15 Intravenous
injections
Developed skills*; accuracy and handeye co-ordination
NO
N/A
5.1.16 Manoeuvring
people where accuracy
important
Developed skills* requiring accuracy
and hand-eye co-ordination e.g. for a
precise procedure
NO
N/A
5.1.17
Developed skills* requiring precision or
speed + hand-eye, sensory
co-ordination.
NO
N/A
5.1.18 Manual
physiotherapy treatment
Developed skills* requiring precision +
hand-eye, sensory co-ordination
NO
N/A
5.1.19 Surgical
interventions
Developed skills* requiring precision or
speed + hand-eye, sensory
co-ordination; includes intubation and
tracheotomy
NO
N/A
5.1.20 Keyhole, laser
surgery, IVF procedures
Developed skills* requiring the highest
level of physical skill
NO
N/A
5.1.21 Other physical skill
Please state
YES
Constant hand/eye/aural co-ordination is required when testing decontamination
equipment. I am required to simultaneously record elapsed time plus indicated,
recorded and measured temperatures and pressures for a number of different probes
at numerous stages in a machine cycle. This is performed several times a day.
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Suturing
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6
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENT/CLIENT CARE
This factor measures the responsibilities of the job for patient/client care, treatment and therapy, taking into account the nature of the responsibility and the
level of the jobholder’s involvement in the provision of care or treatment to patients/clients. It also takes account of the responsibility to record
care/treatment/advice/tests.
6.1
Do you have any responsibility for providing services to patients/clients such as cleaning or food delivery, personal care, clinical or
non-clinical advice, technical services, treatment, therapy or the registration, inspection or quality assurance of facilities or services
for patients/clients?
Yes [√]
No [ ]
If ‘Yes’ go through all the sections below.
If ‘No’ go to Q 6.5
Please tick answer all questions and for all those you have answered ‘Yes’ describe what you do on the next page
6.2
General services
Do you have responsibility for providing any of the following?
Yes/No
6.2.1
Providing general non-clinical advice or information directly to patients/clients?
NO
6.2.2
Providing a cleaning or food delivery service directly to, or in the immediate vicinity of patients/clients?
NO
6.2.3
Providing personal care (assisting with feeding, bathing, appearance), or portering services directly to patients/clients?
NO
6.2.4
Implementing clinical care/treatment/therapy programmes/packages?
NO
6.2.5
Assessing clinical care needs and developing clinical care/treatment/therapy programmes/package?
NO
If ‘Yes’, are these in a specialist field or do they cover a broad range of situations?
6.2.6
6.3
N/A
Clinical/therapeutic advice; advice on facilities/services
Do you have:
Yes/No
6.3.1
Direct involvement in the provision of basic clinical/therapeutic advice to patients/clients?
NO
6.3.2
Involvement in the registration, inspection or quality assurance of facilities/services for patients/clients?
YES
6.3.3
Direct involvement in the provision of clinical/therapeutic advice to patients/clients?
NO
6.3.4
If ‘Yes’, are these in a specialised area of practice?
N/A
6.3.5
If ‘Yes’, are these in an expert area of practice?
N/A
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6.4
Clinical technical services
Do you have:
Yes/No
6.4.1
Direct involvement in the provision of basic clinical technical services to patients/clients?
YES
6.4.2
Direct involvement in the provision of clinical technical services to patients/clients?
YES
6.4.3
If ‘Yes’, do you provide clinical technical services which are of a specialist nature?
YES
6.4.4
If ‘Yes’, are these of a highly specialist nature in an expert area of practice?
YES
6.5
6.5.1
Direct delivery of a service
Are you responsible for:
Yes/No
Direct delivery of a clinical, clinical technical, therapeutic or social care service?
YES
6.5.2
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NO
If ‘Yes’, do you have corporate responsibility for this?
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If you have said ‘YES’ to any of the points in 6.2 to 6.5 above please describe your involvement below, starting with the one that is the
most applicable to your job.
6.4.4 I provide expert technical advice in relation to improvement of decontamination processes and services in order to reduce the possibility of iatrogenic or
cross-infection of patients who will be in contact with surgical materials. I am required to monitor results of commissioning and periodic testing at national
(NHS Scotland) level and make recommendations to SGHD, HPS, Health Boards and individual client organizations, where the information reviewed indicates
that conditions may contribute to a compromise in patient care.
6.4.3 SHS Validation Services group provides highly specialist clinical technical services to the NHS in Scotland. One of the key functions of the role of HTM
2010/HTM 2030 Test Person is to calibrate highly specialist and complex decontamination equipment to United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)
standards. The Validation Services Group are accredited by UKAS to carry out these calibrations and are audited regularly to ensure standards are
maintained. The consequences of incorrectly calibrating this equipment could prove to be fatal. An incorrectly calibrated and poorly maintained steriliser
resulted in the death of 5 patients in 1972. This led to a government inquiry chaired by Sir Cecil Clothier, which ultimately led to the introduction of
HTM2010. I carry out a number of these calibrations each year.
6.5.1 In addition to calibrating equipment, I am also one of two SHS Authorised Signatories in NHS Scotland for UKAS calibration certificates and am ultimately
responsible for certifying that every calibration certificate issued by the team is accurate.
6.3.2 I regularly visit decontamination settings throughout NHS Scotland and have incidental contact with patients when visiting clinical settings in relation to
procurement of decontamination equipment, making recommendations for improvements to decontamination services or discussing validation services that
may have an affect upon groups of patients.
6.4.1 The role of HTM 2010 Test Person also involves cleaning, inspecting, packing and sterilising specialist surgical instruments that are to be used on patients.
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7
7.1
POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
This factor measures the responsibilities of the job for development and implementation of policy and/or services, taking into account the nature of the
responsibility and the extent and level of the jobholder’s contribution to the relevant decision making process, for instance, making recommendations to
decision makers and the scope of the relevant policies or services.
Please select the options on the left which accurately reflect the requirements of your job concerning policies and procedures and complete the
boxes in that row.
Responsibility for policies
Yes/ Please describe the types of policies you are involved with, and what you are required to do
No
Department/
Area Covered
7.1.1 Are you required to
comment on policy that is
used within your area?
YES
I work in partnership with my manager when developing procedures to be applied by the team. This
is routine. Higher level policy development relates to forward planning of service delivery and is
carried out in relation to SGHD policy and implementation strategies will be agreed with HPS and
SHS management before implementation. I am always asked to comment and often plans will be
altered in light of such comments
National (NHS
Scotland)
7.1.2 Do you actively
implement policy within your
section/department/
service/ directorate or the
whole organisation?
YES
Yes, this is done through implementation of directives from the Manager or as described by the
SHS Validation
operational policy via the quality system. For example, we are currently implementing full electronic Services
document management and my line manager has asked me to comment on this. Part of this strategy
involves electronic review of test reports and he asked me to comment on this. I then implemented
the above policy of creating electronic reports which can be securely backed-up or e-mailed to
customers by rolling out the software to all our field engineers and training them on how to create
and send reports.
