Apprentice Healthcare Science Practitioner (Cardiac Physiology)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Perform diagnostic quality 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) and Ambulatory ECGs in wards/departments throughout the organisation to obtain physiological data from patients (adults, children and neonates)

Without supervision set up, apply and instruct in the use of Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and longer term patient activated monitors on inpatients and outpatients

Assist Cardiac Physiologists during procedures with high risk of patient adverse events e.g. Exercise Tolerance Tests, Tilt Table Tests and Autonomic Function Tests.

Recognise signs and symptoms of life-threatening and urgent cardiac +/-respiratory abnormalities and take steps to support patients as necessary.

To undertake ECG interpretation after sufficient training.

To undertake Ambulatory ECG analysis with supervision after sufficient training.

To assist the Cardiac Physiologists in Implantable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) implants in the Cardiac Catheter Lab.

To study towards gaining the Diploma in ECG.

Maintain and update as appropriate, knowledge and skills required to record and provide first-line analysis/interpretation of results from a broad range of physiological procedures.

Recognise equipment faults and errors, take first-line action to correct them and report to senior staff as necessary

Contribute to the hygiene and cleanliness of equipment and work area.

Assist in activity audit and clinical data collection through maintenance of database entry and filing systems.

Assist in the stock maintenance of consumable items.

Answer enquiries from hospital staff, patients, carers, general practice and the public or direct such enquiries to more senior staff or other staff groups.

Assist in the training/mentoring of other staff individuals.

Ability to plan and prioritise patients to ensure a clinic list runs smoothly. For example accommodating in-patients into a busy outpatient clinic list.

Assist in the administration of the department e.g. prioritising requests, managing appointments

Undertake other reasonable duties at the request of senior staff

Communicate accurate procedure results to appropriate clinical staff.

Communicate complex information, e.g. test procedure, to the elderly, children and those with learning or physical disabilities.

Communicate complex information to those patients who do not understand English fully.

Provide sensitive information to the patient and or carer.

Advise and reassure patients and or carers before and during investigation.

Attend mandatory training updates as required.

Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.

Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.

Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager

Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.

Person Specification

Experience/Qualifications

Essential

• All apprentices must have English and Mathematics qualifications equivalent to GCSE Grade C/4 or above.
• Minimum of a level 3 qualification - A levels (a minimum of 96 points (CCC) or T level or in either Healthcare Science or Science) or BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science, or BTEC National Extended Diploma - grade MMM. or Access to Higher Education (60-credit), or Diploma (15 credits)
• Meets University course requirements as detailed in the Person Specification
• Has the ability to undertake a clinical programme at University

Desirable

• Awareness of the role of Cardiac Physiology
• Basic Life Support certified

Skills

Essential

• Ability to maintain concentration and accuracy for periods of time when performing routine tasks
• Ability to judge individual patient needs relating to investigations and act accordingly
• Work to a high level of accuracy
• Team worker

Desirable

• Experience of working in the NHS or experience of working in a care setting.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)