Senior Assistant Community Respiratory Physiologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Quality Management

Responsibility to ensure that their own competency records are completed and maintained as necessary.

Responsibility to ensure the performance and recording of the required calibration and quality assurance and/ or the withdrawal of equipment from use if required.

Responsibility for the adherence to schedule and recording of the departments Quality Assurance programme to include BioQC and other required departmental checks.

Responsibility for the reporting of non-conformities within the service.

Responsibility to represent Kings College Hospital positively whist working at community locations.

Technical Duties and Responsibilities

Spirometry and FENO

Responsibility for the provision of a quality assured diagnostic spirometry and exhaled FENO service with no day to day supervision from a Senior Physiologist

Independently performing quality assured baseline spirometry on adults in a community or primary care setting:

o Ensuring that all required calibration and quality control procedures have been performed.

o Obtaining verbal consent prior to testing and highlighting any patients who do not wish to consent to the lead Physiologist.

o Ensuring that all spirometry measurements are performed to the required national standards for reproducibility and reliability

o Recognising errors in patient technique and providing direction for the correction of errors

o Ensuring that patients are aware of and have adhered to pre-tests instructions

o Documentation of deviations to pre-test instructions

o Documentation of any errors in patient technique so that it is taken in to account during the reporting process

o Ensuring that all relevant contra-indications to spirometry testing have been assessed prior to testing and aware of the procedure if a contra-indication is present.

o Adherence to protocols that ensure infection control and safety during spirometry measurements

o Ensuring that all equipment issues and faults are escalated to a senior physiologist

o Recognising if a patient requires highlighting to the clinic lead for urgent clinical intervention

Administering bronchodilator to assess for reversibility.

The post holder will be required to obtain the ARTP Foundation Certificate in Spirometry

Independently performing the measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO)

Preparation of reports for spirometry and FENO results for checking by Senior Physiologist

Communication

• Independently explaining the purpose of clinical measurements to patients referred to the community clinics
• Independently gaining verbal consent for testing
• Independently explaining test procedures and correcting errors in technique where required
• Ensuring that the appropriate level of coaxing and encouragement is given to each patient to ensure that the maximal results are achieved for spirometry

Administration

Assisting with the administration of spirometry clinics as required which will involve sending appointment letters and contacting the patients via telephone or e-mail.

Assisting with the production and sending of reports to the patients GP.

Information Management

Supporting the teams 6 week diagnostic targets and highlighting potential deviation from targets to the clinical lead

Ensuring that confidential and sensitive information relating to patients is kept confidential and secure in line with Trust policies

Recording information on EPIC in an accurate and timely manner

Recording activity data and patient outcome data into databases and spreadsheets as required

Human resources

To be an active team member by supporting other members, offering assistance, being flexible and approachable particularly during changing service demands and staffing levels.

Physical resources

Ensure all equipment is functioning correctly and arrange for repair or replacement as necessary keeping the Senior Physiologists in the area informed of progress.

Responsibility for the calibration, quality control and maintenance of all equipment used and reporting defects in equipment in a timely manner to the clinical lead

Undertaking cleaning of equipment used

Responsibility for stock control for consumables required for spirometry, FENO and exCO.

Service Development

Ensuring that all respiratory department and Trust policies are adhered to

Commenting on changes to departmental policies, procedures and service developments as required.

Training, Education and Research

Participating in the Kings College Hospital Employee Performance Appraisal system and to fulfil its requirements

Responsibility for personal lifelong learning (LLL) attending appropriate courses following discussion with the lead clinician.

Participation in the provision of accredited spirometry training courses for external delegates as required

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• 2 Science A levels or Equivalent

Desirable

• ARTP Foundation Level Certificate in Spirometry

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Attention to detail and accuracy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience as an Assistant Respiratory Physiologist
• Experience of performing quality assured spirometry and FeNO

Communication & Relationship skills

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills that are required to work as part of a team including medical, nursing and technical members

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).

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kings College Hospital

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 9RS

Employer's website

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