When we changed our data logging equipment from paper-based chart recorders to computer-based
data loggers, my manager gave me sole responsibility for designing how the new-style reports
should look. I am solely responsible for designing and developing templates, checklists and test
forms to suit our operational requirements.
7.1.3 Are you required to
YES
propose changes to policies
or procedures that are used in
your section/ department/
service and/ or other areas?
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Often, as procedures and technologies evolve, I have to identify different ways of delivering the
SHS Validation
service and this will be done through alteration of procedures. For example, I proposed how the test Services
and calibration reports issued by the group should look and I designed and developed templates,
checklists and procedures to facilitate this.
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7.1.4 Are you involved with
the creation of policy that
impacts on a service/
directorate/ the whole
organisation/other
organisations?
YES
The role of SHS Validation naturally impacts upon a service/directorate and other organisations since National (NHS
it delivers a service to these. For example, when we change to EDM, (electronic document
Scotland)
management) our customers will no longer receive hard copy reports; instead they will be emailed
reports, which will change how they deal with reports being received. Such a change will affect all
decontamination customers in NHS Scotland whom we serve. When this is implemented, it will
become our policy on the matter.
The test procedures that we apply have been developed by myself and my manager over many
years and are used as the model adopted by local, hospital based test persons as ‘best practice’.
When we develop new procedures, our clients observe this and once the rationale has been
understood, will normally adopt the changes we instigate.
7.1.5 Are you involved with YES
service development for a
service/ directorate/ the whole
organisation/ other
organisations?
Until recently, no validation work at all was being carried out on endoscope washers within the NHS
in Scotland. I assisted my manager with the development of a service to provide a full HTM2030
endoscope washer validation service and this service has now been taken up by a number of health
boards. Demand for this service is increasing rapidly and we have recently recruited additional
engineers to enable us to continue expanding the service. Introduction of this service has
undoubtedly reduced the risk of infection for patients undergoing endoscopy procedures.
National (NHS
Scotland)
7.1.6 Do you have corporate NO
responsibility for the creation
of policy within your
organisation?
N/A
N/A
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8
FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES
8.1
This factor takes account of the type of responsibility (i.e. what you are responsible for) and the nature of that responsibility (for example, careful use,
security, maintenance, budgetary, ordering and purchasing responsibilities) and the frequency with which it is exercised.
Physical Assets
Responsibility
Yes/
No
8.1.1 Are you responsible
for the safe use of
equipment used by others?
YES
8.1.2 Do you use
YES
expensive or highly complex
equipment?
Description
Delegated
authority level or
value (£)
Are you a
signatory for this
responsibility?
Do you share this
responsibility? If
Yes, with whom?
Not required
I am solely responsible for returning decontamination to use
following testing. Sterilizers are pressure vessels and operate at
a high temperature, so it is vital that the equipment is
guaranteed safe to be used by others before leaving site.
Not required
Sole Responsibility.
I am fully responsible for the client’s equipment when
performing tests. Cost of equipment under test can be up to
£200,000.
Value of most
expensive piece of
equipment =
£200,000
Not required
Not required
Not required
Not required
Yes – Other
members of
Validation team.
Test and calibration equipment held personally has a value of
approximately £20,000.
8.1.3 Do you have
responsibility for security of
a site?
YES
I am a key holder for our department’s testing/calibration
laboratory and equipment store, located in an industrial unit in
West Lothian.
Often responsible for security of customers’ premises. Frequent
lone-working means that I am sometimes responsible for safely
locking up a department at the end of the day.
Sole responsibility
for security of
equipment at
home.
Responsible for safe storage of personal test equipment and
security of homeworking equipment. Equipment needs to be
kept at home when not in use.
8.1.4 Do you repair,
maintain or install physical
assets?
YES
8.1.5 Are you responsible
for the maintenance of all
physical assets for an area?
YES
Version 1.0
Personally responsible for maintaining a set of test equipment
worth approximately £20,000.
Not required
Not required
Not required
Responsible for ensuring that all test and calibration equipment Not required
held by the Validation Services section are kept in good working
order and calibrated in accordance with their UKAS calibration
schedule.
Not required
Yes – Validation
Manager
Responsible for commissioning new items of decontamination
equipment at customers’ premises to ensure that they are fit for
use.
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8.1.6 Are you responsible
for the purchase of
equipment/ materials?
8.1.7 Do you undertake
purchasing as a major part
of your role?
YES
YES
Responsible for purchasing all physical assets required by the
Validation section to calibrate and test all types of
decontamination equipment. This includes data loggers, heat
sources, thermometers and tool kits.
No
Yes – Validation
Manager
£up to 1 million
I am responsible for the procurement of high value
decontamination equipment, such as sterilizers and WasherDisinfectors for NHS clients. I am responsible for selecting
suppliers, which involves taking into account factors such as
equipment cost, quality, compliance with specification, life-cycle
costs, after-sales support, compatibility with I.T. systems and
manufacturing/delivery timescales. I can have up to 20 projects
to manage simultaneously and this is an integral part of every
single project. I ensure that EU procurement rules are adhered
to and ensure adverts and award notifications are placed in EU
journals.
No
Sole Responsibility.
I am responsible for the procurement of high value
Annual value of
decontamination equipment, such as sterilizers and Washerpurchases =
Disinfectors for NHS clients. I am responsible for selecting
£up to 1 million
suppliers, which involves taking into account factors such as
equipment cost, quality, compliance with specification, life-cycle
costs, after-sales support, compatibility with I.T. systems and
manufacturing/delivery timescales. Up to 25% of my time is
spent on project management. I can have up to 20 projects to
manage simultaneously and this is an integral part of every
single project.
No
Sole Responsibility.
Annual value of
purchases =
£up to 30,000
I am also required to make judgments about the robustness of
strategies, methods and systems that control how funds are
spent on capital equipment up to £24m per annum.
8.1.8 Are you responsible
for the physical assets for
several services?
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.1.9 Do you have
corporate responsibility for
physical assets?
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not required
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8.2
Stocks and Supplies
Responsibility
Yes/
No
8.2.1 Is a significant part of YES
your role the security of
stock or supplies?
Description
Responsible for security of personal test equipment and
consumables. These have to be kept at home because I am a
homeworker. Items include data logger, temperature reference
unit, temperature calibrator, pressure calibrator, tool kit, etc.
Delegated
Are you a
Authority level or signatory for this
value (£)
responsibility?
Do you share this
responsibility? If
Yes, with whom?
Value of goods
= £25,000
Not required
Sole Responsibility
Also responsible for security of homeworking equipment, such
as laptop, laser printer, communications equipment, etc.
8.2.2 Are you responsible
for ordering or controlling
stock and supplies used in
the course of your work?
YES
Annual value of
Responsible for ordering test consumables for all Validation
Engineers. Required by UKAS to inspect goods upon receipt and goods ordered
= £5,000
sign them off as being acceptable.
No
Yes – Validation
Manager
8.2.3 Are you responsible
for the purchase of stock
and supplies?
NO
N/A
Annual value of
purchases
= £N/A
No
N/A
8.2.4 Do you undertake
purchasing as a major part
of your role?
