TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT


TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Lifelong Engineer


Conference in Cardiff, and the IHEEM AE Conference in Epsom. It was very clear that the feedback we receive on this topic is well supported by members in most of the Technical Platforms within IHEEM. The Decontamination Board has taken a


SPOTLIGHT ON


lead here, due to the lack of skills of many contractors, and the lack of staff in general across the service – a real problem for patient safety. We are running trials within the Welsh Health Service, and a seminar day was developed in the spring at EWP for engineers working in the Welsh NHS. This was organised and led by John Prendergast and NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership – Specialist Estates Services, supported by IHEEM. Setting out good guidance for AEs to understand, and striving to improve education and training for such professionals, are of prime importance. A paper has been written on the subject, and should be available for the AE(D)s to use – both when assessing reports and work carried out, and when staff appointments are being made in this very important area of work. This is only the first step in this work, and will need improvements and developments across the other Technical Platforms in IHEEM. Another significant piece of work has been


D


the AE(D) audit forms developed by the Board in conjunction with the JAG organisation over the last few years – an initiative I started and developed following real problems with audit work in my previous role within the Welsh Health Service many years ago. This process is now working very well, and has gained a strong reputation within the service as regards the audits undertaken in flexible endoscope decontamination departments.


DEREK CHAPLIN MBA, CEng, FIHEEM


erek Chaplin is a third generation engineer, having cut this milk teeth on a Meccano set, model railway, bicycle, and car mechanics. He served a student apprenticeship with Pirelli General Cable


Makers (so useful later), gaining an HND in Mechanical Engineering, before a gap-year with Voluntary Service Overseas teaching workshop practice in Jamaica. Joining the Wessex Regional Hospital Board training scheme for Hospital Engineers, he attended courses at the fledgling Hospital Engineering Centre, Falfield, and most helpfully took an HNC in Building prior to an appointment with the Southampton Health District in 1974. Together with the extensive rebuilding programme of that teaching hospital, these years provided a solid foundation for his NHS career in estate management, which has subsequently spanned four decades. Encouraged to join the then Institute of Hospital Engineering (‘It’s your Institute’, his boss directed), Derek was surrounded by Group Engineers and colleagues for whom the Southern Branch proved a significant support network for younger engineers. Meetings usually took place on Saturdays, with some six branch meetings congregating centrally at Oxford. Membership provided opportunity for experiencing committee work, where Derek served as Secretary, Chair, and later Treasurer, of the Branch. Visits to family down-under gave him opportunity to visit hospitals in Singapore, New Zealand, and South Australia – whose local IHE branch gave a warm welcome and the chance to compare notes on their systems and developments; which were to his surprise sometimes ahead of home installations. Experience as the Works Rep within NALGO proved beneficial for the later managerial responsibilities of industrial relations. A small


legacy enabled Derek to study for the CIBSE membership examinations, and subsequently gain his coveted CEng status, before applying for a Works Manager role. The introduction of annual appraisals led to studies with the OU Business School, culminating in an MBA at the age of 50. Those distance studies were incredibly useful in understanding the management developments required by the successive reorganisations across the NHS. Perhaps this was what led to him being asked to temporarily manage the Agenda for Change project for his Trust. The provision of CPD presentations and visits via the Branch meetings provided regular refreshment in product and system developments. Derek was honoured to represent Trust-level staff within the Institute’s


Derek was honoured to represent Trust-level staff within the Institute’s Healthcare Engineering Advisory Group


Healthcare Engineering Advisory Group, comprising NHS regional, and the chief engineers of the four nations. Another opportunity for service was with the National Performance Advisory Group, helping provide feedback on such systems as WIMS and its later daughters. Retiring as Head of Estate Services and Chief Engineer to the University Hospital Trust, he was then called upon to represent the Southern Branch as Council Member; which seemed to provide a fitting culmination to his adult career. During that time, Derek has also served as a church deacon and school governor; later working hands-on in retirement as the building


technician to his home church (with lifts, gas boilers, and ventilation with BMS too), and Treasurer to two Trusts (budgets and spreadsheets, staff contracts, and HR matters). After half a century now of IHEEM membership, he looks back with gratefulness for all the opportunities which the NHS and IHEEM fraternity have provided him, hoping that his own leadership has supported and encouraged his successors.


The application route to becoming an IHEEM registered Authorising Engineer. AE(D) Advancement


Find out more about Authorising Engineers


IHEEM supports members looking to become an AE(D), AE(E), AE(MGPS), AE(V), or AE(W). The Institute holds an Authorising Engineer Register, listing all IHEEM qualified AEs.


For further information, guidance, or support in an application, or to become a member, please visit iheem.org.uk, or contact IHEEM Head Office at office@iheem.org.uk


14 Health Estate Journal May 2024


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