Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Practice Educator (Echocardiography)

The closing date is 15 June 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit an experienced Cardiac Physiologist/ Healthcare Scientist to work in Echocardiography as part of our Diagnostic Cardiology team.

We have an ambitious plan and are looking for an aspirational, committed individual to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.This new role is to develop, deliver and monitor our comprehensive and expanding training program including Scientist Training Programme (STP), Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP) and Medical trainees.

We are looking for an individual who is enthusiastic, has a passion for teaching and will empower colleagues to achieve their learning goals. The post holder will work under the guidance of the Echo leads and have expertise and enthusiasm for education and training and provide senior leadership in the Echo department.

The post holder will also undertake routine and complex diagnostic transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac ultrasound investigations and interpret results to provide an accurate clinical report that can be clearly understood by a physician not experienced in echocardiography and adheres to local and national guidelines.

Main duties of the job

To provide leadership, training and education in the clinical areas, enabling staff to develop the clinical skills and competencies required delivering a high-quality diagnostic echo service.

To work alongside other senior members of the team to deliver a highly intensive in-house Echo training programme. In addition to this, there will also be the opportunity to support development of a regional Echo Training website.

To liaise effectively with the Lead Echocardiographer to ensure that departmental and BSE guidelines are maintained and up to date with current clinical and technical practice.

To undertake routine and complex diagnostic transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac ultrasound investigations and interpret results to provide an accurate clinical report that can be clearly understood by a physician not experienced in echocardiography and adheres to local and national guidelines.

Interested applicants should possess BSc in Clinical Physiology, MSc Clinical Science (Cardiac, Vascular, Respiratory and Sleep Sciences) or BTEC / HNC in Medical Physics and Physiological Measurements and holds RCCP / AHCS / HCPC registration. Post graduate qualification in education and / or current BSE assessor would be an advantage.

About us

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

As a tertiary centre, Sheffield Teaching Hospital delivers several regional services. Sheffield is one of Europe's largest Pulmonary Hypertension centres. Research and innovation are key to advances in medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospital is internationally recognised for several of its specialist services and research.

Details

Date posted

02 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year pa pro rata for part time staff

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

190-0402-DIR

Job locations

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

The Diagnostic Cardiology Unit provides an extensive range of non-invasive, invasive and specialist cardiac investigation to the South Yorkshire region. The investigation provided by the department include

12 Lead ECG

Ambulatory ECG Monitoring

Ambulatory Blood Pressure

Tilt Table Testing

Signal Average ECG

Exercise Tolerance Testing

Simplex and complex cardiac device follow up including CRT optimisation clinics

Physiologist led ILR implantation

Trans-thoracic Echocardiography including 3 Dimensional assessment, Valve assessment, Stress and Congenital heart disease.

Tran-oesophageal Echocardiography including 3 Dimensional assessment

Cardiac catheter Laboratory support for:-

o Left and Right Heart Catheterisation including PCI / PPCI, FFR, IVUS, PVR, IABP

o Simplex and Complex device implantation

o Cardiac Device Extraction

o Simple and Complex electrophysiology procedures including SVT, AT, VT, 3D Mapping

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

The Diagnostic Cardiology Unit provides an extensive range of non-invasive, invasive and specialist cardiac investigation to the South Yorkshire region. The investigation provided by the department include

12 Lead ECG

Ambulatory ECG Monitoring

Ambulatory Blood Pressure

Tilt Table Testing

Signal Average ECG

Exercise Tolerance Testing

Simplex and complex cardiac device follow up including CRT optimisation clinics

Physiologist led ILR implantation

Trans-thoracic Echocardiography including 3 Dimensional assessment, Valve assessment, Stress and Congenital heart disease.

