Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Assistant Practitioner Respiratory

This job is now closed

Job summary

To provide a high quality and efficient respiratory diagnostics (including Spirometry, reversibility testing and FeNO testing) to a variety of stakeholders within the Bexley and Greenwich community respiratory hublets and Queen Elizabeth/Eltham Community Hospital sites.
To help provide a high-quality respiratory diagnostic service which meets the clinical needs of the users.
The post holder will be primarily based within the community with rotationsbetweencommunity diagnostic hubs based in Greenwich and Bexley Oxleas NHS trust locations,Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Eltham Community Hospital Respiratory labs when required. Duties will include the routine respiratory testing under supervision, clerical input of patient and test details into the departmental computer network, sending out of diagnostics test results and filing of paperwork and clinical material and answering telephone enquiries.
This role requires you to primarily travel between community sites.

Main duties of the job

The post holder should be familiar with the basic principles, operating requirements and uses of front-line equipment used in the respiratory department.
To troubleshoot routine equipment using initiative, experience and interpretation of User Manuals.
To assess and troubleshoot basic diagnostic equipment problems, referring these to a senior member of staff as necessary.
Become proficient in the use of the Respiratory Information System (SOLUS/ICARE) .
Ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with practices required for MHRA and other relevant bodies
To undertake respiratory diagnostics.
To perform, document and technically report diagnostic respiratory results, for all stakeholders.
The post holder will be required to use diagnostic respiratory equipment and PC's for almost all aspects of the role.

To undertake work and alternative duties as reasonably directed at variable locations in the event of and for the duration of a significant internal incident, major incident or pandemic.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
Improving the experience of staff with disability
Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
Making equalities mainstream

Date posted

24 June 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year per annum plus HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

197-AO5233a

Job locations

Community

WOOLWICH

SE18 4QH

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas & Performance:

To check diagnostic equipment prior to use and perform quality control checks.
Ensuring that all required calibration and quality control procedures have been performed and documented.
To receive and prepare patients for testing.
Obtaining verbal consent prior to testing and highlighting any patients who do not wish to consent with the clinic lead.
To undertake diagnostic work in all sections of the Department, using both automated and manual techniques, in line with experience and training.
Ensuring that all spirometry measurements are performed to the required national standards for reproducibility and reliability.
To input patient, test and result data on to the Respiratory computer system.
To work under remote supervision to provide a supplementary community diagnostic respiratory service at the community hublets with possible rotation to Eltham Community Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Respiratory Labs.
To comply with all the policies and protocols designed to ensure accuracy of patient information.
To maintain patient confidentiality when giving and receiving patient information.
To participate in the departments stock control procedures.
To dispose of damaged or contaminated waste.
To maintain up to date skills and knowledge, attending appropriate training courses as required.
To adhere to all the Trusts policies and guidelines relating to Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Codes of Conduct, Data Protection, Human Rights and Confidentiality.

Work force

To prioritise own workload and that of less experienced colleagues.
To liaise with the clinic reception staff and stakeholders for the smooth running of the Respiratory Diagnostic Hublet Clinics.
To maintain good communications with all staff and of other disciplines if required.

Financial

To be economical and efficient in the use of resources.
To assist in the management of respiratory products to maximise usage and minimise waste.

Partnerships

Communications and Relationships
To answer telephone and other enquiries from health professionals.
To liaise with the all stakeholders using the Respiratory Diagnostic clinic.
To answer telephone enquiries and providing basic diagnostic related advice.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas & Performance:

To check diagnostic equipment prior to use and perform quality control checks.
Ensuring that all required calibration and quality control procedures have been performed and documented.
To receive and prepare patients for testing.
Obtaining verbal consent prior to testing and highlighting any patients who do not wish to consent with the clinic lead.
To undertake diagnostic work in all sections of the Department, using both automated and manual techniques, in line with experience and training.
Ensuring that all spirometry measurements are performed to the required national standards for reproducibility and reliability.
To input patient, test and result data on to the Respiratory computer system.
To work under remote supervision to provide a supplementary community diagnostic respiratory service at the community hublets with possible rotation to Eltham Community Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Respiratory Labs.
To comply with all the policies and protocols designed to ensure accuracy of patient information.
To maintain patient confidentiality when giving and receiving patient information.
To participate in the departments stock control procedures.
To dispose of damaged or contaminated waste.
To maintain up to date skills and knowledge, attending appropriate training courses as required.
To adhere to all the Trusts policies and guidelines relating to Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Codes of Conduct, Data Protection, Human Rights and Confidentiality.

Work force

To prioritise own workload and that of less experienced colleagues.
To liaise with the clinic reception staff and stakeholders for the smooth running of the Respiratory Diagnostic Hublet Clinics.
To maintain good communications with all staff and of other disciplines if required.

Financial

To be economical and efficient in the use of resources.
To assist in the management of respiratory products to maximise usage and minimise waste.

Partnerships

Communications and Relationships
To answer telephone and other enquiries from health professionals.
To liaise with the all stakeholders using the Respiratory Diagnostic clinic.
To answer telephone enquiries and providing basic diagnostic related advice.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

Ability to Travel across community/trust sites as required
Full UK Drivers Licence with access to car
Good standard of general education including numeracy and literacy

Desirable

Assistant practitioner (FdSc)

Experience

Essential

Minimum of 1 year experience working as a Band 4 respiratory physiologist or equivalent in lung function
Willingness to undertake identified courses in line with achieving competency within this area.
ARTP accredited/Work towards ARTP accreditation.
Interpretation of vital signs including pulse oximetry
Knowledge of management of respiratory patients
Understanding issues regarding accountability and delegation

Desirable

Experience of using spreadsheets and other software for clinical and non-clinical activity

Knowledge

Essential

Working knowledge of IT systems such as e-mail, word processing, and databases.
Experience in Primary/Community Care
Experience of blood gas sampling, smoking cessation counselling and venepuncture

Desirable

Familiarity with Lab Systems

Personal Qualitities

Essential

Good communication skills both written and verbal
Good interpersonal skills. Ability to work both within a team and unsupervised
Able to communicate and empathise with patients and other members of the public
Ability to work under pressure and achieve deadlines and targets.
Flexibility in working hours to suit the demands of the post

Desirable

Ability and willingness to follow an NVQ programme.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

Ability to Travel across community/trust sites as required
Full UK Drivers Licence with access to car
Good standard of general education including numeracy and literacy

Desirable

Assistant practitioner (FdSc)

Experience

Essential

Minimum of 1 year experience working as a Band 4 respiratory physiologist or equivalent in lung function
Willingness to undertake identified courses in line with achieving competency within this area.
ARTP accredited/Work towards ARTP accreditation.
Interpretation of vital signs including pulse oximetry
Knowledge of management of respiratory patients
Understanding issues regarding accountability and delegation

Desirable

Experience of using spreadsheets and other software for clinical and non-clinical activity

Knowledge

Essential

Working knowledge of IT systems such as e-mail, word processing, and databases.
Experience in Primary/Community Care
Experience of blood gas sampling, smoking cessation counselling and venepuncture

Desirable

Familiarity with Lab Systems

Personal Qualitities

Essential

Good communication skills both written and verbal
Good interpersonal skills. Ability to work both within a team and unsupervised
Able to communicate and empathise with patients and other members of the public
Ability to work under pressure and achieve deadlines and targets.
Flexibility in working hours to suit the demands of the post

Desirable

Ability and willingness to follow an NVQ programme.

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

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Community

WOOLWICH

SE18 4QH

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Community

WOOLWICH

SE18 4QH

Employer's website

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