NO
N/A
Annual value of
purchases
= £N/A
N/A
N/A
Delegated
Authority level or
value (£)
Are you a
signatory for this
responsibility?
Do you share this
responsibility? If
Yes, with whom?
Not required
Not required
8.3
Financial Resources
Note: * = Delete as necessary
Responsibility
Yes/
No
8.3.1 Do you handle cash,
cheques or patients’
valuables?
NO
N/A
N/A
8.3.2 Do you check and
verify expense sheets,
purchase documents or
similar?
YES
Approve engineers’ flexi amendments on a weekly basis and
verify that scheduled work has been carried out. This
information is used by the engineers to complete expenses
sheets and overtime claim forms.
Total value
Not required
= £2000 per month*
8.3.3 Are you an
authorised signatory for
invoices, overtime etc.?
YES
Authorised to approve/decline monthly overtime claims from
Validation team.
Total value
= £2000 per month
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Description
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Yes
Sole Responsibility
Yes – Validation
Manager
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8.3.4 Do you monitor
financial information?
YES
Careful management of budgets required throughout entire
duration of capital equipping projects. Costs are monitored
using spreadsheets. Regular progress reports are provided to
Finance Manager.
£ up to 1 million
Not required
Not required
£ up to 100,000
Not required
Yes – Validation
Manager
Engineers’ returned hours are monitored using TUTOS software
package to keep track of actual time vs budgeted time and to
ensure that information is accurately entered to enable invoices
to be created.
8.3.5 Are you involved in
drawing up budgets or
financial initiatives?
YES
Yes, my manager presents me with a development priority and
asks me to research the market and make proposals. The costs
of the various options are presented and we select the option
that is determined to be the most appropriate. The capital and
revenue costs for the proposal become the budgets we need to
work within.
8.3.6 Is your budget
delegated to you by your
manager?
YES
There are different budgets. In relation to validation, the team Varied
budget is delegated and forms a revenue value that needs to be
returned by each member of the team. In relation to project
management the budgets are defined by the client and I have
to work within the budget and specification to identify a solution
that meets these, (and other) criteria. I also prepare quotations
for commercial clients and once such work is agreed, the
quotations form the budgets I have to direct the team to work
within.
Not required
Not required
8.3.7 Are you a budget
holder?
NO
I have to ensure that all members of the team recover their
operating costs. Engineers’ returned hours are monitored using
TUTOS software package to keep track of actual time vs
budgeted time and to ensure that information is accurately
entered to enable invoices to be created.
NO
Yes – Validation
Manager
£450,000
8.3.8 Are you involved with YES
the setting of the budget for
your department/ service?
Each engineer has to be allocated with enough work throughout £450,000
the year to complete 1300 chargeable hours. This equates to
approximately £65,000 per engineer
Not required
Yes – Validation
Manager
8.3.9 Are you involved with YES
the budget setting of more
than one department/
service/ organisation?
I prepare budgets for validation & project activities. My role is in £600,000
estimating the amount of time that will need to be spent on the
activity, which is then related to the rates that are applicable at
the time.
Not required
Yes – Validation
Manager
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8.3.10 Do you have
YES
responsibility for determining
the budget levels for one or
more departments/ services
or organisations?
8.3.11 Do you have
corporate responsibility for
the financial stewardship of
the organisation(s)?
Version 1.0
NO
I prepare costs & therefore budgets for validation & project
management activities
£600,000
Not required
Yes – Validation
Manager
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
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9
HUMAN RESOURCES
9.1
This factor measures the responsibilities of the job for management, supervision, co-ordination, teaching, training and development of employees,
students/trainees and others in an equivalent position.
Physical Assets
Responsibility
Yes/ For how
No
many
people?
Please describe the nature of the responsibility
9.1.1 Are you responsible
for the day-to-day work
allocation, supervision or
co-ordination of staff?
YES
8
I am solely responsible for arranging engineers’ work schedules. I use the Tutos planning system to allocate
work plans up to 1 year in advance. I have management responsibility for staff productivity,
disciplinary/counselling matters, managing annual leave requests, dealing with sickness absences, recruitment &
selection, financial planning and budgeting. I raise performance issues with staff in counselling scenarios.
9.1.2 Are you responsible
for the clinical or professional
supervision of staff?
YES
8
All engineers in the team are highly qualified medical device validation engineers. Over and above the routine
activities, there are also frequently investigations, research and evaluations to be conducted and I select the
most appropriately qualified staff and direct their activity.
I conduct internal audits on engineers activities in line with the UKAS skills Matrix which I am responsible for
maintaining.
9.1.3 Do you manage a
group of staff within a
department/function?
YES
9.1.4 Do you manage a
whole department/ function?
YES
8
I have management responsibility for a team of 8 validation engineers. My responsibilities include, conducting
employee counselling/disciplinary hearings, managing annual leave requests, dealing with sickness absences,
planning, scheduling and allocating engineers work activities, recruitment & selection, financial planning and
budgeting.
9.1.5 Do you manage a
number of departments/
functions?
NO
N/A
N/A
Version 1.0
8
I manage the validation team’s engineers and in the event of my line manager being unavailable, I also direct
the activity of the project management team.
My responsibilities include, conducting employee counselling/disciplinary hearings, managing annual leave
requests, dealing with sickness absences, planning, scheduling and allocating engineers work activities,
recruitment & selection, financial planning and budgeting.
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9.2
Training and Teaching
Responsibility
Yes/ For how
No
many
people?
Please describe the nature of the responsibility
9.2.1 Do you train new
people in the department?
YES
Up to 4
I give advice instruction and training on topics including induction, HR issues, working practices and equipment
operation to all new members of staff in my section. Training requirements for staff are defined by a skills and
competencies matrix. It is only my manager and I who are allowed to sign off staff as being competent in
particular areas of work. I spend about 15 days each year training new staff members.
9.2.2 Are you required to
deliver formal training?
YES
Up to 30
I give formal presentations to groups of nursing staff using overhead projector and handouts to instruct them
on endoscope decontamination procedures. This is carried out in a classroom environment. The presentations
are necessary because the new types of washers being installed are radically different from the “old” washers
and the procedures and protocols for operating and testing are entirely different. This type of training is
delivered 4 or 5 times per year.
I deliver training to staff at all levels on how to operate and test newly installed decontamination equipment at
various NHS locations. This type of training is delivered 4 or 5 times per year.
9.2.3 Are you required to
undertake work place
assessments?
YES
8
I conduct site audits to assess all areas of engineers’ activities as part of our UKAS scheme of accreditation. This
activity is performed approximately 10 times per year.
I carry out self-assessments in my home working environment and when working alone on site for health and
safety reasons. This has to be done very frequently.
9.2.4 Are you responsible
NO
for the placement or allocation
of staff or students?
N/A
N/A
9.2.5 Is your role concerned NO
with the delivery of core
training or teaching as a
significant responsibility?
N/A
N/A
NO
N/A
N/A
Not
required
N/A
9.2.6 Is your role principally
concerned with devising and
delivering training
programmes?
