Respiratory Physiologist/Healthcare Science Practitioner(Respiratory)

Job description

Job responsibilities

To participate in the following activities

Clinical

Clinical Responsibility

1. To plan, undertake and perform simple and some specialist diagnostic assessments in accordance with ARTP guidelines. Such investigations could include:
   1. spirometry, peak flow rates, flow/volume loops
   2. gas transfer
   3. static lung volumes
   4. reversibility of airways obstruction with bronchodilators
   5. field exercise tests
   6. overnight oximetry
   7. Capillary blood gas performance and analysis
   8. exhaled and nasal nitric oxide
   9. exhaled carbon monoxide
   10. bronchial provocation tests with Mannitol
   11. respiratory muscle strength assessment
   12. forced oscillation/IOS
2. To assist with specialist and complex diagnostic assessments in accordance with ARTP guidelines. Such investigations could include:
   1. Skin allergy tests
   2. Exercise challenge tests
   3. Hypoxic challenges testing
   4. Bronchial Provocation tests with Methacholine
3. Production of basic reports
4. Communicate interpretation to referring medical team and other healthcare professionals where appropriate.
5. As a minimum be trained in Basic Life Support

Service Development & Improvement

1. Ensure continual service development and improvement:

a. through maintaining up to date knowledge of specialist area.

b. obtaining membership and securing roles within the national professional body and/or international societies.

c. be regulated via a voluntary/mandatory register of practitioners, e.g. RCCP, AHCS.

2. Ensure equipment used in lung function assessments is functioning correctly by performing several calibration and validation techniques including mechanical verification and biological control procedures for quality assurance and quality control.

3. Ensure any faulty equipment is reported to senior colleagues and corrective maintenance is undertaken.

4. Ensure that all consumable items required to maintain an efficiently running service are kept stocked and communicate to senior colleagues when ordering of such items are required.

5. Maintenance of Continual Professional Development.

Communication

Communication & Relationships

1. Obtain brief patient medical history prior to testing to ensure safe practice.

2. Communicate requirements for accurate performance of appropriate investigations to patients/participants/subjects/service users through building and maintaining a good rapport.

3. Communicate basic interpretation of results to appropriate senior healthcare professionals, e.g. senior physiologists, consultants, nurses.

4. Liaise with appropriate healthcare staff to ensure excellent patient care is achieved.

Research & Development

1. Contributes to departmental research where appropriate, examples include:

a. Performing investigations for commercial research.

b. Undertaking in-house audit.

c. Presentation of outcomes of audit/non-commercial/academic research at national and/or international meetings as appropriate

Policy

Ensure compliance with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures.

Professional

Complete mandatory training at the frequency outlined by the Trust

Complete all necessary professional training to ensure clinical practice is up to date

Working Conditions / Effort

Physical Effort

- Frequent requirement to assist patient movement according to manual handling training/updates.

- Frequent requirement to move or carry equipment to patient bedside to perform inpatient investigations.

- Very occasional sudden effort required to react to medical emergency within the working environment.

Mental Effort

- Ability to frequently maintain prolonged concentration during investigations or academic writing.

Emotional Effort

- Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances for example when dealing with patients who have been diagnosed with a life limiting condition or discussing outcomes of competency assessments with students/trainees.

Working Conditions

- Frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, including exposure to body odours, varying temperatures and body fluids, throughout the working day.

- Frequent/continuous use of Visual Display Unit equipment for varying time periods.

- Occasional exposure to verbal and/or physical aggression by patients, relatives and staff.

Person Specification

Role dependent

Essential

• BSc Healthcare Science (Respiratory & Sleep)
• Evidence of CPD
• Experience of working in a respiratory physiology department
• Good computer literacy
• Basic report writing skills
• Good communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Able to perform lung function tests without supervision

Desirable

• ARTP Practitioner Qualification
• Registration with the AHCS
• Experience of providing mentorship or support to trainees/junior colleagues
• Experience of other respiratory physiology investigations

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

North Bristol NHS Trust

Address

Southmead Hospital

Bristol

Bristol

BS105NB

Employer's website

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