Band 8a Lead Clinical Scientist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an highly experienced Clinical Scientist to lead our Clinical Science team within the Access to Communication and Technology Service.
The post-holder will work within three clinical caseloads relating to Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT): people with severe physical disabilities who may need Environmental Control (EC) or computer access and people with communication and language difficulties who may need Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC). l
The post holder will need to work independently and travel widely within the West Midlands region and therefore being a car driver is essential.
Do you have the skills required to join our team? We are looking for a highly driven Health Care Scientist who is enthusiastic and motivated to work with us! Significant experience in working with EC and or AAC is essential.
Access to Communication and Technology is a specialist electronic assistive technology service, which is based at the West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6JA. We are a service made up of clinicians (Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapists, Health Care Scientists and assistants), technicians, stock and admin staff providing specialist assessment, set up, provision and maintenance of electronic assistive technology to meet the needs of children and adults who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Environmental Control (EC)., · Provide professional and clinical leadership for all Healthcare Science staff, technical services Lead and indirectly the technical and stock teams in the ACT Service. This will include day to day supervision, setting objectives and priorities, monitoring/reviewing performance, absence management, recruitment and conducting appraisals.
· Use highly developed Health Care Science skills alongside Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) staff within the interdisciplinary team assessing people referred to the service with EC/computer access and AAC needs, in accordance with the ACT EC/AAC clinical competencies.
+ Provide Healthcare Science professional leadership across the West Midlands in the specialist area of Environmental control (EC), Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Computer access and technological integration, in accordance with NHS England Service Specification DO1/S/c and D01/S/b
+ Identify, lead and or participate in service improvement initiatives and projects within ACT, the Trust and nationally for EC and AAC. This may include specific projects for individual patients, research, audit, as well as procedure development.
+ To be an active part of the ACT leadership team and deputise for the ACT service lead when necessary., · Please ensure you check your Trac account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you during the shortlisting and selection process.
· Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.

BCHC has more than 5000 staff working across Birmingham and the West Midlands in a wide range of community nursing and specialist healthcare roles. BCHC delivers over 100 clinical services, in people's homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient facilities. We deliver a wide range of services for children, young people and families as well as adults and community services, two community hospitals, services for people with learning disabilities, the internationally recognised West Midlands Rehab Centre and one of Europe's leading Dental Hospitals and School of Dentistry. We deliver all of this with a commitment to integrated, personalised care that is rooted in our local communities. We have an ambition to deliver outstanding, integrated care as one of the key NHS providers in the West Midlands.
If you want to 'Be Part of Our Team' and work with a Foundation Trust which is continuously striving for best care and healthy communities, we want to hear from you., Birmingham is a fantastic place to live and we serve a wide range of people and communities. BCHC are an advocate of diversity and strive to mirror the community we serve as much possible.

We are committed to and actively promote equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals from all areas of the community who meet the specific criteria are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage/civil partnerships.
Promoting Workforce Equality
In response to data held by BCHC which demonstrates that individuals from particular protected characteristics are under-represented, BCHC are striving to redress these imbalances. In order to do this, the Trust is committed to the employment and career development of individuals with these protected characteristics. As part of this commitment and given this under-representation, the Trust guarantees an interview to any applicants from under-represented groups for positions at Band 8a and above whose application meets the essential criteria for the post as detailed on the Person Specification.
The Trust is currently under-represented in terms of people who identify as Black, Minority Ethnic (BME) and welcomes applicants from these communities. Selection will be on the basis of merit. In order to ensure the diversity of our workforce and understand the differing needs of our communities, the Trust is committed to the principles of Positive Action.
Flexible Working
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) supports a variety of flexible working practices and, where possible (given our range of services and community settings) dependent upon the requirements associated with the role, will actively consider requests made and support these where practically possible. This may include hybrid patterns of working to enable colleagues to request the flexibility of a mixture of home/base working.
In accordance with the NHS People Promise, the Trust is committed to facilitating a healthy work/life balance that is essential to health and wellbeing and to making BCHC a 'Great Place to Work'. We will be happy to discuss and consider all requests relating to working patterns and hours at your interview so please do ask!
Benefits of working for us:
+ Full NHS terms and conditions including extensive holidays, Agenda for Change pay with enhancements
+ Attractive relocation payment if you relocate to the local area.
+ Discounts for local and national retailers
+ Dedicated well-being services for all employees
+ Flexible working where possible