Applying to join NHS as an Engineer (lengthy read)โผ๏ธโผ๏ธDonโt rush๐
Ps: these are my personal thoughts and not intended to represent that of any organisationโ
Thereโs room to accommodate:
-Mechanical Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Civil/Construction/ structural/ architecture engineers
- Biomedical Engineers
The Technical department of the NHS is called the Estates department. The department is responsible for :
- Facilities Management (Hard FM and Soft FM)
-Capital Projects Management (construction/major works)
- EBME
Now, how does this Link to Engineering?
- Hard FM is Engineering in Facilities Management . Electrical and Mechanical.
Electrical requires expertise in Low Voltage connections and High voltage connections, and preferably experience in BMS
Mechanical requires expertise in HVAC and mechanical systems (pressure vessels, boilers, water supply and softener systems and plumbing) etc
- Capital projects is mainly Construction that ranges from refurbishment to New hospitals construction (read up on New Hospitals Programme in NHS) to understand
- EBME is for Biomedical engineers who deal with medical devices, calibration and testing and some places Decontamination.
With Regards to searching for these jobs, they have structured Names within the NHS.
- Electrical and Mechanical Engineers are usually called Estates Managers or Estates officers. Some Trusts still label them as Electrical Engineers or Mechanical Engineers.
With the typical banding system
Band 5- more operational and maintenance technicians, you carry out the actual works yourself. Perform on call duty
Band 6- management and blend of Operational, youโre an assistant manager but expected to have the hands on experience if your team encounters any issues and you have to get dirty as well๐ perform on call duty
Band 7- Purely Management, providing discipline specific management over a team of engineers/technicians
Band 8 and above- purely strategic management and leadership
- Now to Construction project management
Theyโre called Capital Project Managers and some trusts still call them construction Managers.
With the typical banding system
- Band 5: Project Support or Capita project Officers, usually help with governance aspects of the construction programme, keeping meetings minutes, updating registers and document control.
-Band 6: assistant Project Managers. Can do same as Band5 but can also take ownership of minor works >> ยฃ5k to ยฃ10k. Can carry out site monitoring and inspections as well, ensure compliance to HBNs and HTMs, raise requests for any permits needed
- Band 7: Capital Project Managers: they take ownership of Capital projects in the Estates Department Capital Programme. The value of their work ranges from ยฃ10k and above. They need firm understanding of NEC4, NEC3 and JCT contract and CDM15regs.
- Band 8 and above- purely strategic management and leadership, In Charge of design and commissioning phases of projects as well as handover from clients back to Trust. They also have responsibility over a number of projects the B7 report to them.