9.2.7 Are you responsible
NO
for the overall management of
the teaching or training
function?
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9.3
Human Resource Advice
Responsibility
Yes/ For how
No
many
people?
Please describe the nature of the responsibility
9.3.1 Do you offer basic HR
advice as part of your role?
YES
8
As operational manager for 8 field based engineers, I am required to offer basic HR advice as part of my role.
This includes advising staff on annual leave and flexi matters, sickness and absence matters, disciplinary and
grievance policies, health & Safety policies and procedures, induction, training, etc.
9.3.2 Are you responsible
for giving core HR advice to
managers?
NO
N/A
N/A
9.3.3 Do you deliver an HR
service across a number of
departments or services?
NO
N/A
N/A
9.3.4 Are you responsible
NO
for a significant part of the HR
function in your organisation?
N/A
N/A
9.3.5 Do you have corporate NO
responsibility for the HR
function?
N/A
N/A
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10
INFORMATION RESOURCES
10.1
This factor measures the responsibilities of the job for all forms of information resources and information systems (for example, computerised, paper based,
microfiche). It takes account of whether the information is personally generated or not.
Information Production and Storage for other people
Responsibility
Yes/
No
Describe your involvement
How often
(daily, weekly,
monthly, yearly)
10.1.1 Are you required to
make or word process
clinical records, letters,
reports etc. compiled by
others?
NO
N/A
N/A
10.1.2 Are you required to
complete a timesheet or
similar records?
YES
All SHS staff at all levels are required to complete timesheet records.
Monthly
10.1.3 Are you required to YES
process data e.g. test
results, statistics etc.
compiled by others?
Required to evaluate returned tenders for new equipment. This involves receiving large quantities of
Weekly
information from numerous suppliers in various formats, such as pdf files, spreadsheets, word documents
and paper files and summarising the relevant information using spreadsheets and graphs for presenting
to staff with different levels of understanding
10.1.4 Are you
YES
responsible for the storage
of data and for its distribution
to others?
UKAS accreditation requires that electronic copies of all reports created by the department are retained
on the network server. Paper copies of all reports are issued to customers by mail. Electronic copies are
retained on our server. Reports can vary in size from 20 to 150 pages and include charts, graphs,
photographs and numerical data.
Weekly
N/A
N/A
10.1.5 Are you required to
take and transcribe formal
minutes?
10.2
NO
Use of computer software for design, development or data manipulation
Are you responsible for
Yes/
No
Describe your involvement
10.2.1 The creation of
spreadsheets, including the
programming of formulae?
YES
I regularly create Excel spreadsheets from scratch to summarise project and procurement data (financial
and technical) to assist customers in the equipment selection processes. I regularly use formulae such as
addition, subtraction, multiplication, average, standard deviation, square root, etc. I also create macros
and display information within spreadsheets using charts and graphs.
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How often
(daily, weekly,
monthly, yearly)
Weekly
© Crown Copyright 2004
Are you responsible for
Yes/
No
10.2.2 Manipulating data
using spreadsheets,
databases or other
software?
YES
Describe your involvement
How often
(daily, weekly,
monthly, yearly)
I frequently manipulate technical and financial data using spreadsheets to summarise tender returns
Weekly
before presenting data to clients. This involves collating large quantities of information from numerous
suppliers in various formats, such as pdf files, spreadsheets, word documents and paper files and
summarising the relevant information using spreadsheets and graphs for presenting to staff with different
levels of understanding
I continually manipulate our department’s TUTOS database to schedule engineers’ work programmes and Daily
to keep track of completed work. This allows me to monitor engineers performance and to keep my
manager appraised of progress.
I populate our DotProject database with all specifications, files, tender documentation, etc. relating to all Weekly
decontamination equipping projects.
10.2.3 Creating designs,
drawings, layouts using
software; other computer
aided design (CAD) work?
10.3
YES
I prepare AutoCAD drawings to ensure the design and installation of decontamination equipment and
facilities comply with appropriate standards and guidance notes. Drawings are used to indicate how new
equipment will fit into existing departments or new-build facilities.
4 to 5 times per
year
System Design, Operation and Maintenance
Responsibility
Yes/
No
10.3.1 Are you responsible YES
for maintaining information
systems/ installing software?
Version 1.0
Describe your involvement
How often
(daily, weekly,
monthly, yearly)
I am responsible for installing and maintaining our data logging software, TQSoft. I have sole
responsibility within SHS to install this software and to manage updates. There are currently 14 licensed
users within SHS.
Daily
I develop and maintain information systems relating to customers on contract, to ensure that a
comprehensive record of validation work carried out is available at all times. All information is held in our
team management database (TUTOS).
Daily
I develop and maintain information systems relating to all decontamination equipping projects, to ensure
that a comprehensive record of information is available at all times. All specifications, files, tender
documentation, etc. relating to all decontamination equipping projects are held in our Project
Management database (DotProject).
Weekly
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Responsibility
Yes/
No
Describe your involvement
How often
(daily, weekly,
monthly, yearly)
10.3.2 Are you responsible YES
for the adaptation, design or
development of information
systems?
The data logging system used by all the members of the Validation Services Group on a daily basis is
Weekly
called TQSoft. There are no off-the-shelf packages available which can meet our needs, so it is my
responsibility to adapt this system to suit our individual requirements and to develop templates to create
reports and certificates, which are unique to SHS. This is done using an optional “designer” module which
is not available to the general public.
10.3.3 Are you responsible YES
for the operation of
information systems as a
major job responsibility?
This is a major job responsibility and I spend approximately 20% of my time operating and maintaining
our information systems. As line manager, I am responsible for the operation of our group's team
management software (TUTOS). This system is used for planning, scheduling, recording of engineers’
chargeable and non-chargeable activities, preparing customer quotations, generating invoices, monitoring
progress against planned work, creating productivity reports, etc. I have to ensure that engineers’ work
schedules are planned in advance and upon completion of a job, I ensure that the information entered by
the engineer is correct and create invoices if required.
Weekly
I am also responsible for maintaining our equipping projects database (DotProject). This system is used
to track all project related activities and all project documentation is uploaded on to this system.
In addition to this, I am also fully responsible for all matters relating to our data logging system, TQSoft,
which is detailed in section 10.3.2.
All of the above systems are critical. Our team’s activity could not function without these tools in place
and there are no other staff who take responsibility for this. We requested support from NSS IT for this
in 2003 but they could not support the information management needs of a team that has diverse
geographical locations, nor were there suitable software tools available within the NSS IT infrastructure,
leading us to develop and maintain our own infrastructure and systems.
10.3.4 Is the main part of
NO
your role the management of
information systems?
N/A
N/A
NO
N/A
N/A
10.3.5 Do you have
corporate responsibility for
system development and
management for your
organisation or a number of
organisations?
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11
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
11.1
This factor measures the responsibilities of the job for informal and formal clinical and/or non-clinical research and development activities underpinned by
appropriate methodology and documentation, including formal testing or evaluation of drugs, or clinical or non-clinical equipment.
