Job summary
The post holder will be primarily responsible for leading the team of echocardiographers at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill site and provide technical, clinical and scientific expertise in the field of Echocardiography. In conjunction with providing expertise and further training to the echo team, the post holder will be expected to participate in the routine scanning inthe Echo Department, assisting with more complex procedures where appropriate.
Main duties of the job
- Manage and lead the echo service on a day-to-day basis and be responsible for the planning, organisation and delivery of a comprehensive, high quality and timely echo service; ensuring the service meets the demands of the Trust, in conjunction with the Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology, Head and Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology.
- Specialist in the field of echocardiography, including TOE, Stress Echo, Contrast and 4D Echo, giving expert professional advise where required.
- Lead in setting local technical standards in relation to echocardiography, improving and developing these to ensure they incorporate current professional recommendations and evidence based practice.
- Act as a resource providing expert technical and clinical support and advice to senior members of the Echo team where required, particularly regarding the best way to obtain or accurately interpret clinical data in difficult or challenging circumstances.
- Work with the Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology/Education Lead to actively maintain a progressive learning environment for all grades of technical and clinical staff and to devise and support programmes of training and continual professional development for all grades of staff.
- Lead and promote the process of Individual Performance Review for echocardiographers, identifying individual learning/ developmental needs leading to the planning of achievable objectives and developmental pathways to meet these.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff. We provides a full range of local and specialist services across five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Being person-centred, digitally-abled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take the Trust to another level
We are committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible
Mandatory vaccinationfrom 1stApril 2022, there is a legal requirement for staff who have contact with patients and other service users in England to be fully vaccinated (received both doses of a recognised vaccine) against COVID-19. If your role is covered by the regulations, you will be required to provide proof of your full vaccination status as part of your pre-employment checks prior to your start date
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. TECHNICAL
- Specialist in the field of echocardiography, including TOE, Stress Echo, Contrast and 4D Echo, giving expert professional advice where required.
- Lead in setting local technical standards in relation to echocardiography, improving and developing these to ensure they incorporate current professional recommendations and evidence based practice.
- Act as a resource providing expert technical and clinical support and advice to senior members of the Echo team where required, particularly regarding the best way to obtain or accurately interpret clinical data in difficult or challenging circumstances.
- Review and audit the productivity and quality of echo studies and reports performed within the Trust. To participate in and help support research projects running within Non-Invasive Cardiology and/or other parts of the department which require Echocardiographic input.
- Administer appropriate medications and contrast agents as part of advanced clinical practice.
- Promote a multi-disciplinary approach to Cardiac Care at Kings, recognising, utilising and valuing the expertise of other disciplines working on the Unit.
- To be an expert in the use and set up of the Cardiac Ultrasound equipment and reporting and analysis software.
- Co-ordinate inpatient lists and effectively triage inpatient and outpatient referrals in order of clinical priority as per BSE guidelines and local standards/protocols.
2. MANAGEMENT
- Manage and lead the echo service, in conjunction with the Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology, Head and Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology.
- Manage the echo service on a day-to-day basis and be responsible for the planning, organisation and delivery of a comprehensive, high quality and timely echo service; ensuring the service meets the demands of the Trust.
- Organise the department workload and staffing, adapting as situations change and staff shortages arise to ensure a continuous and efficient service.Provide a cost effective, high quality service, making best use of available resources in terms of staff and equipment, within agreed budget.
- Actively monitor demand and capacity figures for the echo service and present data to cardiovascular care group management and provide solutions to ensure waiting times are kept at a minimum.
- To keep up to date with the latest research and best practice in order to develop, implement and uphold local protocols based on current guidelines.
- Identify ways to improve patient diagnostic pathways and liaise with the Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology to improve, innovate and develop enhanced and specific training programmes for advanced clinical practices such as Physiologist led; contrast and bubble echo, exercise, pharmacological and valve stress echo service and murmur clinic.
- Attend departmental, multi-disciplinary and Care Group meetings.
- Complete and submit e-rostering on time and manage annual leave requests.
- Participate in the process of recruitment of Cardiac Physiologists/ Echocardiographers/ Clinical Scientists and the implementation of strategies that support staff retention.
- Ensure all staff receive a comprehensive and individualised induction and orientation package on commencement of new posts, including the identification of a named mentor.
- Responsible for the purchase of new echo equipment, adherence to agreed service contracts, escalation of equipment issues or failures, arranging software updates and staff training as appropriate. This will require a good working relationship with Cardiac IT, Kings Facilities Management, Medical Equipment Management Service and external suppliers.
- Work closely with the Head and Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology and the Director of NonInvasive Cardiology to create a shared vision of the development of the echo service.
