Job responsibilities
2. JOB PURPOSE
The
department of clinical neurophysiology is based on two sites, LGI and St
Jamess and provides an extensive range of routine and highly specialised
neurophysiology diagnostic procedures for patients of all ages from a range
of specialities.
The
post holder performs all routine investigations on patients carried out by
the department. The post-holder also carries out some investigations of a
more advanced non-routine nature and assists more senior physiologists with
specialist investigations.
The post holder is expected to work closely
and effectively with other physiologists, clinical staff and clerical staff
within the department to ensure the delivery of a high-quality service.
The
post holder interprets results and provides factual reports on investigations
carried out.
The
post holder participates in CPD and works toward developing more specialist
neurophysiological competencies
The
post holder undertakes clinical supervision for trainees.
The
post holder participates in the training of trainees and other professionals.
The
post-holder participates in audit, research and development
3. JOB DIMENSIONS
The
post holder works as part of a team, of typically 7 physiologists. The
department is responsible for providing a comprehensive clinical
neurophysiology diagnostic service to patients of all ages from a wide range
of specialties suffering from a wide variety of medical disorders. The
service is provided across the trust, to GPs and other regional hospitals.
As
part of this team the post-holder is responsible for performing a range of
investigations.
The majority of the post holders time is
spent carrying out clinical work. The remaining time is spent carrying out a
variety of other duties, such as ordering of stock consumables.
The
post-holder participates in the supervision and training of trainees and
teaching of other professionals.
5. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED
Essential
Qualifications:
BSc
(Hons) Clinical Physiology (Neurophysiology) degree
OR
Equivalent
qualification e.g., BTEC ONC/HNC in MPPM/ECNE Part 1
OR
RCCP
registered (Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists)
Desirable
Qualifications
ECNE Part 2
Training
and Assessing Qualification
Specialist
scientific knowledge acquired through formal training to clinical physiology
degree or equivalent level.
Knowledge,
skills and experience to perform routine neurophysiological investigations
without supervision working within established departmental policies.
Knowledge
and ability to interpret routine neurophysiological investigation results.
Knowledge
and ability to produce factual reports on investigations carried out.
Knowledge
and ability to perform some more advanced non-routine investigations.
Undertakes
clinical supervision and some training for trainee staff and other
professionals.
Ability
to assess and adapt to new techniques and technologies.
Good
computing skills.
Ability
to compare, interpret and analyse complex facts and results.
Ability
to assess a patients condition during investigations.
Ability
to work alone and work as part of a team.
Physically
fit. (Able to walk long distances, move patients and move diagnostic
equipment)
Excellent
communication skills.
Ability
to communicate complex information in a variety of forms to patients,
relatives and carers including patients with learning difficulties.
Ability
to plan own duties and training sessions.
Require
manual dexterity, co-ordination, and sensory skills for the use of diagnostic
equipment and placement of numerous electrodes.
Need
to have a sensitive understanding of patients (adults and children) using
persuasion and reassurance where necessary.
Ability
to cope and deal with occasional distressing conditions and situations.
Need
to be motivated and enthusiastic.
6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centered
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values
Additionally,
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
To
ensure a high standard and high quality of work. To achieve this the role
requires effective teamwork, motivation, integrity, and honesty.
7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
Work
within agreed Trust policies and protocols.
Work
within established departmental policies.
Work
on own initiative.
Skills
to perform a range of routine and some advanced Neurophysiological
investigations and assist with specialist investigations.
Skills
to interpret Neurophysiological investigation results.
Ability
to adapt to new techniques and technologies.
Supervision
of trainee staff.
Participate
in training for trainee staff as well as other professionals.
Ensure
personal compliance with regards to mandatory, professional and personal
development.
Ensure
personal compliance with CPD guidelines.
Willing
to undertake further training in more advanced techniques.
Need
to have a sensitive understanding of children and adults who may be suffering
from a wide range of medical conditions.
Need
to have the skills to communicate information effectively to patients,
relatives and carers.
Need
the ability to concentrate on investigations carried out daily and occasionally
required to concentrate for prolonged periods for monitoring patients where
the investigations are of a prolonged nature.
8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
A
key area of the post is to perform, interpret and provide factual reports on
routine and some more advanced non-routine neurophysiological diagnostic
procedures on patients of all ages from a wide range of specialties.
Expertise
is required to carry this out which is underpinned by theory and experience.
Scientific
knowledge is acquired through formal training to clinical physiology degree
or equivalent level (e.g.,ONC/HNC MPPM) and through in-service training
provided to acquire the ECNE part 1 examination. Scientific knowledge is also
acquired by attending scientific meetings, through training courses and
through continuous professional development.
The
above scientific knowledge and experience are required to enable the post
holder to supervise trainee staff on a day-to-day basis and to participate in
training.
Awareness
of the trusts policies and protocols relating to mandatory training and
personal development is required to ensure personal compliance.
Some
knowledge and understanding of how the department is managed, the management
structure and understanding of the organisation is required to enable the
post holder to work as part of a team to ensure the delivery of a high
standard of work.
This
knowledge and understanding can be gained through cascaded information from
the lead/specialist physiologists and senior managers.
Aware
of and works within current professional, trust policies and procedures with
regards to delivering the Neurophysiology service.
9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
Main
Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
Performs
and interprets a range of neurophysiological investigations. These are
performed on patients of all ages within the neurophysiology department, and
in all ward areas, including intensive care units and neonatal units and high
dependency units.
Investigations
may be carried out at any other hospital sites within the Leeds Teaching
Hospitals Trust.
The
physiologist should be able to perform:
Routine
investigations without supervision:
EEG
routine
EEG
portable
EEG
with sleep deprivation+/- sleep
EEG
during the administration of drugs/alternative activation procedures
Basic
NCS (ie/ CTS/ULN)
Basic
VER
Assist
with EMG
Assist
with Magnetic stimulation, cortical stimulation and intraoperative EMG
Assist
with/Perform specialised Investigations with supervision
Ambulatory
EEG
Long
term Video Telemetry
WADA
MSLT
Extensive
NCS
Perform
ERG, SSEP and intraoperative SSEP
Record
test results and inputs these results into computerised system for the
majority of investigations and records observations of the patients clinical
state.
Provide
factual reports on basic neurophysiological investigations.
Participate
with research and development programmes.
Participate in the emergency on
call neurophysiology service.
Ensure careful and safe use of
expensive complex equipment.
Responsible
for reporting equipment faults and taking appropriate action.
Participate
in audit.
Work
within established policies and protocols.
Work
within the trusts policies and protocols.
Work
with the physiologists within the department to facilitate investigation of
any complaint regarding the service.
Comment
on proposed changes to procedures.
Undertake
some administrative duties. These include booking patient appointment,
reception duties, organising transport for patients and the ability to manage
the departmental filing system (paper and computerised)
Involved
with the archiving of patient records (paper and computerised)
Responsible
for stock control including ordering of stock.
Education,
Training and Development.
Supervise
trainee staff.
Participate
in the teaching and training of trainees and other professionals.
It
is anticipated that the post holder agrees, shortly after appointment, a career
progression pathway to develop more advanced neurophysiology competencies to
enhance professional development and to ensure progression in terms of
employment
