Trainee Echocardiographer

Job overview

Are you a registered Healthcare Scientist with the AHCS, or completing your undergraduate Healthcare Science degree this academic year and are looking to specialise in Echocardiography?

Here at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust we have an exciting opportunity for an 18 month fixed term full-time training post in Echocardiography. This is part of the Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP) developed by the National School of Healthcare Science and trains you to become highly skilled in performing and reporting cardiac ultrasound diagnostic procedures.

Applicants for this programme are required to have a 1st or 2:1 in either an undergraduate honours degree in Cardiac Physiology (PTP) or a relevant scientific subject such as Biology, Human Biology or Sports Science. Applicants who are completing their undergraduate Cardiac Physiology (PTP) programme this year are also encouraged to apply but must be registered with the AHCS by the time the programme starts.

The successful ETP trainee will be trained to BSE accreditation level 2 and be awarded a Post-graduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography. For more information please see the NSHCS website: https://nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/programmes/echocardiography-training-programme

Main duties of the job

The Trainee Echocardiographer will be employed for a fixed term of 18 months within the Cardio-Respiratory Department during which time they will work through a programme of learning.

In conjunction with and supported by the Designated Echocardiography Training Officer, the Trainee Echocardiographer will be responsible for their own progression through the training programme, completing a mixture of work based competence and experience within CHFT, completing the learning outcomes as outlined in the ETP curriculum, undertaking the complementary academic Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography and preparing for and completing the BSE Transthoracic Accreditation process.

At all times the Trainee Echocardiographer is expected to work within standard operating policies and procedures of the host department and NHS organisation and adhere to high standards of professionalism, health and safety, risk reduction, confidentiality, patient care and dignity, and respect for equality and diversity as set out in the NHS Constitution. The Trainee Echocardiographer will be employed by the host department for a fixed term of 18 months during which time they will work through a programme of learning. This will be combined with an academic programme at Post Graduate level delivered by the University of Newcastle over the first year of the programme and will attend two block weeks.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To act as a Trainee Echocardiographer performing cardiac echocardiography based diagnostic testing.
• To work towards becoming a BSE accredited Echocardiographer and complete a PGCert in Echocardiography.
• To work within existing local policies, procedures, and guidelines providing best practice.
• To undertake routine diagnostic cardiac investigations and interpret results to provide accurate clinical reports that can be clearly understood by a physician not experienced in that particular area and adheres to local and national guidelines.
• Carry out audit to continuously improve patient care and service needs.
• Participate in the training and development of both external university students and junior team members.
• Communicate and interact effectively with a multidisciplinary team to ensure a positive patient experience.
• Assist the Clinical Echocardiography Service Leads  and other senior members of the team in the day to day organisation and delivery of the Cardio-Respiratory diagnostic service.

For the full job description and job specification see the attached.