- Create good communication channels and develop rapport with echocardiographers, Cardiac Physiologists, Cardiac consultants, echo fellows, and admin/ support staff.
- Improve liaison with other Non-Cardiac specialities such as ITU consultants, Renal, Liver Transplant, Oncology, Surgery and Neurology, to ensure compliance with their national service / treatment guidelines requiring Echocardiograms within the specific time-frames.
- Work closely with Echo leads across the Kings Health Partners Network and participate in developing the future direction of KHP-RBH Partnership.
3. EDUCATIONAL
- Work with the Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology/Education Lead to actively maintain a progressive learning environment for all grades of technical and clinical staff and to devise and support programmes of training and continual professional development for all grades of staff.
- Lead and promote the process of Individual Performance Review for echocardiographers, identifying individual learning/ developmental needs leading to the planning of achievable objectives and developmental pathways to meet these.
- To maintain full conversance with current training curricula and act as a link with relevant personnel from Higher Education Institutions regarding any issues arising from these.
- Organise technical echo department meetings to encourage the discussion of complex cases and peer review, and actively participate in departmental education sessions and journal club.
- Provide training, mentorship and support to junior staff, SpRs and Echo Fellows, with a view to improve their echo knowledge and skills.
- Assist in echocardiography education throughout the Trust, including medical students, PTP and STP trainees.
- Actively participate in maintaining own professional development, identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the Head of Cardiac Physiology and Consultant Clinical Scientist.
- To ensure own mandatory training certificates are current and in conjunction with the Head of Cardiac Physiology ensure that all Echocardiography staff also have up to date mandatory training.
4. PROFESSIONAL
- The post holder has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well being of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act of 1974 and all other relevant legislation in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
- The post holder will carry out their duties with due regard to the Trusts Human Resources Policy, Standing Financial Instructions and other relevant Policies of the Trust.
- Observe the rules, policies and procedures of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust.
- Maintain satisfactory personal performance and quality standards and to achieve where possible objectives agreed in the Annual Staff Appraisal system.
- Ensure that acceptable standards of data protection are maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1984.
- Observe and maintain strict confidentiality of patient records and staff information: any unauthorised breach of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action.
- Uphold good scientific practice, showing a caring and considerate manner to all patients, staff and public.
- Demonstrate good and effective time management.
- Implement good infection control measures within the department and actively encourage compliance to protect staff and patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. TECHNICAL
- Specialist in the field of echocardiography, including TOE, Stress Echo, Contrast and 4D Echo, giving expert professional advice where required.
- Lead in setting local technical standards in relation to echocardiography, improving and developing these to ensure they incorporate current professional recommendations and evidence based practice.
- Act as a resource providing expert technical and clinical support and advice to senior members of the Echo team where required, particularly regarding the best way to obtain or accurately interpret clinical data in difficult or challenging circumstances.
- Review and audit the productivity and quality of echo studies and reports performed within the Trust. To participate in and help support research projects running within Non-Invasive Cardiology and/or other parts of the department which require Echocardiographic input.
- Administer appropriate medications and contrast agents as part of advanced clinical practice.
- Promote a multi-disciplinary approach to Cardiac Care at Kings, recognising, utilising and valuing the expertise of other disciplines working on the Unit.
- To be an expert in the use and set up of the Cardiac Ultrasound equipment and reporting and analysis software.
- Co-ordinate inpatient lists and effectively triage inpatient and outpatient referrals in order of clinical priority as per BSE guidelines and local standards/protocols.
2. MANAGEMENT
- Manage and lead the echo service, in conjunction with the Director of Non-Invasive Cardiology, Head and Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology.
- Manage the echo service on a day-to-day basis and be responsible for the planning, organisation and delivery of a comprehensive, high quality and timely echo service; ensuring the service meets the demands of the Trust.
- Organise the department workload and staffing, adapting as situations change and staff shortages arise to ensure a continuous and efficient service.Provide a cost effective, high quality service, making best use of available resources in terms of staff and equipment, within agreed budget.
- Actively monitor demand and capacity figures for the echo service and present data to cardiovascular care group management and provide solutions to ensure waiting times are kept at a minimum.
- To keep up to date with the latest research and best practice in order to develop, implement and uphold local protocols based on current guidelines.
- Identify ways to improve patient diagnostic pathways and liaise with the Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology to improve, innovate and develop enhanced and specific training programmes for advanced clinical practices such as Physiologist led; contrast and bubble echo, exercise, pharmacological and valve stress echo service and murmur clinic.
- Attend departmental, multi-disciplinary and Care Group meetings.
- Complete and submit e-rostering on time and manage annual leave requests.
