Apprentice Healthcare Science Practitioner

Job overview

We are excited to recruit to this development opportunity within UHSussex. We are looking to employ candidates who meet the educational requirements to work within our cardiac investigation teams within UHSussex.

The post is a permanent training contract. Your time will be split between the University of West of England, and working alongside our cardiac investigation  team at Royal Sussex County Hospital.

You must meet the qualification requirements to be eligible to apply for this post. Please read the person specification.

The trainee/apprentice will work towards becoming a competent Cardiac Physiologist/Healthcare Science Practitioner by successfully completing the Healthcare Science Practitioner (Physiological Sciences) BSc (Hons) over the course of 3 years, whilst simultaneously gaining practical work experience within the department.

The Healthcare Science Practitioner (Physiological Sciences) BSc (Hons) combines both academic and work-based learning through close collaboration of the employer and education provider.

At the end of the programme, the Health Care Science will become a Healthcare Science Practitioner accountable to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They will be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes and behaviours relevant to employment as a Registered Healthcare Science Practitioner.

There is no relocation package available for this post.

Main duties of the job

This role is a developmental role. The trainee/apprentice will work towards becoming a competent Cardiac Physiologist/Healthcare Science Practitioner by successfully completing the Healthcare Science Practitioner (Physiological Sciences) BSc (Hons) over the course of 3 years, whilst simultaneously gaining practical work experience within the department.

Healthcare science practitioner (integrated degree) / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

The apprentice will be required to undertake assessment, implementation and evaluation of patient care needs and deliver care with supervision of a registered professional. They will be required to work as part of a team committed to delivering and improving a high standard of care within University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. The Apprentice Healthcare Science Practitioner will undergo a validated programme of study and exit University with a Healthcare Science Practitioner (Physiological Sciences) BSc (Hons) which will provide the trainee with the knowledge and skills to deliver delegated care interventions with competence, within agreed protocols and with clearly defined lines of accountability.

Detailed job description and main 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 Trust’s 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.