Vehicle Technician - Kings Lynn

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We encourage you to ensure that your application relates to the Person Specification (provided as part of the Job Description or as a separate attachment).
Please visit our recruitment support page for advice on completing your application.

Job overview

East of England Ambulance Service has a vacancy for a Vehicle Technician at our Kings Lynn workshop.

The role of a Vehicle Technician forms an essential part of ensuring we have ambulances on the road to help patients when they need us.

Working for Workshop Services at East of England Ambulance Services NHS Trust (EEAST) you will also be eligible for the following benefits:

 Generous NHS Pension Scheme – with opportunity to transfer other pensions into the NHS Pension scheme within first 12 months.

 37.5 hour working week with overtime payable at an enhanced rate for any pre-approved hours above this.

Minimum 27 days annual leave (increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years’ service) + 8 days bank holiday equivalent. 

Paid sick leave (based upon length of service).

Staff uniform including relevant PPE for task.

Training and development opportunities with opportunities for career progression in Workshops or perhaps other career areas within EEAST.

Free on-site parking.

Access to generous discount schemes across wide range of services..

24hr Employee Assistance Program: Occupational Health services including mental health and wellbeing, legal and financial services

This role also attracts a 15% Recruitment & Retention premium. (Additional 15% of base salary paid monthly from starting in post)

(Salary range with R&R applied £32,668 - £39,768)

Main duties of the job

The role is to ensure that all motor vehicle repairs, pre-planned maintenance repairs and vehicle servicing, are completed within an accurate time scale and in a cost-efficient manner on vehicles where appropriate training has been provided.

To provide a safe, effective, and efficient maintenance and repair service within MOT standards for all vehicles and maintained by East of England Ambulance Service.

Responsible for diagnosing faults in vehicles and decide on the extent of the work required, making informed decisions as to the repair or replacement of faulty units.
Suitable candidates will have C1 category licence or be willing to work towards this within 6 months of starting which will be fully funded by the Trust, subject to the individual remaining with the organisation for a period of two years.

Please note we participate in the provision of a 24-hour breakdown service necessitating call out from home on a rota basis occasionally both at night/ weekends with appropriate time off the following day in line with the Working Time Directive.

Working for our organisation

The Fleet Department is responsible for the design, testing and evaluation of operational vehicles, their procurement and issue to A&E Operations, the in-life compliance, service planning and up-time management (operational life) of the vehicle, and the final decommissioning and disposal at the end of their life. It is also responsible for all ordering of lease vehicles to support functions, including business lease cars.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The post holder will take full responsibility for taking the initiative, and to make decisions on maintenance and repair of various types of vehicles. Full training with be provided with an expectation to complete in line with Trust compliance standard.
• Responsible for the servicing, repair and preventative maintenance of all vehicles maintained by East of England Ambulance Service, training and equipment will be provided.
• Will be required to work in rotation with other Mechanics: (during normal working hours or as an operational requirement).
• Travel to ambulance stations in EEAST and undertake minor mechanical, electrical and body work repairs and undertake preventative maintenance on all vehicles on such stations.
• Undertake major/ minor mechanical and electrical repairs at workshops sites across the Trust area.
• Participate in a rota for 24hr service and repair callouts.
• Carry out MOT inspections/ repairs as required for MOT tests to EEAST and customer vehicles.
• To carry out mechanical/ welding repairs as and when required.
• Responsible for the safe working practices undertaken when dealing with motor vehicle air-conditioning systems.
• Responsible for full utilisation of the computerised diagnostic equipment available to specific vehicle applications, to assist in the diagnosing of vehicle faults and fault-finding process, training of which will be provided and firmly supported.
• To carry out repair and maintenance to special applications on vehicles operated by the Trust.
• Servicing of cots/ stretchers and carry chairs.
• Complete all necessary documentation, including job cards, service sheets and parts sheets and ensure all are submitted in a timely manner.
• To arrange vehicle servicing & MOT tests with various Ambulance stations and external customers.
• Maintains security of stock and equipment used.
• Keep workshops and equipment clean and tidy, reporting any defective equipment.
• Account for all stores and equipment used by means of booking out of parts onto job cards.
• Adhere to and deliver EEAST policies and procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring that service centre equipment, portable equipment and hand tools are fully checked and maintained in line with Trust policy to meet Health & Safety requirements.
• Responsible for the maintain compliance with all statutory requirements relating to the disposal of waste produced as a result of the activities of the vehicle, this includes waste oil, oil filters, brake fluid, batteries, waste paint products etc.
• Travel to breakdowns working outside in varying weather conditions anytime within a 24-hour period when on call.
• Includes direct exposure to dirt, dust, grease, smell, noise, chemicals and solvents, exhaust fumes, hot engines, manual lifting of weight up 25kg is required, risk of being in the vicinity of body fluids, foul linen sometimes found in the ambulance saloon. 
• All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trust’s use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses to improve services.
• Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.
• All staff are responsible for undertaking scene specific or activity specific risk assessments for non-EEAS premises and reporting identified problems to their line manager for consideration and resolution.
• Continuous learning is an expectation of the role and the achievement of NVQ higher level qualifications to support and enhance mechanical knowledge.
• Systematic and methodical approach to vehicle mechanics.
• Required to provide guidance, support and direction to team members/ colleagues/ new employees as required.
• Become subject matter experts with the ability to disseminate to other staff members.

Person specification

Driving Licence

Essential criteria

C1 License category (or able to achieve)

Full UK Driving Licence

Experience

Essential criteria

Extensive post apprenticeship experience in vehicle mechanical engineering

Desirable criteria

Experience of working within a busy NHS maintenance environment.

Qualifications

Essential criteria

NVQ 2 in Vehicle Maintenance Repair (Light Vehicle) #4270 and/or experience gained in a similar working environment (ie City and Guilds 4290)

Desirable criteria

Affiliation to IRTE or IMI

Skills

Essential criteria

Confident in working to tight schedules, in potentially adverse conditions, and achieving results.

References and Employment History: All references from current and previous employers, will be sought via their Human Resources Department and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and email address of the Human Resources Department and indicate your current/previous line manager and their departmental details.

All appointments will be subject to currently having a clean disciplinary record.

Please be advised that a No Smoking Policy is in operation throughout the Trust.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - Under the Trust's commitment 'Positive about Disabled People', if you consider yourself as having a disability and you meet the minimum selection criteria for any post, you will get an automatic interview. By minimum selection criteria we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application form which demonstrates the essential requirements as set out in the person specification and advertisement for a post.

We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We therefore positively encourage applications, regardless of age, race, religion & belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity or disability.