Are you required to do any of the following?
Yes/ If Yes, how often
No
do you do this per
year?
11.1.1
Carry out surveys?
YES
2-3 times
1%
11.1.2
Carry out audits?
YES
20-30 times
5%
11.1.3
Participate in R & D, clinical trials or equipment testing led by others?
YES
2-3 times
1%
11.1.4
Carry out research/development work which is not part of a formal research programme?
YES
5-6 times
2%
11.1.5
Carry out research/development work which is part of a formal research programme?
NO
N/A
N/A%
11.1.6
Carry out clinical trials?
NO
N/A
N/A%
11.1.7
Carry out your own equipment testing or adaptation?
YES
10-15 times
3%
11.1.8
Co-ordinate/implement R & D programmes/activities?
YES
10-15 times
3%
11.1.9.i
Initiate & develop R & D programmes/activities?
NO
N/A
N/A%
NO
N/A
N/A%
NO
N/A
N/A%
11.1.9.ii
11.1.10
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and do the programmes/activities impact on other trusts or organisations?
Secure funding for R & D programmes/activities?
Page 43 of 59
How much time
do you spend
on it per year?
© Crown Copyright 2004
Question If you have said YES to any of the points in 11.1.1 to 11.1.10 on the previous page, please describe your involvement below, starting with the
one that is the most applicable to your job . For easy reference, write the number you are describing e.g. 11.1.4 in the left hand column.
number
11.1.2
Audit all calibration certificates and test reports produced by engineers. Conduct site audits of engineers’ activities as part of our UKAS scheme of
accreditation. Carry out capacity audits of client’s equipment to determine future equipment requirements.
11.1.8
I co-ordinate R&D programmes for our test engineers. Examples of this include test equipment trials and evaluations, and sterilizer and
Washer/Disinfector evaluations to determine if machines are suitable for inclusion on national contracts. R & D programmes/activities need to be coordinated to ensure that they do not conflict with engineers’ other planned/scheduled work. Sometimes clashes are unavoidable, so I have to reschedule planned jobs to ensure R & D programme timescales are adhered to.
11.1.7
New test equipment trials are carried out on an ongoing basis to identify suitable equipment for test engineers to use. I regularly liaise with equipment
suppliers to obtain trial/demonstration equipment to perform trials on. The tests performed on the trial equipment are developed by myself and my line
manager and are designed to test each item of equipment at the extremes of its operating capability. I frequently make suggestions of equipment
modifications/enhancements to manufacturers and test prototypes for suitability.
11.1.4
I routinely carry out research work to improve the performance of decontamination processes. Recent examples of research/development work includes
performing comparison tests of instrument cleanliness in Washer/Disinfectors by using different types of detergents and carrying out tests to determine
the most appropriate chemical indicators to use for detecting residual protein on instruments processed in Washer/Disinfectors. The results of these
research projects are shared with all interested parties within NHS Scotland for their mutual benefit.
11.1.1
I regularly carry out surveys on manufacturers’ equipment to keep appraised of latest enhancements and improvements to equipment, and survey
client’s existing department to identify client’s requirements prior to preparing tender documentation for decontamination equipping projects.
11.1.3
I participate in development/research work led by other groups such as IRIC, Health Protection Scotland, Health Facilities Scotland and National
Procurement. A recent example of research work I was involved in was to develop and modify sterilization cycles to identify the most effective method
of sterilizing plastic Petri dishes in a laboratory sterilizer (led by HFS).
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12
FREEDOM TO ACT
12.1
This factor measures the extent to which the jobholder is required to be accountable for own actions and those of others, to use own initiative and act
independently and the discretion allowed to the jobholder to take action. It takes account of any restrictions on the jobholder’s freedom to act imposed
by, for example, supervisory control, instructions, procedures, practices and policies, professional, technical or occupational codes of practice or other
ethical guidelines.
Supervision and management
Yes/
No
Describe the supervision, management or guidance you receive
12.1.1 Is your work checked
on a regular basis? (e.g. daily)
NO
N/A
12.1.2 Is your work checked
on a sample/random basis?
NO
N/A
12.1.3 Is your work assessed
at agreed intervals? (e.g.
monthly, quarterly)
YES
Brief manager on progress and achievements via a system of regular informal contact and twice yearly performance
appraisal.
12.1.4 Is your supervisor/
manager generally close by or
immediately contactable?
NO
The nature of the job means that I am required to use my own initiative and make decisions and judgements without
consulting my line manager.
12.1.5 Is your supervisor/
manager generally only
available at specific times?
YES
The nature of the job means that I am required to use my own initiative and make decisions and judgements without
consulting my line manager. My manager is contactable by telephone if required, but we work in different locations and are
not always able to contact each other immediately.
12.1.6 Do you refer to people
outside the organisation for
guidance?
YES
Regular liaison with other NSS Divisions i.e. HPS, HFS, NP. The liaison will often inform others how to proceed.
12.1.7 Are you a lead
specialist, professional or
expert in your field?
YES
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Occasional liaison with equipment suppliers to discuss tender processes and with other specialist staff, such as Consultant
Microbiologists, Senior Estates Managers, Principal pharmacists, etc. to explain the outcome of test results and to inform
them of any maintenance work which may be required as a result of faults identified during testing.
I am a lead specialist in the field of decontamination. I provide expert professional and technical services to user groups of
all levels within the NHS and beyond, to ensure advice, guidance and a comprehensive level of service is provided and best
practices are maintained. There is only one other lead specialist (Validation Services Manager) within NHS Scotland who
can provide the same level of service in this particular field.
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12.2
Describe the areas of responsibility where you would act yourself without asking for assistance
I report upon decontamination equipment intended for use in the NHS and beyond to ensure that it conforms to all relevant standards.
I provide expert assistance and information for option appraisal and life-cycle costing exercises to ensure that the most appropriate equipment is procured.
I evaluate returned tenders for new equipment and chair meetings at senior Trust level to select equipment suppliers.
I co-ordinate the activities of various groups, such as suppliers, estates departments, building contractors, Validation Engineers, etc. throughout all stages of
equipping projects.
I am responsible for day-to-day operations of the Validation Services group. I am responsible for planning and scheduling work for 8 engineers and ensuring that
planned work proceeds smoothly and that resources are applied in the most efficient and cost effective manner.
I review all test reports submitted by the Validation Engineers to ensure that they are technically correct before issuing to customers.
I am an Approved Signatory for all calibration certificates issued by the Validation Engineers.
I discuss performance issues with staff where they are perceived to exist.
I prepare quotations and estimates for work.
I attend commodity advisory panels.
I revise and publish revisions to test documents and quality procedures.
12.3
Describe the areas of responsibility where you would ask for assistance
Health and Safety matters.
Non-routine H.R. matters.
Unusual work requests
12.4
Constraints, policies and procedures
Yes/ Describe the policies, guidelines, procedures or legislation that you are required to work within
No
12.4.1 Are there clear policies YES
and procedures that you are not
allowed to deviate from?
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ISO 9000 and UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation means that certain quality procedures must be followed at all times.
