Specialist Cardiac Physiologist

Job responsibilities

Expertise & Excellence in Clinical Practice

Undertakes competently, completely and timely a range of specialised cardiac physiology investigations. Participates independently in highly specialised procedures. For example 24 hour tape analysis, interpretation of exercise tolerance tests, pacemaker analysis.

Contribute to the delivery of evidence-based personalised and compassionate care which places quality at the heart of practice. Care will be responsive to individual needs and reflect current local protocols and national guidelines.

Undertakes direct patient contact for cardiac physiology procedures within departmental and national guidelines.

Works competently and independently to analyse, interpret and report complex clinical data e.g. Cardiac catheterisation, including obtaining patient consent and any drug administration as necessary.

To communicate with Medical and nursing staff unsuspected results that leads to patient diagnosis and treatment.

Competent in obtaining consent prior to ETT (Exercise Tolerance Tests) explaining risks and dealing with patients anxieties, where there may be barriers to understanding.

To assess patients mental and physical state prior to procedures to ensure optimum diagnostic results.

Trains Physiologist staff and Junior Doctors in ETT and pacemakers. Provides advice to junior medical staff re ETT.

ILS (Immediate Life Support) trained. Using skills in event of cardiac arrest during exercise, catheters or as required.

Liaise with Lead Clinical Physiologist to maintain appropriate level of resources.

Responsible for the safe use of all the equipment within the department and specific areas.

Recognise equipment faults and ensure details are documented and appropriate steps taken for their correction.

Management & Leadership

Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of holistic care and provide clinical leadership to others across the organisation.

Provide support to ensure public and patient involvement is embedded within the sphere of practice.

Assist in setting measurable outcomes for the service and continuous evaluation of practice supporting changes where necessary.

Participate in operational and strategic planning for the development and delivery of the service. Support service improvement activities.

Represent the Trust by contributing to and participating in meetings locally, regional and nationally relating to the speciality.

Contribute to an annual service review, gathering information to support the annual report.

Communication

Take personal responsibility for ensuring effective communication between all service providers.

Act as a role model for excellent communication skills.

Work in partnership with patients, relatives and carers to obtain complex information.

Create a climate in which patients are empowered to make informed choices.

Ensure all clinical practice is documented appropriately in patient records ensuring that the Trust guidelines for documentation are adhered to.

Informally manage complaints with the aim of a satisfactory resolution. Ensure appropriate escalation when this is not achieved.

Demonstrate empathetic interpersonal and communication skills in supporting, informing and advising patients where applicable. This will involve occasionally imparting significant news or supporting patients and carers during and following such consultations.

Effectively and sensitively communicate complex and sensitive information to emotionally distressed patients and family/carers at key points along the care pathway on a frequent basis.

Education

Identify and use educational strategies to deliver information to patients and carers.

Assist in the development of other professionals by contributing to Trust wide specialist education and training.

Support the delivery of formal and informal teaching initiatives as part of the Trusts education strategy as agreed with the appropriate senior to ensure practice development, staff empowerment and improved care for patients.

Take personal responsibility for life-long learning and personal development through clinical supervision and appraisal. Actively engages with learning and development opportunities needed to work as an advancing practitioner and take appropriate action to ensure these needs are met.

Contribute to promoting educational links with local providers of higher education and deliver lectures on a range of courses.

Act as a mentor/clinical supervisor as appropriate.

Quality, Audit, Innovation and Research

Assist in the development of written patient information and use existing appropriate resources to inform users, according to individually assessed need.

Contribute to the development of policies and clinical guidelines to support the service.

Collaborate with other MDT (Multidisciplinary team) members to develop and update multi-professional Trust operational policies and guidelines.

Maintain patient records and ensure an effective documentation system to reflect the activity and delivery of cardiac diagnostic testing.

Use creative reasoning, experience and vision to support advancement of care.

Support and deliver local and national audits relevant to the speciality.

Develop new skills in response to emerging knowledge and techniques.

Supports management of change as required.

Maintain membership and attendance at national and local forums to network and debate issues to inform the Cardiac Physiologist role and service delivery where applicable.

Assist with the collation of data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality through audit and research.

Assist in the development of links and system to seek the views of patient and carers to ensure service development is in line with user need.

Strategic and Service Responsibilities

In all aspects of work demonstrate an ability to work across organisational and professional boundaries, ensuring the delivery of high quality care.

Promote collaborative working relationships and effective communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team.

Governance

To assist in the development of relevant standards, protocols and procedures in conjunction with the multi-professional team in relation to cardiac rehabilitation service, ensuring that clinical practices are evidence based and benchmarked against best practice.

To achieve competency in core skills for the role and to continue to explore new ways in which clinical practice can be further developed.

To ensure compliance with all Trust policies and procedures at all times.

Contribute to the clinical governance agenda.

Statutory Requirements

All staff are subject to the Trusts policies, procedures and conditions of service, with reference to the Health and Safety at work act.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Clinical Physiology or equivalent
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• Registration with RCCP (Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists)
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• ASCST (Associate of The society for Cardiological Science and Technology) and or MSCST (Member of The Society for Cardiological Science and Technology)
• Intermediate Life Support

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in cardiology with evidence of continued professional development in this area
• Understanding, knowledge and experience with invasive and non-invasive cardiology procedures
• Experience in teaching

Skills

Essential

• Post graduate experience within Cardiology, undertaking a range of invasive and non-invasive procedures
• Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
• Proven listening skills
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Evidence of negotiation skills, informing, enquiring, persuading and directing as appropriate
• Preparing complex reports of various investigations / Excellent organisational skills
• Knowledge of quality standards and relevant national and local guidance e.g. NICE
• Demonstrates commitment and ability to teach others
• Initiates change
• Able to achieve personal objectives
• Diagnosing & reporting life threatening conditions
• Practical knowledge of Microsoft word, excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Recognition of own development requirements
• Team player
• Creative thinker
• Diplomatic
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time
• Able to deal with frequent interruptions/unpredictable workload

Other

Essential

• Car Driver
• Undertake training in specific specialities leading to BSE (British Society of Echocardiography), IBHRE (International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners), BHRS (British Heart Rhythm Society)
• Flexible and positive approach to work, ability to work at various hospital and service delivery locations
• Physical effort eg - Manual handling with equipment, manoeuvring trolleys, echo machines, restricted body positions whilst performing echocardiograms
• Deal with exposure to unpleasant conditions e.g., body fluids
• Dexterity & Ability to manipulate e.g., Hand dexterity and manipulation of echo probe
• Deal with exposure to distressing circumstances such as death

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).