B7 Respiratory and Sleep Healthcare Scientist/Physiologist

Job overview

Undertakes, and analyses a range of specialist diagnostic investigations for the assessment of sleep breathing/non-sleep breathing disorders in adults, including pulse oximetry, PAT, capillary and transcutaneous blood gas monitoring. Tests to be undertaken according to current AASM standards or variations within the policies/protocols of the department.

Supports multidisciplinary staff on the use and type of CPAP equipment for acute and elective admissions, and initiating, assessing, and evaluating this therapy as required.

Assess training and instruct junior staff in the techniques used within the department.

To perform studies and measurements and give technical advice and support on research projects carried out within the department or in collaboration with other departments/companies/hospitals.

Main duties of the job

Undertakes a wide range of both simple and highly complex procedures in Sleep and lung function testing

Reporting from simple to complex assessments in Sleep and lung function testing

Teaching of sleep and lung function to students, nurses, and members of the lay public

Scientific research in to sleep and lung function testing

To work and provide supervision in the adult services for lung function and sleep investigations and treatment.

To have a flexible approach to working that matches the clinical needs of the service that will involve shiftwork and working cross-site.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties/Key Results Areas:

• Clinical Responsibilities:

Undertakes, analyses and reports on a range of simple through to complex assessments of lung function in patients with a wide range of disorders. Assessments to be undertaken according to current international ERS/ATS standards or variations within the policies/protocols of the department.

Provision of clinical and scientific advice to service users - patients, carers, healthcare practitioners etc, on the range of investigations and treatment and their appropriateness to answer specific clinical problems in sleep, non-invasive ventilation, and lung function testing.

Communicates complex information, which may be sensitive and/or contentious, to patients and their carers regarding the outcomes of a range of test results within sleep and pulmonary function testing.

• Managerial Responsibilities:

With the Healthcare Professional Manager and Consultant Clinical Scientist review existing processes and review protocols.

Supervise and train junior staff.

Act as local work-based assessor within sleep and lung function for trainee Healthcare Scientists and Clinical Physiologists through the SHA training schemes, MSC training schemes etc, ensuring that core training is provided to these staffs either directly by the post-holder or by other staffs within the service.

Perform HR procedures in the department in accordance with the trust policy including performance review of junior staff members, absence, and recruitment procedures.

Be responsible for stock control and ordering.

Ensure the calibration, maintenance, minor trouble shooting, quality assurance and infection control of lung function and sleep equipment is maintained. Immediately inform the Healthcare Professional Manager of any faulty equipment and withdraw it from patient/clinical use until repair or replacement.

To show initiative in overcoming daily challenges and to be pro-active in improving and developing the department.

Regularly uses complex software in the acquisition, analysis and reporting of simple through to complex sleep studies, with the creation of reports as required.

Regularly uses complex data analysis software for the monitoring, interpretation, reporting and management of patients using CPAP and undergoing lung function testing.

Regularly uses a broad range of computer software including iClip, Powerpoint, and Word, as well as specialist packages for data analysis to create reports, documents and presentations.

Day-to-day management of data systems and their back-up for sleep diagnostics and treatment and lung function testing within the Information Governance Framework

• Organisational Responsibilities:

Implements local and national policies, codes of practice and guidelines in clinical areas for best practice of measurement, assessment and application of therapeutic regimens, and where appropriate, new developments within the field of Sleep Diagnostics as directed by the Healthcare Scientist Professional Manager and Consultant Clinical Scientist.

Develops and implements, in conjunction with the Healthcare Scientist Professional Manager and Consultant Clinical Scientist, new and innovative ways of working to improve efficiency and productivity of the services

Proposes changes of new policies and procedures within the respiratory physiology service, which may impact across the Trust.

Plans day-to-day activities for staff and service provision within the respiratory physiology service.

Liaise with reception staff to ensure smooth running of the respiratory physiology clinics.

Ensure correct and up to date information is entered onto Trust and departmental databases for the purposes of audit and research.

Take part in research and audit studies within the department as requested by the Healthcare Scientist Professional Manager and Consultant Clinical Scientist.

Ensure the timely rotation of CPAP equipment through Medical Physics to maintain a minimum level of stock within the department.

• Environmental Responsibilities:

Ensure provision of a calm safe and conductive atmosphere in which patients feel relaxed and confident to take part in the monitoring and testing of lung function and sleep studies.

Immediately report any incidents or potential hazards.

Be professional, polite, courteous, and helpful to patients, staff, and visitors at all times.

Ensure policies relating to Health and Safety, fire, moving and handling and other procedures affecting the staff of the department and patient care are maintained at all times.

• Educational Responsibilities:

Undertake the Trust’s statutory training and education programs and update these as required.

Be responsible for personal career development in accordance with development objectives set in line with the knowledge and skills framework at regular performance appraisals with Healthcare Scientist Professional Manager.

Willing to undergo further training in line with professional development.

• General Responsibilities:

To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirement of the Health and Safety Regulations.

To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.

To work in accordance with the Trust’s Equality and Diversity policy to eliminate unlawful discrimination in relation to employment and service delivery.

To promote at all times equal opportunities for staff and patients in accordance with the Trust’s policies to ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of: age; disability; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race (ethnicity); religion or belief; sex (gender); gender reassignment or sexual orientation.

To ensure skills are up-to-date and relevant to the role, to follow relevant Trust policies and professional codes and to maintain registration where this is a requirement of the role.

To comply with the Trust’s No Smoking Policies.

To undertake such duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and the needs of the service.

This job description is not an exhaustive document but is a reflection of the current position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs after consultation with the postholder.

The Manager and Employee agree that this job description reflects the role and responsibilities of the current post

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.