Tran-oesophageal Echocardiography including 3 Dimensional assessment

Cardiac catheter Laboratory support for:-

o Left and Right Heart Catheterisation including PCI / PPCI, FFR, IVUS, PVR, IABP

o Simplex and Complex device implantation

o Cardiac Device Extraction

o Simple and Complex electrophysiology procedures including SVT, AT, VT, 3D Mapping

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc in Clinical Physiology, MSc Clinical Science (Cardiac, Vascular, Respiratory and Sleep Sciences) or equivalent
  • SCST parts I & II (if applicable to qualification route)
  • Full BSE Level 2 Adult Transthoracic Accreditation with > 3 years' experience in expert independent scanning and reporting.
  • Professional registration on the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) or equivalent.
  • Immediate Life Support or equivalent

Desirable

  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a clinical scientist.
  • Teaching / Train the Trainer qualification.
  • Registered Onefile user.

Experience

Essential

  • Expert understanding of all aspects of Echocardiography services.
  • Experience as a highly specialist cardiac physiologist/cardiac scientist, competently performing a wide range of echocardiographic studies; accurately interpretating and reporting results in a range of clinical settings.
  • Understanding of National programs and initiatives supporting development of future physiologist workforce
  • Experience and detailed knowledge of managing teaching and learning across multiple different platforms
  • Evidence of leadership skills required for this level of responsibility.
  • Skills in delivering constructive feedback & reflection.
  • Experience of training/mentoring trainees to BSE Accreditation and beyond with CPD activities.
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • An understanding of the echocardiography workforce needs within Cardiac science and how they can be met through training
  • Provide line management for a team of B7 physiologists/scientists
  • Extensive experience of working in the NHS

Desirable

  • Practical experience and knowledge of other areas of Cardiac Physiology
  • Detailed knowledge of learning platforms such as Onefile.
  • Experience of operationally managing clinical services and rotas.

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
  • Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Pro-active and takes responsibility
  • Willing to learn, open to change
  • Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can

Specific skills/aptitudes

Essential

  • Generate, manage and review training plans for students.
  • Able to analyse and interpret highly complex investigation results where expert opinions differ.
  • Ability to assimilate highly complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of options.
  • Able to utilise research in clinical practice, applying a current evidence-based approach to decision making & diagnosis
  • Work autonomously, set criteria when no protocols to follow. Good communication skills, both. written and verbal.
  • Able to organise own tasks and activities including complex and routine procedures which may need adjustment daily.
  • Good interpretation and analytical skills for analysis and comparison of results in a broad range of tests
  • Able to implement policies and parameters and propose practice change through meetings and discussions
  • Good skills in the use of spreadsheets, manipulation of data, Office packages
  • Undertake regular triage/management of outpatient and inpatient referrals.
  • Experience of supervising and managing junior team members
  • Able to prioritise clinical, technical and management duties, making daily changes while performing own clinical load.
  • Able to build effective working relationships with team and others.
  • Able to work under pressure
  • Able to pay attention to detail and demonstrate a positive approach at all times.
  • A commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace and in service delivery and development
  • Enthusiasm and ability to seek out and resolve problems in order to improve patient care including an appetite to challenge the status quo.
  • Ability to cope with working in a changing and uncertain environment.

Desirable

  • Ability to continuously develop research outcomes with audits/clinical trials/research to best practise

Physical and emotional effort

Essential

  • Able to perform complex procedures requiring highly developed physical/motor skills to obtain accurate results with a high degree of precision.
  • Manual handling of patients and equipment, eg ultrasound machine (pushing over 120kg) with speed and accuracy.
  • Long periods of concentration needed daily in unpredictable fashion
  • Able to perform physical skills with speed and accuracy, particularly hand to eye coordination
  • Able to cope with conflict with staff and patients

Working Environment

Essential

  • Close contact with infectious patients (rare), contact with bodily fluids, vomit and poor hygiene (frequent).
  • Capable of working in darkened environment for extended periods (daily).
  • Able to work in high pressure environments such as intensive care (weekly).
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc in Clinical Physiology, MSc Clinical Science (Cardiac, Vascular, Respiratory and Sleep Sciences) or equivalent
  • SCST parts I & II (if applicable to qualification route)
  • Full BSE Level 2 Adult Transthoracic Accreditation with > 3 years' experience in expert independent scanning and reporting.
  • Professional registration on the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) or equivalent.
  • Immediate Life Support or equivalent

Desirable

  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a clinical scientist.
  • Teaching / Train the Trainer qualification.
  • Registered Onefile user.

