Job summary
It is a fantastic opportunity for current 8a or experienced band 7 Cardiac Physiologist to further their career at St Barts Health NHS Trust.
Barts Health Trust is currently the largest NHS Trust in England and encompasses four hospitals based in the center and East of London. The Trust is comprised of the Barts Heart Centre at St Bartholomews Hospital, The Royal London, Whipps Cross, and Newham University Hospitals.
We also help provide cardiac physiology services at University College London Hospital.
We seek a forward-thinking, dynamic and motivated individual to support the Principal Cardiac Physiologist for Echo in managing the Echo service at Barts Heart Centre and Royal London Hospital. With the changes in services that have had to be implemented due to COVID-19, the department has reviewed its structure and the support required, and the 8a designations have been reconfigured to support the ever-growing aspects of the service. The vision is to have an outpatient deputy manager, subspecialty leads deputy manager, and education deputy manager, all supporting the Principal Cardiac Physiologists/Scientists.
We have a supportive environment for training and development and attendance at National Conferences. However, you will be expected to demonstrate maturity and experience consistent with this grade to contribute fully to the improvement and advancement of the service.
Main duties of the job
The Deputy Principal Cardiac Physiologist will work with the Echo Principal Cardiac Physiologists, providing site leadership at St Barts Hospital and an overview of Royal London Hospital.
This role is explicitly to lead on the day-to-day operational requirements of the Echocardiography service at St Bartholomew's Hospital and with an overview of Royal London Hospital; to support the booking of transthoracic echocardiograms at St Bartholomew's Hospital and the Royal London Hospital; to monitor and report to the Echo Principal Physiologist the DM01 requirement within Echocardiography at both of these sites and to manage equipment issues. Also, supporting the delivery of 7 days working NHS.
We expect the post-holder to function independently as an expert physiologist in Echocardiography, including specialist/advanced Echocardiography.
The post-holder will work with the service leads for Specialist Echo and Adult congenital Echo management as well as with arrhythmia and non-invasive cardiology. The successful candidate will also maintain their clinical skills, which may include one day a week at the Barts Heart Centre if desired.
Contributions can still be made in other service areas as skills and needs dictate.
Roles shared with the other Deputy Principal Physiologists include staff management and appraisals, rota planning, leave and sickness requirements, and recruitment.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership and Human Resources
- Line manage the cardiac physiologists including applying trust HR policies as appropriate.
- To ensure the systematic provision of high quality cardiac physiology services.
- Consistently provide high quality leadership in a visible and highly professional manner, acting as a positive role model.
- Lead teams towards the achievement of departmental, Trust and national objectives relevant to area.
- Raise the profile of patients and carers at departmental level, obtaining feedback on their experience and positively responding to feedback.
- Provide strategic leadership to the delivery of cardiac physiology services.
- Act as source of expert reference to other members of the department giving support, advice and recommendations.
- To continue to demonstrate advanced physiology skills in practice, maintaining a high level of clinical competence and using professional knowledge and competence to influence processes, policies and procedures.
- Able to resolve complex issues, carefully considering options to ensure actions are balanced, informed and in the interests of the individual and the Trust.
- Be responsible for the management of designated staff. Responsibilities include recruitment; induction; performance management; appraisal; training and development; sickness and absence management.
- Ensure that roles, responsibilities and expectations are commensurate with job banding across all sites.
- To develop a culture within the service area which positively welcomes diversity and change, using an approach which promotes staff involvement and encourages individual, team and cross functional learning.
- Role model the trusts values and expected behaviours.
- Develop a strategy for meeting the training requirements for cardiac physiologist staff and other cardiac teams that includes formal assessment tools, educational sessions, supervision and shadowing.
- Support the development of the cardiac physiology team by identifying / delivering training as appropriate.
- Ensure that all cardiac physiologists are working within national occupational standards and guidelines from professional bodies.
- To participate fully in the Trusts policy on appraisal of self and others including knowledge and skills process by reviewing performance, setting objectives and providing regular feedback to direct line reports and ensuring that a system of supervision and appraisal is fully implemented within the service area.
- To ensure that all new appointments undergo a period of local induction and have access to a senior member staff acting as mentor to support their development.
Financial
- Be responsible for the delegated income and expenditure budgets for the department ensuring that proper controls are established and communicate regularly with finance.
- Support the delivery of required unit cost improvement plans. Identify viable cost improvement schemes monitor and report on progress.