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Yes/ Describe the policies, guidelines, procedures or legislation that you are required to work within
No
12.4.2 Are you required to
YES
work to policies and procedures
(SOPs), but use your initiative
when non-routine situations
arise?
Test Person activities are detailed in HTM 2010 and HTM 2030. These documents list the procedures that should be
followed when carrying out testing, but I have the freedom to use my own initiative when non-routine situations arise. I
develop SOP’s for the validation team.
12.4.3 Do you work to clear
YES
professional or occupational
policies and are accountable for
your own professional actions?
Activities are governed by Health Technical Memoranda HTM 2010, HTM2030 and HTM2031, plus various European
Standards, Hospital Planning Notes, etc. I have complete freedom to use my own initiative and am therefore fully
accountable for my own professional actions.
12.4.4 Do you work to broad
professional standards and
have significant discretion to
operate within these?
YES
12.4.5 Are you responsible for YES
determining how certain broad
policies should be put into
practice?
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An example of where I would use my initiative would be if one of the 12 measuring thermocouples developed a fault midway through a test. By analysing the characteristics of the remaining 11 thermocouples along with the characteristics of the
faulty probe prior to the fault occurring, I make a decision about the viability of the test result and decide whether to
repeat the test or not.
I have to use significant discretion because much of my operational work is driven by project and/or customer
requirements and falls outwith policy guidelines applying to the Agency or NHS Scotland. Performance of contracts is
reviewed on an ongoing basis by stakeholder meetings and post completion project reviews. I establish the timelines for
projects and have to pursue suppliers to keep them on track. I deploy different engineers with different work targets on
discrete tasks to ensure that targets are met.
I am responsible for determining how certain broad policies are put into practice. For example, Validation Services Group’s
operational procedures are currently aligned with the UK guidance documents, HTM 2010, HTM 2030 and HTM 2031.
These documents have recently been re-written to align with the current European Standards, BS EN 285, BS EN ISO
15883 and BS EN ISO 17665. I am responsible for reviewing the new UK guidance document (HTM 01-01), along with the
European Standard documents and making any necessary changes to our department’s operational procedures to ensure
that we comply fully with the most up-to-date policies. Any changes have to be written into our quality procedures and
rolled-out to staff. SHS policies are normally seen as “best practice” and are adopted at Trust level throughout NHS
Scotland.
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Yes/ Describe the policies, guidelines, procedures or legislation that you are required to work within
No
12.4.6 Are you required to
take action based on your own
interpretation of national
policies/legislation/initiatives?
YES
12.4.7 Are you responsible for NO
setting targets and goals for a
department/division/
service/organisation?
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There are various national and international standards that I need to adhere to. Some of the requirements can vary and I
need to interpret the most applicable and plot a course of compliance that meets the highest standards across the board.
This means that I often create gap analyses and scoring options to determine the most appropriate outcomes. When
evaluating equipment, I am often required to interpret policies and standards in order to arrive at a compatible
specification before equipment may be scored. For example in relation to specification of endoscope decontamination
equipment there are three relevant standards, HTM2030, HTM2031 and EN ISO 15883. Some aspects of the standards will
describe how a feature should function while other aspects will not describe function but will describe an outcome
specification. A machine that complied with HTM2030 may not comply with ISO EN 15883. Although a manufacturer can
claim compliance with HTM2030, the machine may not necessarily meet the requirements of the user, so I often have to
make judgements about the best type of equipment to suit individual user’s circumstances.
N/A
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13
PHYSICAL EFFORT
13.1
This factor measures the physical effort (sustained effort at a similar level or sudden explosive effort) required for the job. It takes account of any
circumstances that may affect the degree of effort required, such as working in an awkward position or confined space.
Does your job require any of the following
Job requirements
Yes/ Please give an example(s)
No
Average
number of
shifts per
week
Number
of times
per shift
Average
Average
duration
weight
of each
occurrence
(shift = 7
hours)
13.1.1 Lifting, pushing,
pulling objects?
YES
Items which are required to be processed in the sterilizer / washer 1-2
disinfector under test are loaded onto carriages (trolleys) and I am
required to manoeuvre these carriages frequently throughout the
day, from one area of a department to another. A typical fully laden
trolley will weigh in excess of 50kg.
Equipment used to carry out the testing has to be moved from the
car to the department and back every time a machine is tested. The
equipment weighs in excess of 20kg.
12
5 mins
50kg
13.1.2 Bending, kneeling,
crouching, stretching?
YES
Testing of decontamination equipment is carried out in front of the
1-2
machine, normally in a production area. Test equipment usually
requires to be set up on floor, which means I have to bend, kneel or
crouch for several extended periods to take readings from test
equipment.
6
1 hour
Not required
13.1.3
YES
Sterile Services Departments are required to have the quality of their 1
steam supply checked on a regular basis. When carrying out this
type of testing, it is necessary to balance on a ladder to collect
samples of steam at ceiling level.
2
15 mins
Not required
Decontamination equipment is often sited in cramped locations.
Conditions become even more cramped when test equipment is
placed in front of machine.
6
1 hour
Not required
2
15 mins
Not required
Crawling, climbing?
13.1.4 Working in physically YES
cramped conditions?
13.1.5
Working at heights?
YES
1-2
Steam quality testing involves balancing on ladders at ceiling level to 1
collect steam samples from steam supply pipes.
Required to work above ceiling level occasionally when surveying
sites for replacing equipment (services are above ceiling level).
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13.1.6 Standing/sitting with
limited scope for movement
for long periods?
YES
Required to stand or crouch in front of equipment for the duration of 1-2
its cycle to record data from a number of different sources, e.g.
temperature, pressure and time. Individual cycle times can range
from 1 hour to 3 hours and will be repeated throughout a shift.
6
1 hour
Not required
13.1.7 Walking for
substantial periods of time?
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not required
13.1.8 Making repetitive
movements?
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not required
13.1.9 Controlled restraint?
i.e. jobs requiring training/
certification in this
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not required
13.1.10 Running?
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not required
13.1.11 Lifting
weights/equipment with
mechanical aids?
YES
2
30 mins
100kg
13.1.12 Clearing tables?
NO
N/A
N/A
Not required
12
5 mins
50kg
N/A
N/A
N/A
13.1.13 Manoeuvring/
YES
manipulating objects/ people?
13.1.14 Transferring people
from bed to chair or similar?
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NO
Equipment used to carry out the testing of sterilizers and
1-2
washer/disinfectors has to be moved from the car to the department
and back every time a machine is tested. A trolley is provided to
assist with transportation. Total weight of equipment is in excess of
100kg. Distance from car park to department can easily be in excess
of 0.5 miles.
N/A
N/A
Items which are required to be processed in the sterilizer / washer 1-2
disinfector under test are loaded onto carriages and these carriages
have to be manoeuvred frequently throughout the day. A typical
fully laden trolley will weigh in excess of 50kg. Trolleys are pushed
and pulled from a standing start.
N/A
N/A
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13.1.15 Lifting weights/
YES
equipment without mechanical
aids?
