Specialised Respiratory Physiologist

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a Respiratory Physiologist (Healthcare Scientist) to join our friendly and enthusiastic team at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. This post is ideal for an experienced Respiratory Physiologist or STP graduate wanting to develop existing skills further and help in the development of a busy and progressive department. We will also consider recruiting a suitably qualified person as a Band 5 progressing to Band 6 on completion of competencies.

The successful candidate will assist in the provision of a high quality lung function and sleep services, with close links to the respiratory team, and to work in partnership with other departments throughout the trust to enable the provision of high quality care. They will perform, analyse and report investigations independently, consulting with the medical staff on appropriate tests and use of investigations.

Our department is actively involved in delivering training and support for the PTP and the direct entry STP program.

You will be based at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, but will be required to work on other Trust sites.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust comprises of 3 hospitals: The Alexandra Hospital, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and Kidderminster Treatment Centre. All sites have good road links to M42 and M5 motorways.

Main duties of the job

To perform a full range of routine and complex testing procedures without supervision with a high level of knowledge and understanding, and to be able to obtain measurements on a variety of patients of all ages and conditions. The range of tests will include but not limited to: Spirometry, Flow volume loops, response to bronchodilators, lung volumes via body plethysmography and Helium dilution, gas transfer via single breath, 6 minute walk tests, skin prick testing, Mannitol challenge, earlobe capillary blood gases, muscle function assessments, hypoxic challenge testing, Cardiopulmonary Exercise testing, sleep studies and analysis, CPAP/NIV titration and monitoring. To perform Cardiopulmonary Exercise test as part of the respiratory/ anaesthetic risk assessment service. To provide support to our MDT CPAP and NIV service, which includes assessment, titration and monitoring of therapy. To provide clinical interpretation and high technical expertise to all investigations by self and junior members of staff, in accordance with the current standards, guidelines and departmental protocols and policies. Acting appropriately in the event of significant adverse findings, alerting physicians when immediate medical attention is required. To work in partnership with other care providers to maintain high quality care throughout.

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

Best services for local people Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients Best use of resources Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will support the physiology service in the provision of respiratory and sleep diagnostics and sleep therapies to the Worcestershire population.

The post holder will provide leadership and support to all junior clinical and administrative staff, escalate any concerns to the sleep service lead or the lung function lead

The post holder will support the training provision of the Level 2 and level 4 sleep disorder assistant Apprenticeships, the PTP, the (Respiratory Physiology) graduate diploma, the sleep medicine post graduate certificate and the STP.

The post holder will support the service managers and area leads monitoring waiting lists and ensuring targets are being met.

The post-holder will be expected to function independently as a specialised physiologist (Healthcare scientist). You will be working with a group of clinical scientists and clinical physiologists and consultants/nurses who are committed to providing the highest standards of patient care.

The post holder will be expected to work fully autonomously in a range of simple and complex tests in respiratory and sleep, providing leadership and training to junior members of staff.

The post-holder will work closely with the staff within the wider Cardiopulmonary department and will be expected to travel to each of the 3 sites to offer support when required.

Assisting in maintaining the quality of the clinical investigation service provision, including audit, research and development, procurement and quality assurance of all equipment.

Providing support in the provision and maintenance of IT systems supporting the department, ensuring system resilience and compliance, working with trust IT department and outside suppliers.

Translate complex technical information through patient care to patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals.

Key Duties:

Professional/Clinical Leadership

Provide clinical leadership which inspires and motivates others, enabling them to empower the team to contribute ideas, support continuous improvement and to resolve clinical issues.

Consistently provide high quality leadership in a visible and highly professional manner, acting as a positive role model.

Act as a source of reference to other members of the department giving support, advice and recommendations.

Demonstrate continuous professional development, maintaining a high level of clinical competence.

Ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of the care and environmental standards they are expected to maintain.

Act as a clinical role model, assessing and delivering care needs as a significant part of their role. They will also ensure high standards of clinical care are consistently achieved and monitored.

Role model the trusts values and expected behaviours.

Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive, inclusive and timely manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.

Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.

Ensure that waiting times are monitored and reported on a weekly basis and that any potential problems are escalated appropriately.

Clinical and professional responsibilities

The post requires specialist knowledge in the field of Respiratory Physiology and Sleep Medicine.

Initiate patients on CPAP therapy explaining sleep study results, device workings, care and cleaning of equipment, provision of lifestyle advice and DVLA guidance.

Follow-up with patients on CPAP therapy interpreting device therapy and compliance data alongside results of overnight oximetry and assessment of patient symptoms.

Issuing sleep diagnostic equipment including overnight oximetry and multi-channel sleep studies.

Initiate patients on BiPAP therapy in either spontaneous mode or adaptive servo ventilation.

Undertake and interpret measurements of blood gases by either capillary and/or arterial sampling.

Undertake routine and complex lung function measurements and provide training in these areas

Be accountable for own professional actions and maintain professional registration.

Identify limitations in own clinical knowledge, skill or interventional capability and escalate to senior clinicians accordingly.

Independently acquire and report results for a range of highly specialised procedures and forwarding results to the appropriate referring practitioner when required and also highlighting any urgencies or concern

Analyse and interpret clinical investigations and report urgent outcomes to the appropriate medical teams or clinicians.

To attend training courses to update ones own technical, physiological and pathological knowledge of specialist procedures and to update ones knowledge, in respect of specialised clinical use of equipment.

To deliver services ensuring they are delivered in line with Health & Safety and other Trust guidelines

Clinical governance and quality

To contribute to the maintenance of all trust policies and procedures within the departments.

Support systematic clinical audit and monitor improvements.

Ensure that physiological tests and interventions are delivered in line with best practice at all sites.

Help ensure a safe, secure environment for patients, visitors and staff.

Ensure that confidentiality of patient records is strictly maintained and comply with the Data Protection Act.

Ensure the update and smooth running of departmental databases and archive systems.

Support and monitor the safety of equipment, ensure service / maintenance is carried out to a high level, taking action when faulty equipment is detected.

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post-holder.

The post holder will be required to work across the Trust at any time throughout the duration of their contract, which may entail travel and working at different hospital sites.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience with acute or domiciliary CPAP Caring for or testing patients. Experience in BiPAP and complex ventilation needs. Experience in complex and basic lung function tests. Experience of providing leadership of staff in a Clinical environment.

Desirable

Experience in giving advice to patients Teaching and development of staff. Practical experience and expert knowledge of basic and advanced Cardiopulmonary investigations

Qualifications

Essential

Degree in Clinical Physiology, or equivalent or STP Graduate Eligible for Professional Registration within 6 months GCSE in Maths and English at C or equivalent

Desirable

BLS/ILS certificate ARTP Qualification

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