- Develop and ensure a culture of sound financial management which demonstrates a good understanding of income and expenditure.
- Work with colleagues and clinical leads to develop a commercial approach to securing and maximising income streams.
- Ensure that stock and equipment levels are maintained and ensure that staff are aware of economical use of supplies and that they co-operate in trials of new products.
- Be responsible for maintaining safety of equipment, ensure service / maintenance is carried out to a high level, taking action when faulty equipment is detected.
Clinical and professional responsibilities
- The post requires highly specialist knowledge in the field of cardiac physiology and specifically within echocardiography.
- Responsible for the delivery of cardiac physiology services in specific localities ensuring they are delivered in line with Health & Safety and other Trust guidelines.
- Analyse and interpret clinical investigations and report urgent outcomes to the appropriate medical teams or clinicians.
- Manage staff short and long term training needs and skills framework taking into account improvements in technology and innovation.
- Be accountable for own professional actions and maintain professional registration.
- To attend training courses to update ones own technical, physiological and pathological knowledge of specialist procedures and to update ones knowledge, in respect of specialised clinical use of equipment.
- To deliver services ensuring they are delivered in line with Health & Safety and other Trust guidelines.
Clinical governance and quality
- To ensure that all trust policies and procedures are effectively maintained within the departments.
- Ensure systematic clinical audit and monitor improvements, making changes to the delivery of services where required.
- Ensure that physiological tests and interventions are delivered in line with best practice at all sites.
- Respond to complaints and take lead in investigation of any incidents in line with trust policy.
- Manage and maintain a safe, secure environment for patients, visitors and staff including: ensuring that the health and safety strategy is implemented and known by all staff, risk assessments are up-to-date, control measures are effective, monitoring all reported incidents and taking appropriate corrective measures and all RIDDOR incidents are correctly managed.
- Ensure that confidentiality of patient records is strictly maintained and comply with the Data Protection Act.
- Ensure the update and smooth running of departmental databases and archive systems.
- Design/develop policies/department protocols in collaboration with the Principle Cardiac Physiologist and implement these in own areas of responsibility with regular reviews.
- Analyse a range of performance data (e.g. patient outcomes, patient feedback and key performance indicators) in order to inform service plans and ensure the delivery of an effective, safe service and optimum patient care in line with National Standards and Standing Operating Procedures.
- Be responsible for maintaining safety of equipment, ensure service / maintenance is carried out to a high level, taking action when faulty equipment is detected.
- Take the lead on ensuring that that all tests carried out in the department are delivered within the national waiting time standards. Lead on identifying potential capacity problems and identifying solutions.
- Ensure that waiting times are monitored and reported on a weekly basis and that any potential problems are reported immediately to the Principle Cardiac Physiologist and the General Manager.
- Ensure relevant training and development of teams to deliver high quality services.
- Ensure risk assessments and required action plans developed and monitored.
- Ensure that high quality patient centred services are based on the best available evidence and aid the lead with the development of a protocol driven service.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership and Human Resources
- Line manage the cardiac physiologists including applying trust HR policies as appropriate.
- To ensure the systematic provision of high quality cardiac physiology services.
- Consistently provide high quality leadership in a visible and highly professional manner, acting as a positive role model.
- Lead teams towards the achievement of departmental, Trust and national objectives relevant to area.
- Raise the profile of patients and carers at departmental level, obtaining feedback on their experience and positively responding to feedback.
- Provide strategic leadership to the delivery of cardiac physiology services.
- Act as source of expert reference to other members of the department giving support, advice and recommendations.
- To continue to demonstrate advanced physiology skills in practice, maintaining a high level of clinical competence and using professional knowledge and competence to influence processes, policies and procedures.
- Able to resolve complex issues, carefully considering options to ensure actions are balanced, informed and in the interests of the individual and the Trust.
- Be responsible for the management of designated staff. Responsibilities include recruitment; induction; performance management; appraisal; training and development; sickness and absence management.
- Ensure that roles, responsibilities and expectations are commensurate with job banding across all sites.
- To develop a culture within the service area which positively welcomes diversity and change, using an approach which promotes staff involvement and encourages individual, team and cross functional learning.
- Role model the trusts values and expected behaviours.
- Develop a strategy for meeting the training requirements for cardiac physiologist staff and other cardiac teams that includes formal assessment tools, educational sessions, supervision and shadowing.
- Support the development of the cardiac physiology team by identifying / delivering training as appropriate.