Equipment used to carry out the testing of sterilizers and
1-2
washer/disinfectors has to be moved from the car to the department
and back every time a machine is tested. Several individual items of
equipment weigh in excess of 20kg. Although a trolley is provided to
assist with transporting equipment, there is a frequent requirement
to carry individual items to position them for testing and often I
have to carry individual items up and down stairs.
2
30 mins
20kg
13.1.16 Manual digging?
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not required
13.1.17 Heavy-duty pot
washing/oven cleaning?
NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not required
13.1.18 Other, please specify NO
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
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14
MENTAL EFFORT
14.1
This factor measures the mental effort (concentration, responding to unpredictable work patterns, interruptions) required for the job.
Concentration
Note: * This should be the total amount of time spent on this activity each shift.
Describe the duties that you undertake that require concentration.
List the most important first
How many
How long for on
shifts during the each shift*
week (shift = 7
hours)
Calibration and testing of decontamination equipment.
2
5 hours
Driving.
3
3.5 hours
Planning, scheduling and reviewing workloads for 8 field engineers.
2
2 hours
Checking engineers’ reports for accuracy.
1
3.5 hours
Checking and signing off UKAS calibration certificates.
1
2 hours
Project managing up to 20 projects simultaneously and co-ordinating activities of suppliers and contractors.
1
2 hours *
Developing and writing tender documentation.
0.5
3.5 hours *
Evaluation of returned tender documentation.
0.5
3.5 hours *
Chairing equipment selection meetings.
0.5
2 hours *
Writing detailed technical reports.
0.5
2 hours *
Preparing project plans and developing Gantt diagrams.
0.2
1 hour *
Calculating calibration uncertainties.
0.1
2 hours *
Investigating reported hazards and defects.
0.1
2 hours *
Note: * Level of activity is dependent upon number of projects in progress.
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14.2
Interruptions
If you are interrupted in the course of your work, describe the nature of the interruption and say whether you have to stop what you
are doing to respond to the interruption and whether you have to re-prioritise your work as a result of it
How often each
shift
Responsible for the operational management of 8 field based engineers, who may be working on different types of machinery in different
2 – 3 times
locations throughout Scotland. My concentration may be interrupted by having to respond to the needs of the engineers or our clients. This may
cause me to stop my current activities and re-prioritise my workload.
1 – 2 times
Equipment breakdown or unexpected faults on equipment results in engineers spending more time on testing than anticipated. In these
circumstances, I have to re-schedule engineers planned work and inform clients of alternative arrangements.
0 – 1 times
Project emergencies can cause me to stop my current activities and re-prioritise my work to enable the emergency to be attended to.
0 – 1 times
Staff welfare issues are extremely important. All 8 engineers are field based and work in isolation. It is extremely important to deal with staff
issues quickly and sympathetically to maintain the high morale of the group. This may result in having to re-prioritise my own workload.
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15
EMOTIONAL EFFORT
15.1
This factor measures the emotional effort required to undertake clinical or non-clinical duties that are generally considered to be distressing and/or
emotionally demanding.
Please complete the table below, indicating whether you carry out the activities listed as examples.
Examples
Yes/ Number of occasions
No
per week/month/year
Please describe, including the degree of involvement with the distressed/angry patient/client
15.1.1 Processing (e.g.
typing/ transmitting) news of
highly distressing events
NO
N/A
N/A
15.1.2 Providing a service
for distressed/ angry patients/
clients/ staff
NO
N/A
N/A
15.1.3 Giving unwelcome
news to patients/ clients/
carers/ staff
YES
1-2 Times per month
Holding de-briefing meetings with unsuccessful bidders in tendering exercises. Atmosphere can
become quite hostile if suppliers do not agree with the reasons for not awarding the contract to
them.
Informing customers of failed test results, which may impact upon their production schedules and
may cause cancellation of surgical procedures or have cost implications.
Informing customers of postponed test visits due to other work priorities.
Managing staff annual leave requests.
Asking staff to work away from home for extended periods to test machines in remote areas.
15.1.4 Dealing with difficult
situations/ circumstances
YES
1-2 Times per month
Dealing with staff grievances and disciplinary matters. I have line management responsibility for 8
validation engineers and it is my responsibility to deal with disciplinary and grievance matters.
Dealing with contractor grievances during project equipping stages.
Informing suppliers that they have been unsuccessful in tendering exercises for capital equipping
projects relating to decontamination.
15.1.5 Designated to
provide emotional support to
front line staff
NO
N/A
N/A
15.1.6 Caring for the
terminally ill
NO
N/A
N/A
15.1.7 Providing a therapy
service to emotionally
demanding patients/ clients/
staff
NO
N/A
N/A
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15.1.8 Communicating life
changing events to patients/
clients/ staff
NO
N/A
N/A
15.1.9 Dealing with people
with challenging behaviour
NO
N/A
N/A
15.1.10 Arriving at the
NO
scene of a distressing incident
N/A
N/A
2-3 Times per week
Lone working – All members of the team work in isolation. There is also a requirement to stay
away from home from time to time during the course of normal working patterns, which leads to
social isolation from both family and colleagues.
15.1.11 Other
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YES
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16
WORKING CONDITIONS
16.1
This factor measures the demands arising from inevitably adverse environmental conditions (such as extreme heat/cold, smells, noise, fumes) and hazards,
which are unavoidable (even with the strictest health and safety controls), such as road traffic accidents, spills of harmful chemicals, aggressive behaviour of
patients, clients, relatives, carer).
Please describe where you work. If you work in more than one area, state the percentage of time in each.
Sterile Services Departments
-
25%
Microbiology Laboratories
-
7.5%
Endoscopy suites
-
5%
Pharmacy Production Units
-
7.5%
At Home
-
30%
In Office
-
20%
Other NHS/SG venues
-
5%
16.2
Please complete the table below concerning the conditions in which you are required to work or illness/injury to which you are exposed.
Are you required to use or
are exposed to:
Yes/ Frequency per week/
No
month/year on
average
Please describe the requirement
16.2.1 Using transport on a
regular basis
YES
Daily
As a home-based worker and an NHS Crown Car user, I am required to travel throughout the
whole of NHS Scotland on business and regularly have to drive between Dundee and Edinburgh to
attend meetings. I drive more than 12,000 miles per year on business journeys. Journeys can be
up to 4 hours per day and are often undertaken in darkness, i.e. early mornings and late evenings
according to meeting times.
16.2.2 Using road transport
in emergency situations
NO
N/A
N/A
16.2.3
YES
10-12 times per year
Winter driving in snow/icy conditions is an unavoidable, hazardous task.
Outdoor working
Test equipment needs to be transported to and from car in all weather conditions.
16.2.4 Using a computer/
VDU for the majority of the
shift
YES
Daily
Daily use of computer to schedule engineers work activities, create and maintain spreadsheets,
create reports, send and receive e-mails, etc. All data logging activities are performed using a
laptop computer. VDU is used every day for 6 to 8 hours.
