Senior Respiratory and Sleep Physiologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

To perform lung function and sleep in adults.

To perform, analyse and produce reports on a full range of lung function tests without supervision.

Set-up, download and analyse domiciliary respiratory sleep studies.

Perform a lead role in the CPAP clinic.

To maintain, calibrate and disinfect the equipment according to Trust and departmental policy.

Ensure appropriate information is entered onto Trust and departmental databases.

Supervise and assist in the training of student Nurses, Physiotherapists and Medical Students.

Take a lead role in the training and development of student and junior respiratory Healthcare Scientists and Physiologists.

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

Trust Vision & Values:

The postholder is expected to have a clear understanding of how this post contributes to the achievement of the trust vision of:

A thriving Foundation Trust at the heart of an integrated healthcare system. One that delivers improved patient care at a community, hospital and specialist setting, supported by a unique and nationally recognised programme of research, education and employee engagement.

We expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the Trust, being Excellent, Kind, Responsible & Respectful, and behave in a way that reflects these.

St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expects that all staff will share in this commitment. The Trust is clear that all staff have a responsibility to be aware of children and adult safeguarding policies and procedures and that each member of staff, clinical and non-clinical, will attend child or adult safeguarding training that is provided at an appropriate level to suit their role. The Trust has the additional expectation that all staff will be able to identify concerns and know what action to take.

Main Duties/Key Results Areas:

1. Clinical Responsibilities:

To perform a full range of lung function tests including spirometry, gas transfer, lung volumes via body plethysmography, field exercise testing, IOS, skin prick testing and capillary blood sampling.

To perform a full range of sleep studies including home multichannel, polygraphy and CPAP titrations.

To check quality of results produced by junior staff.

To interpret the data generated on all tests and produce reports commenting on any abnormal results and identifying whether they are physiological or due to mechanical or technical error.

Advise patients on the use of CPAP and have a leading role in the development and running of the CPAP clinic.

Have a good knowledge of the lung function and sleep analysing software and Microsoft Office programs.

Assess training and instruct more 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.

Occasionally set-up in-patients for respiratory sleep studies and CPAP therapy on the wards.

1. Managerial Responsibilities:

Supervise and train junior staff.

Take operational responsibility for junior staff e.g. return to work, review meetings and appraisals

Undertake teaching on courses developed by department

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 Consultant Clinical Scientist/Healthcare Scientist 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.

1. Organisational Responsibilities:

Liaise with reception staff to ensure smooth running of the sleep and pulmonary function 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 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.

1. 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.

1. Educational Responsibilities:

Undertake the Trusts 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.

1. 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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

• Previous work as a Band 5 respiratory and sleep physiologist
• ARTP Practitioner 1 and 2

Desirable

• Previous experience of performing complex lung function tests.
• A commitment to engage in further education.

Essential

Essential

• BSc in Clinical Physiology or equivalent

Desirable

• Experience in specialised sleep testing including polysomnography.
• Experience in teaching

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.

Employer details

Employer name

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Georges Hospital

Blackshaw Road

London

SW17 0QT

Employer's website

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