Experience

Essential

  • Expert understanding of all aspects of Echocardiography services.
  • Experience as a highly specialist cardiac physiologist/cardiac scientist, competently performing a wide range of echocardiographic studies; accurately interpretating and reporting results in a range of clinical settings.
  • Understanding of National programs and initiatives supporting development of future physiologist workforce
  • Experience and detailed knowledge of managing teaching and learning across multiple different platforms
  • Evidence of leadership skills required for this level of responsibility.
  • Skills in delivering constructive feedback & reflection.
  • Experience of training/mentoring trainees to BSE Accreditation and beyond with CPD activities.
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • An understanding of the echocardiography workforce needs within Cardiac science and how they can be met through training
  • Provide line management for a team of B7 physiologists/scientists
  • Extensive experience of working in the NHS

Desirable

  • Practical experience and knowledge of other areas of Cardiac Physiology
  • Detailed knowledge of learning platforms such as Onefile.
  • Experience of operationally managing clinical services and rotas.

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
  • Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Pro-active and takes responsibility
  • Willing to learn, open to change
  • Motivated to make a difference in whatever way they can

Specific skills/aptitudes

Essential

  • Generate, manage and review training plans for students.
  • Able to analyse and interpret highly complex investigation results where expert opinions differ.
  • Ability to assimilate highly complex facts or situations, requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of options.
  • Able to utilise research in clinical practice, applying a current evidence-based approach to decision making & diagnosis
  • Work autonomously, set criteria when no protocols to follow. Good communication skills, both. written and verbal.
  • Able to organise own tasks and activities including complex and routine procedures which may need adjustment daily.
  • Good interpretation and analytical skills for analysis and comparison of results in a broad range of tests
  • Able to implement policies and parameters and propose practice change through meetings and discussions
  • Good skills in the use of spreadsheets, manipulation of data, Office packages
  • Undertake regular triage/management of outpatient and inpatient referrals.
  • Experience of supervising and managing junior team members
  • Able to prioritise clinical, technical and management duties, making daily changes while performing own clinical load.
  • Able to build effective working relationships with team and others.
  • Able to work under pressure
  • Able to pay attention to detail and demonstrate a positive approach at all times.
  • A commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace and in service delivery and development
  • Enthusiasm and ability to seek out and resolve problems in order to improve patient care including an appetite to challenge the status quo.
  • Ability to cope with working in a changing and uncertain environment.

Desirable

  • Ability to continuously develop research outcomes with audits/clinical trials/research to best practise

Physical and emotional effort

Essential

  • Able to perform complex procedures requiring highly developed physical/motor skills to obtain accurate results with a high degree of precision.
  • Manual handling of patients and equipment, eg ultrasound machine (pushing over 120kg) with speed and accuracy.
  • Long periods of concentration needed daily in unpredictable fashion
  • Able to perform physical skills with speed and accuracy, particularly hand to eye coordination
  • Able to cope with conflict with staff and patients

Working Environment

Essential

  • Close contact with infectious patients (rare), contact with bodily fluids, vomit and poor hygiene (frequent).
  • Capable of working in darkened environment for extended periods (daily).
  • Able to work in high pressure environments such as intensive care (weekly).

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).

Additional information

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

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead in Echocardiography

Claire Stevens

claire.stevens7@nhs.net

01142266753

Details

Date posted

02 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year pa pro rata for part time staff

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

190-0402-DIR

Job locations

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

Herries Road

Sheffield

S5 7AU


Supporting documents

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