Junior Prosthetic Technician

The Role: The role would suit a person with good hand skills, but also problem‑solving abilities and someone who is keen to learn from our experienced team. Any experience would be desirable; however, we would welcome a trainee into this position. In this role you will act in a professional manner with other members of staff in the Prosthetic and Posture & Mobility department and ensure that all prostheses and associated products are manufactured on time and assembled to meet the safety procedures laid down by the Service and manufacturers.

• Undertake the manufacture and repair of prosthetic limbs in accordance with the specification laid down by the prosthetist and component manufacturer.
• Ensure that all limbs are ready for fitting and delivery within the contract dates used at the service.
• Ensure that all stock is correctly booked out to a relevant job sheet promptly.
• Reduce any materials wastage by good working practices.
• Give advice and guidance on the manufacture of prosthetic limbs.
• Work with the prosthetists and line manager to ensure that you are up to date with new prosthetic componentry and manufacturing techniques.
• Identify any training needs required to fulfil your position within the Service and highlight them to your Line Manager.
• Abide by BCUHB's health and safety policy while working in the workshop, ensuring your own safety and that of your colleagues.
• Always conform with the Service's Quality policy.

To fabricate, maintain, repair and decommission a comprehensive and specialised range of prosthetic devices to meet the complex needs of service users. These devices are made to fit a wide variety of amputation levels from digits to hip‑disarticulations and for all ages from infants to the elderly.

The range of skills required consist of:

• Specialised forming of thermoformable plastics employing techniques such as vacuum forming and using many different types of thermoplastics.
• Forming the materials and being accountable for the safety and strength of the completed assembly supplied to the user.
• Complex lamination processes for thermosetting plastic materials utilising a variety of acrylic and polyurethane resins with multilayer manufacturing techniques and strategic use of strengthening materials such as carbon fibre, glass fibre, Kevlar, etc., incorporating the forming of two‑part isocyanate foams and acrylic putties.
• Deciding on the specification of the lamination and being accountable for the safety and strength of the completed assembly to be supplied to the user.
• Specialised metal working techniques such as cold working, shape forming, riveting, boring, soldering, tapping holes and cutting.
• Specialised leather manufacture, including blocking, cutting, skiving, shaping, sewing and bonding using both adhesive and mechanical methods.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post;
English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

• Level 3 BTEC/SCOTVEC or City & Guilds in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent work experience/qualification.
• Record or portfolio of knowledge and training achieved, e.g. manual techniques, materials, mechanical skills.
• Evidence of further training and experience in manufacturing techniques.

• Experience of manufacturing using workshop machinery and equipment, including sanding machines and vacuum formers.
• Experience of IT systems including Microsoft Office packages.
• Good level of written communication.
• Practical knowledge and experience of the manufacture of prostheses for all levels of limb amputation site, including knowledge of materials and production techniques.
• CAD‑CAM manufacturing techniques used in the prosthetics service.
• Contemporary analogue and digital electronics with microprocessor knees and myo‑electric arms.
• Complex prosthetic test equipment, i.e. fault finding/diagnostic techniques for prosthetic limbs.

• Experience of working in accordance to health and safety risk assessments and documents.
• Working knowledge of quality assurance systems – BS EN ISO 9001:2015 or BS EN ISO 13485:2016.
• Able to be mobile across the North and Mid Wales area.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous convictions.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.