16.2.5 Extreme
temperatures
YES
2-3 times per week
Sterilizers operate at 134 degrees C and the environmental conditions surrounding these machines
can be very uncomfortable to work in. Frequently required to work in locations where the
temperature can exceed 30 degrees C.
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16.2.6 Unpleasant smells or YES
odours
1-2 times per week
Laboratory sterilizers are used to sterilize microbiological waste from laboratories. This waste
includes urine samples, faecal samples, blood, etc. Testing these sterilizers means exposure to
extremely unpleasant odours for the entire shift.
16.2.7 Excessive noise or
vibration
YES
2-3 times per week
Required to work with equipment that emits excessive noise. This includes vacuum pumps, motors
and ultrasonic generators.
16.2.8
YES
2-3 times per week
The rear of a sterilizer is in a plant room area. These areas are always dirty and dusty and it is
necessary to spend extended periods of time in these areas.
Dust or dirt
Required to spend time in dirty or dusty locations whilst building work is taking place to re-furbish
departments or create new departments.
16.2.9 A humid atmosphere
YES
2-3 times per week
Almost all sterilizers use steam as their primary source of heat. The atmosphere surrounding a
sterilizer is therefore extremely humid.
16.2.10 Dangerous
chemicals/ substances in
containers
YES
1-2 times per week
Surgical instrument washer/disinfectors use aggressive acidic or alkaline detergents to remove
contamination from instruments. Endoscope reprocessors also use hazardous chemicals (e.g.
Peracetic Acid, Chlorine Dioxide or Cidex) and special care must be taken when testing these types
of machines.
16.2.11 Aggressive verbal
behaviour
YES
4-5 times per year
Holding de-briefing meetings with unsuccessful bidders in tendering exercises. Atmosphere can
become quite hostile if suppliers do not agree with the reasons for not awarding the contract to
them.
16.2.12 Unpleasant
substances/ non household
waste
YES
1-2 times per week
Regular exposure to human blood and tissue when testing instrument washer/disinfectors. Test
probes are placed adjacent to soiled instruments.
16.2.13 Severe weather
conditions
NO
N/A
N/A
16.2.14
YES
1-2 times per week
Laboratory sterilizers are used to sterilize microbiological waste from laboratories. This waste
includes urine samples, faecal samples, blood, etc. Sterilizing these items involves heating them up,
which creates extremely unpleasant, noxious fumes. When testing these machines, I have to stand
directly in front of them for an entire 7.5 hour shift.
YES
1-2 times per week
Regular exposure to human blood and tissue when testing instrument washer/disinfectors. Test
probes are placed adjacent to soiled instruments.
Noxious fumes
16.2.15 Infectious materials
or foul linen
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Regular exposure to human faeces, urine and other biological waste when testing laboratory
sterilizers. Test probes are placed within contaminated load items. (e.g. Petri dishes, sample
bottles, vacutainers, etc.).
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16.2.16
Fleas and lice
16.2.17 Bodily fluids,
faeces, or vomit
NO
N/A
N/A
YES
1-2 times per week
Regular exposure to human faeces, urine and other biological waste when testing laboratory
sterilizers. Test probes are placed within contaminated load items. (e.g. Petri dishes, sample
bottles, vacutainers, etc.).
N/A
N/A
16.2.18 Aggressive physical NO
behaviour
16.2.19 Dangerous
chemicals or substances that
are not contained
YES
1-2 times per week
A frequent requirement of the job is to perform thermometric testing on Laboratory autoclaves
(sterilizers), Endoscope Reprocessors and Washer/Disinfectors. Testing any of these machines
involves frequent exposure to hazards and highly unpleasant working conditions. This is because
temperature sensors need to be inserted directly into the load that is being processed, to ensure
that the correct temperatures are attained during an operating cycle. This means having direct
contact with blood, urine, faecal samples, high-risk Category 3 microbiological waste, HIV
samples, TB samples, CJD samples, etc
16.2.20 Life threatening
hazards
YES
1-2 times per week
The post require direct contact with biohazards such as high-risk Category 3 microbiological
waste, HIV samples, TB samples, CJD samples, etc. Test probes need to be placed directly within
the contaminated load to ensure that the correct temperatures are attained during a cycle.
I am also exposed to life threatening hazards such as electric shocks and serious burns. It is
necessary to remove safety covers and over-ride safety features when testing sterilizing
equipment to ensure that the equipment will still protect the operator in the event of a process
failure or electrical/mechanical/pneumatic fault during a cycle.
I carry out steam quality testing on all Porous Load sterilizer installations. This involves standing
on the top of a ladder whilst holding a vacuum flask at face level to collect a sample of steam
from a steam header via a short length of rubber tubing. The steam is generally at a pressure of
around 4 bar and a temperature of over 140 degrees C. This has to be performed 3 times on each
installation and each sample takes about 15 minutes to collect. This test is performed alone, with
no one else on site to assist with the procedure.
16.2.21 Other
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YES
1-2 times per week
There is a risk of electric shock when performing tests on machinery. It is usually necessary to
remove safety covers to access the machine controls and to calibrate the machine’s temperature
sensing probes. There is also a constant risk of serious burns, as almost all decontamination
equipment is steam heated. The risk is even greater due to the fact that this work is carried out
alone in a plant room.
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APPENDIX 1 - ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON FACTOR 2 KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
General Points
qualification and/or experience requirements that are actually needed for your
post.
Consider the main types of knowledge required for your work and state them
under the most appropriate question heading, starting with the one that is the
most central to your job (e.g. scientific knowledge for biochemists). Only list
qualifications once, in the most relevant section (e.g. a nursing qualification in
the clinical knowledge section).
Qualifications indicate that the level of knowledge required must be of an
equivalent level to the stipulated qualification not that there is a requirement to
hold any particular qualification. Training towards qualifications is a means of
acquiring knowledge as is on-the-job training, short courses and practical
experience. If a job does genuinely require the knowledge acquired through a
specified formal qualification, then this should be recorded.
This factor measures the minimum knowledge required by a competent
performer to do the job to the required standards. You may have different or
higher qualifications than those required for the job, but these should not be
included.
A Person Specification may set out the qualifications and experience required,
but you should bear in mind that it may understate the knowledge actually
needed to carry out the job because it is set at recruitment level on the
expectation that the rest of the required knowledge will be acquired through
on the job training and experience, for example, the person specifications for:

Clerical posts typically state the recruitment level of knowledge as a
number of GCSEs, whereas the actual knowledge requirement includes a
range of clerical and administrative procedures.

Managerial posts may state the recruitment level of knowledge as a
number of GCSEs plus a specified period of health service experience,
whereas the actual knowledge requirement includes the range of
administrative procedures used by the team plus supervisory/managerial
knowledge or experience.

Healthcare jobs may state that a form of specialist knowledge is desirable,
rather than essential, because the trust is willing to provide training in the
particular specialist field.
Where qualification and/or experience requirements for a job have changed
over time, the current requirements should be entered. As it is the job that is
evaluated, jobholders in post with previous qualifications are deemed to have
achieved the current qualification level through on the job learning and
experience. You may need to consult your line manager on the current
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