Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Respiratory Physiologist

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a trainee Respiratory Healthcare Scientist to join our friendly and enthusiastic team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals. This post is ideal for a recent graduate in Healthcare Science (Respiratory and Sleep Science) or the Graduate Diploma in Respiratory and Sleep Science, looking to enhance their knowledge in a forward-thinking department. Consideration will be given to candidates in their final year of the aforementioned training programmes as a Band 4 progressing to band 5 on completion of the programme.

The successful candidate will assist in the provision of high-quality lung function and sleep services, perform and analyse investigations independently and contribute towards the department training provision. Liaising with medical staff and senior colleagues on appropriate use of tests and investigations.

Our department is actively involved in delivering training and have an excellent record supporting the Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) and the Scientist Training Programme (STP).

The post holder will be based at Worcestershire Royal Hospital but will be required to work on other Trust sites. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust comprises of 3 hospitals: The Alexandra Hospital, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, and Kidderminster Treatment Centre. All sites have good road links to M42 and M5 motorways.

Main duties of the job

For candidates who have not completed their academic qualification, the main duty will be to complete their academic training outlined by the university. For candidates who have completed this, they will pursue the ARTP Practitioner qualification.

Upon qualification the candidate will be able to perform a full range of routine testing procedures without supervision including obtaining measurements on a variety of patients of all ages and conditions.

The range of tests can include:

Spirometry and related tests, Flow Volume Loops, response to bronchodilators etc.

Lung function, including: lung volumes via body plethysmography or, N2 washout and gas transfer via the single breath method.

6-minute walk tests, skin prick testing, ear-lobe capillary blood gases, muscle function assessments and issuing sleep studies.

CPAP titration and monitoring.

Identify patients requiring support from our MDT CPAP and NIV service, which includes assessment, titration and monitoring of therapy.

To provide technical interpretation and clinical analysis to all investigations by self and junior members of staff, in accordance with the current standards, guidelines and departmental protocols and policies.

Acting appropriately in the event of significant adverse findings, alerting physicians or senior staff when immediate medical attention is required.

To work in partnership with other care providers to maintain high quality care throughout.

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

Best services for local people
Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
Best use of resources
Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Date posted

28 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£29,970 to £36,483 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-24-1331

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Kidderminster General Hospital

Bewdley Road

Kidderminster

Worcestershire

DY11 6RJ

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Title: Respiratory Physiologist

Pay Band: 5

Hours: Full Time 37.5 Hours Per Week Flexible working can be agreed subject to service needs

Location / Department: Worcestershire Royal Hospital / Cardiopulmonary

Accountable to: Countywide Cardiopulmonary Service Manager

Reports to: Countywide Respiratory Physiology Lead

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: All categories of patients within the trust. All levels of Medical, Nursing, Clerical, Ancillary and Engineering personnel. External: All categories of patients and relatives, general public, General Practitioners and staff, Paramedics, Company representatives and technical training advisors.

Job Purpose:

The post holder will support the physiology service in the provision of respiratory and sleep diagnostics and sleep therapies to the Worcestershire population.

The post holder will provide leadership and support to all junior clinical and administrative staff, escalate any concerns to the sleep service lead or the lung function lead

The post holder will support the training provision of the Level 2 and level 4 sleep disorder assistant Apprenticeships, the PTP, the (Respiratory Physiology) graduate diploma and the sleep medicine post graduate certificate.

The post holder will support the service managers and area leads monitoring waiting lists and ensuring targets are being met.

The post-holder will be expected to function independently as a physiologist (Healthcare scientist). You will be working with a group of clinical scientists and clinical physiologists and consultants/nurses who are committed to providing the highest standards of patient care.

The post holder will be expected to work autonomously in a range of simple and complex tests in respiratory and sleep, providing leadership and training to junior members of staff.

The post-holder will work closely with the staff within the wider Cardiopulmonary department and will be expected to travel to each of the 3 sites to offer support when required.

Assisting in maintaining the quality of the clinical investigation service provision, including audit, research and development, procurement and quality assurance of all equipment.

Providing support in the provision and maintenance of IT systems supporting the department, ensuring system resilience and compliance, working with trust IT department and outside suppliers.

Translate complex technical information through patient care to patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals.

Key Duties:

Professional/Clinical Leadership

Provide clinical leadership which inspires and motivates others, enabling them to empower the team to contribute ideas, support continuous improvement and to resolve clinical issues.

Consistently provide high quality leadership in a visible and highly professional manner, acting as a positive role model.

Demonstrate continuous professional development, maintaining a high level of clinical competence.

Ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of the care and environmental standards they are expected to maintain.

Act as a clinical role model, assessing and delivering care needs as a significant part of their role. They will also ensure high standards of clinical care are consistently achieved and monitored.

Role model the trusts values and expected behaviours.

Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive, inclusive and timely manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.

Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.

Ensure that waiting times are monitored and reported on a weekly basis and that any potential problems are escalated appropriately.

Clinical and professional responsibilities

The post requires specialist knowledge in the field of Respiratory Physiology and Sleep Medicine.

Follow-up with patients on CPAP therapy interpreting device therapy and compliance data alongside results of overnight oximetry and assessment of patient symptoms.

Issuing sleep diagnostic equipment including overnight oximetry and multi-channel sleep studies.

Undertake and interpret measurements of blood gases by either capillary and/or arterial sampling.

Undertake routine lung function measurements and provide training in these areas

Be accountable for own professional actions and maintain professional registration.

Identify limitations in own clinical knowledge, skill or interventional capability and escalate to senior clinicians accordingly.

Independently acquire and report results for a range of procedures and forwarding results to the appropriate referring practitioner when required and also highlighting any urgencies or concern

Analyse and interpret clinical investigations and report urgent outcomes to the appropriate medical teams or clinicians.

To attend training courses to update ones own technical, physiological and pathological knowledge of specialist procedures and to update ones knowledge, in respect of specialised clinical use of equipment.

To deliver services ensuring they are delivered in line with Health & Safety and other Trust guidelines

Clinical governance and quality

To contribute to the maintenance of all trust policies and procedures within the departments.

Support systematic clinical audit and monitor improvements.

Ensure that physiological tests and interventions are delivered in line with best practice at all sites.

Help ensure a safe, secure environment for patients, visitors and staff.

Ensure that confidentiality of patient records is strictly maintained and comply with the Data Protection Act.

Ensure the update and smooth running of departmental databases and archive systems.

support and monitor the safety of equipment, ensure service / maintenance is carried out to a high level, taking action when faulty equipment is detected.

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post-holder.

The post holder will be required to work across the Trust at any time throughout the duration of their contract, which may entail travel and working at different hospital sites.