Job responsibilities
JOB
DETAILS
Job Title: Specialist Physiologist
Reports to: Healthcare Science Service manager
Accountable to: Healthcare Science Service manager
Band: 6
Unit/Department: Clinical
Neurophysiology
CSU Directorate: Centre for Neurosciences
Location Leeds General Infirmary/St Jamess Hospital
AfC Job No: 1195d
2. JOB PURPOSE
The
department of clinical neurophysiology is based on two sites, LGI and St
Jamess and provides an extensive range of highly specialised neurophysiology
diagnostic procedures for patients of all ages from a range of specialties.
The
Specialist Physiologist undertakes clinical neurophysiological investigations
on patients to inform clinical diagnosis, interprets results and provides
factual reports. The Specialist Physiologist also undertakes specialist
investigations and procedures.
The
Specialist Physiologist is responsible for a specialist area of clinical
neurophysiology.
The
Specialist Physiologist is expected to work closely and effectively with
other medical technical, clinical and clerical staff within the department to
ensure the delivery of a high quality service.
The
Specialist Physiologist deputises for the clinical services manager in the
absence of the advanced specialist physiologist.
The
Specialist Physiologist undertakes clinical supervision for physiologists and
trainees and also participates in teaching and training for trainees and
other professionals.
The
Specialist Physiologist provides training for clinical staff.
The
Specialist Physiologist participates in audit, research and development.
3. JOB DIMENSIONS
The
Specialist Physiologist 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.
The
Specialist Physiologist has some management responsibilities and works
closely with the clinical services manager to contribute to the smooth and
efficient running of the department.
The majority of the time is spent carrying out clinical work.
The
Specialist Physiologist deputises for the clinical services manager in the
absence of the advanced specialist physiologist and, therefore, has
responsibilities for organising workloads and the day-to-day running of the
department.
The
Specialist Physiologist is responsible for stock control and supervises
pharmacy stock control.
Responsible
for COSHH control and aspects of health and safety
Qualifications
Essential
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Clinical Physiology
(Neurophysiology) along with evidence of acquisition of post graduate level
clinical competencies (e.g. Ambulatory EEG/Video telemetry/technician led
nerve conduction study clinics/Introperative monitoring/Electroretinography).
Or
Degree equivalent qualification e.g BTEC ONC/HNC in MPPM/ECNE Part 1 along
with evidence of acquisition of post graduate level clinical competencies
(e.g. Ambulatory EEG/Video telemetry/technician led nerve conduction study
clinics/Intraoperative monitoring/Electroretinography).
Or RCCP registration
Desirable Qualifications
ECNE Part 2
Training and Assessing Qualification
Specialist scientific knowledge
acquired through formal training to clinical physiology degree or equivalent
level.
Experience and knowledge to perform
specialist clinical neurophysiological investigations without supervision.
Knowledge and experience to handle
investigation requests and determine priority.
Knowledge and ability to interpret
specialist neurophysiological investigation results.
Undertakes clinical supervision and
some training for junior 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 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.
Skilled to plan and prioritise own
duties including training activities and organises a specialist area of
clinical neurophysiology.
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.
7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
Work within agreed Trust policies
and protocols.
Works within established
departmental policies.
Work on own initiative and
unsupervised.
The Specialist Physiologist
deputises for the clinical services
manager in the absence of the advanced specialist physiologist and has the responsibility for the
day-today management of the department.
Skills to perform a wide range of
basic and specialist Neurophysiological investigations.
Skills to interpret specialist
Neurophysiological investigation results.
Ability to multi-task and adapt to
new techniques and technologies.
Supervision of junior and trainee
staff and on a day-to-day basis allocates work.
Participates in training for junior
and trainee staff as well as other professionals.
Ensures personal compliance with
regards to mandatory, professional and personal development.
Ensures personal compliance with
CPD guidelines.
Skilled in handling investigation
requests and determining priority, often with unpredictable workloads. Need
the ability to work flexibly, responding to changing requirements.
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 for
extended periods of time for prolonged investigations.
Professional
Knowledge
A
key area of the post is to perform, interpret and provide factual reports on
routine and specialist neurophysiological diagnostic procedures on patients
of all ages from a wide range of specialties.
Specialist
expertise is required to carry this out which is underpinned by theory and
experience.
Scientific
knowledge and experience are acquired through formal training to clinical
physiology degree or equivalent level (e.g. 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
specialist training courses and through continuous professional development.
The
above scientific knowledge and experience are required to enable the
Specialist Physiologist to supervise junior and 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 is required to
ensure the Specialist Physiologist can deputise for the clinical service
manager in the absence of the advanced specialist physiologist and manage the
department on a day-to-day basis. This knowledge and skill is acquired
through post qualification experience.
An
understanding of the organisation is required including management structure
and departmental structure. This knowledge and understanding can be gained
through cascaded information from the clinical service manager and senior
managers.
Aware
of and works within current professional and trust policies and procedures
with regards to delivering the Neurophysiology service.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Main
Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
Plan, perform and interpret a range
of Neurophysiological investigations without supervision to a high level of
competence. These are performed. On patients of all ages within the
Neurophysiology Department, in all ward areas, including intensive care units,
neonatal units, high dependency units and in theatre settings.
Investigations can be carried out
at any other hospital site within the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.
Performs EEG investigations, using
special techniques.
These
include:
Sleep deprived recordings
Sleep induced recordings
Sleep recordings
Multiple sleep latency recordings
Recordings during administration of
medication or anaesthsia (e.g. diazepam)
Wada recordings
Ambulatory recordings
Long-term video telemetry recording
Performs nerve conduction studies on
legs and arms
Assists with EMG
(electromyographic) examinations, NCS (nerve conduction studies)
Assists with magnetic stimulation
studies
Assists with Intraoperative EMG and
cortical stimulation studies
Performs multi-modality evoked
potentials including:
VERs (visual evoked responses,
flash and pattern)
AERs (auditory evoked responses)
SSEPs (somatosensory evoked
potentials)
Intraoperative spinal monitoring
EoG (electrooculography)
ERGs (electroretinography)
