Job description

Job responsibilities

As a Highly Specialist Cardiac Physiologist you will:

Support the clinical lead of department in leading the deployment of both the echocardiography and invasive services in line with current national best practice standards.

To work independently and co-ordinate your activities to ensure that an efficient service is provided.

To provide support to the client group establishing good lines of communication with patients and their relatives.

To undertake complex diagnostic procedures as an expert in your field. Examples include stress echo, scientist led valve clinics or complex device implants and clinics.

To advise Consultant Physicians and other medical and technical staff on clinical and technological issues.

To support in the development and management of procedures, protocols and guidelines for the service, interpreting local and national policy ensuring safety and clinical governance is met in conjunction with clinical teams.

To help establish a department which is fully accredited through the creation and implementation of a strategic workforce plan.

To develop and maintain working relationships with multi-disciplinary teams across the organisation.

Primary Duties and Area of Responsibility

Planning

Contributes to and implements the Cardiac Physiology services within the Trust.

Liaises with the clinical leads, consultant medical staff and other healthcare professionals with regard , clinical and quality issues relating to the provision of the cardiac physiology services.

Financial/Business Management

In conjunction with the clinical leads, ensures optimal delivery of the Cardio-Respiratory service within allocated resources.

Ensures that systems and procedures are implemented and maintained to ensure that the clinical and technical services meet professional body recommendations.

Ensures that diagnostic equipment is maintained to meet optimum delivery of service. Evaluates new equipment with respect to effectiveness and value for money when replacements are required.

Contribute to the development of business cases as part of the planning process.

Implements audit as necessary for the development of the service and its on-going delivery.

Support the development of Physiologist led services alongside the clinical leads.

Human Resources Management

Assists and provides effective professional leadership to staff within the Cardio-Respiratory department.

Supports cardiac physiology training/education and related issues.

Supports with the continuing professional development of cardiac physiology staff.

Supports the development of training schedules which are evidence based and support professional recommended codes of practice.

Supports the assessment and audit of work practices in the department.

Assists the management team to provide HR support such as performing performance Development Reviews, writing rotas etc.

Performance

In conjunction with the clinical leads, supports plans to ensure that DMO1 diagnostic and cancer waiting times are met.

Develops multi-disciplinary working in conjunction with other clinical areas of the Trust to achieve more effective and efficient service delivery and improved patient experience

Interprets national and international research and guidance to ensure evidence-based practice within cardiac physiology and ensure delivery of a high-quality service.

Ensures quality assurance procedures are in place.

Information and Asset Management

Supports in ensuring that staff receive appropriate training and that they comply with Trust policies and procedures in data quality and control

Quality & Governance

Supports the development of clinical policies and protocols in own area.

Monitors and reviews standards of service delivery and risk management and ensures safe practice. This will include assisting with the co-ordination of departmental health and safety inspections, risk assessments and mandatory training.

Ensures that robust quality assurance testing procedures are in place for processes and use of equipment.

Ensure robust training plans and rotation are in place for staff to develop and maintain clinical competencies.

Communication

Develops processes that support good communication between service users and clinicians.

Communicates highly complex information to a variety of stakeholders at an appropriate level.

Communicates potentially distressing information to patients and/or carers.

Promotes cardiac and respiratory healthcare science both within the Trust and externally.

Education, Training, Audit, Research and Development

Takes responsibility for own personal continuing professional development.

Support for the continuing professional development of staff within specialist area.

Initiates and co-ordinates participation in audits .Provides education and training to other staff, including medical staff.

Provides support and oversight of research projects within the department.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons.) in Healthcare Science (Clinical Physiology) or B'TEC HNC MPPM
• Registered with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS / RCCP) or HCPC
• British Society of Echo Accreditation for TTE and/or British Heart Rhythm Society. Accreditation
• Immediate/Advanced life support qualification.

Desirable

• Masters qualification relevant to post (e.g. MSc. Diagnostic Imaging, MSc Advanced Practice
• Recognised mentorship / supervision qualification
• BSE accreditation for stress echo
• SCST qualification

Experience

Essential

• Qualified independent expert practitioner in echo and/or devices with significant experience at a highly specialist grade.
• Experience of clinical decision making as an independent practitioner
• Experienced in complex cardiac investigations including stress/contrast echo, Transoesophageal echo, complex device implants and follow up
• Experience of a range of cardiorespiratory equipment.
• Experience of training other grades/staff groups and clinical assessment.

Desirable

• Experience of physiologist led clinics
• Experience of service and team management

Knowledge

Essential

• Detailed knowledge of Cardiac Physiology
• Able to implement theoretical knowledge in to practice.
• Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality.
• Understanding of equality and diversity issues and how this affects patients, visitors and staff.
• Implementation and maintenance of clinical governance in area of specialty
• Understands local and national targets
• Understands the national training structures and develops staff in area of service accordingly
• Understands the national training structures and develops staff in area of service accordingly

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication, motivational and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organisational skills and able to work to deadlines
• Effective IT skills - able to navigate clinical systems and generic IT programmes such as Microsoft Office
• Good analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to interpret and communicate complex/sensitive information
• Demonstrates Manual dexterity and able to move large pieces of equipment safely
• Displays care, compassion, sensitivity and responsiveness to other peoples' feelings and needs.
• Able to develop, establish and maintain positive relationships.
• Able to work under pressure, dealing with peaks and troughs in workload.
• Positive and flexible attitude to dealing with change; able to respond to the changing needs of the role in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Highly motivated and reliable.
• Demonstrates values consistent with those of the Trust.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cardio-Respiratory Department, Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)