- Participate in the process of recruitment of Cardiac Physiologists/ Echocardiographers/ Clinical Scientists and the implementation of strategies that support staff retention.
- Ensure all staff receive a comprehensive and individualised induction and orientation package on commencement of new posts, including the identification of a named mentor.
- Responsible for the purchase of new echo equipment, adherence to agreed service contracts, escalation of equipment issues or failures, arranging software updates and staff training as appropriate. This will require a good working relationship with Cardiac IT, Kings Facilities Management, Medical Equipment Management Service and external suppliers.
- Work closely with the Head and Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology and the Director of NonInvasive Cardiology to create a shared vision of the development of the echo service.
- Create good communication channels and develop rapport with echocardiographers, Cardiac Physiologists, Cardiac consultants, echo fellows, and admin/ support staff.
- Improve liaison with other Non-Cardiac specialities such as ITU consultants, Renal, Liver Transplant, Oncology, Surgery and Neurology, to ensure compliance with their national service / treatment guidelines requiring Echocardiograms within the specific time-frames.
- Work closely with Echo leads across the Kings Health Partners Network and participate in developing the future direction of KHP-RBH Partnership.
3. EDUCATIONAL
- Work with the Deputy Head of Cardiac Physiology/Education Lead to actively maintain a progressive learning environment for all grades of technical and clinical staff and to devise and support programmes of training and continual professional development for all grades of staff.
- Lead and promote the process of Individual Performance Review for echocardiographers, identifying individual learning/ developmental needs leading to the planning of achievable objectives and developmental pathways to meet these.
- To maintain full conversance with current training curricula and act as a link with relevant personnel from Higher Education Institutions regarding any issues arising from these.
- Organise technical echo department meetings to encourage the discussion of complex cases and peer review, and actively participate in departmental education sessions and journal club.
- Provide training, mentorship and support to junior staff, SpRs and Echo Fellows, with a view to improve their echo knowledge and skills.
- Assist in echocardiography education throughout the Trust, including medical students, PTP and STP trainees.
- Actively participate in maintaining own professional development, identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the Head of Cardiac Physiology and Consultant Clinical Scientist.
- To ensure own mandatory training certificates are current and in conjunction with the Head of Cardiac Physiology ensure that all Echocardiography staff also have up to date mandatory training.
4. PROFESSIONAL
- The post holder has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well being of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act of 1974 and all other relevant legislation in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
- The post holder will carry out their duties with due regard to the Trusts Human Resources Policy, Standing Financial Instructions and other relevant Policies of the Trust.
- Observe the rules, policies and procedures of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust.
- Maintain satisfactory personal performance and quality standards and to achieve where possible objectives agreed in the Annual Staff Appraisal system.
- Ensure that acceptable standards of data protection are maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1984.
- Observe and maintain strict confidentiality of patient records and staff information: any unauthorised breach of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action.
- Uphold good scientific practice, showing a caring and considerate manner to all patients, staff and public.
- Demonstrate good and effective time management.
- Implement good infection control measures within the department and actively encourage compliance to protect staff and patients.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- BSc
- TTE accreditation
- Full range of echo skils (TTE, 3D, contrast, stress, TOE)
- ILS
- NHS Long Term Plan
Desirable
- RCCP/ HCPC
- ALS
- MSc
- Management Qualification
- Involvement with Echocardiography professional body
Leadership and Managerial
Essential
- Previous leadership and management
- MDT experience
Desirable
- understanding of HR processes
- lead manage and sustain change in a clinical environment
- Understanding of finances
- Understanding of current recruitment issues
Other
Essential
- Problem solving
- Utilise research in clinical practice, applying an evidence based practice approach
Desirable
- Lateral approach to issues
- Publications such as clinical case studies / abstracts
- ISCV and TomTec reporting packages
- Previous experience using GE E95 and Philips CVX / Affinity echo machines
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- BSc
- TTE accreditation
- Full range of echo skils (TTE, 3D, contrast, stress, TOE)
- ILS
- NHS Long Term Plan
Desirable
- RCCP/ HCPC
- ALS
- MSc
- Management Qualification
- Involvement with Echocardiography professional body
Leadership and Managerial
Essential
- Previous leadership and management
- MDT experience
Desirable
- understanding of HR processes
- lead manage and sustain change in a clinical environment
- Understanding of finances
- Understanding of current recruitment issues
Other
Essential
- Problem solving
- Utilise research in clinical practice, applying an evidence based practice approach
Desirable
- Lateral approach to issues
- Publications such as clinical case studies / abstracts
- ISCV and TomTec reporting packages
- Previous experience using GE E95 and Philips CVX / Affinity echo machines
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.
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).
Additional information
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).