- Ensure that all cardiac physiologists are working within national occupational standards and guidelines from professional bodies.
- To participate fully in the Trusts policy on appraisal of self and others including knowledge and skills process by reviewing performance, setting objectives and providing regular feedback to direct line reports and ensuring that a system of supervision and appraisal is fully implemented within the service area.
- To ensure that all new appointments undergo a period of local induction and have access to a senior member staff acting as mentor to support their development.
Financial
- Be responsible for the delegated income and expenditure budgets for the department ensuring that proper controls are established and communicate regularly with finance.
- Support the delivery of required unit cost improvement plans. Identify viable cost improvement schemes monitor and report on progress.
- Develop and ensure a culture of sound financial management which demonstrates a good understanding of income and expenditure.
- Work with colleagues and clinical leads to develop a commercial approach to securing and maximising income streams.
- Ensure that stock and equipment levels are maintained and ensure that staff are aware of economical use of supplies and that they co-operate in trials of new products.
- Be responsible for maintaining safety of equipment, ensure service / maintenance is carried out to a high level, taking action when faulty equipment is detected.
Clinical and professional responsibilities
- The post requires highly specialist knowledge in the field of cardiac physiology and specifically within echocardiography.
- Responsible for the delivery of cardiac physiology services in specific localities ensuring they are delivered in line with Health & Safety and other Trust guidelines.
- Analyse and interpret clinical investigations and report urgent outcomes to the appropriate medical teams or clinicians.
- Manage staff short and long term training needs and skills framework taking into account improvements in technology and innovation.
- Be accountable for own professional actions and maintain professional registration.
- To attend training courses to update ones own technical, physiological and pathological knowledge of specialist procedures and to update ones knowledge, in respect of specialised clinical use of equipment.
- To deliver services ensuring they are delivered in line with Health & Safety and other Trust guidelines.
Clinical governance and quality
- To ensure that all trust policies and procedures are effectively maintained within the departments.
- Ensure systematic clinical audit and monitor improvements, making changes to the delivery of services where required.
- Ensure that physiological tests and interventions are delivered in line with best practice at all sites.
- Respond to complaints and take lead in investigation of any incidents in line with trust policy.
- Manage and maintain a safe, secure environment for patients, visitors and staff including: ensuring that the health and safety strategy is implemented and known by all staff, risk assessments are up-to-date, control measures are effective, monitoring all reported incidents and taking appropriate corrective measures and all RIDDOR incidents are correctly managed.
- Ensure that confidentiality of patient records is strictly maintained and comply with the Data Protection Act.
- Ensure the update and smooth running of departmental databases and archive systems.
- Design/develop policies/department protocols in collaboration with the Principle Cardiac Physiologist and implement these in own areas of responsibility with regular reviews.
- Analyse a range of performance data (e.g. patient outcomes, patient feedback and key performance indicators) in order to inform service plans and ensure the delivery of an effective, safe service and optimum patient care in line with National Standards and Standing Operating Procedures.
- Be responsible for maintaining safety of equipment, ensure service / maintenance is carried out to a high level, taking action when faulty equipment is detected.
- Take the lead on ensuring that that all tests carried out in the department are delivered within the national waiting time standards. Lead on identifying potential capacity problems and identifying solutions.
- Ensure that waiting times are monitored and reported on a weekly basis and that any potential problems are reported immediately to the Principle Cardiac Physiologist and the General Manager.
- Ensure relevant training and development of teams to deliver high quality services.
- Ensure risk assessments and required action plans developed and monitored.
- Ensure that high quality patient centred services are based on the best available evidence and aid the lead with the development of a protocol driven service.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience at highly specialist level with relevant accreditations (BSE or European equivalent)
- Experience of analysing, interpreting, and providing expert advice for a specialised service
- Experience with training and line management of all grades of staff
Desirable
- Experience of planning and developing specialist services including contributing toward local and national policies
- Experience of developing service plans, business cases and cost improvement plans
- Evidence of communicating specialist information to key stakeholders including clinicians
Skills
Essential
- Day-to-day frontline operational management.
- Ability to manage and lead team in emergency situations
- Comprehensive leadership and management abilities
Desirable
- Fully competent in Echo and other Cardiac diagnostic tests.
Knowledge
Essential
- Expert theoretical and practical knowledge in Echocardiography
- Work under pressure and to deadlines.
- Utilise research in clinical practice, applying an evidence-based practice approach
Qualifications
Essential
- BSE/ESC accreditation
- BSc Clinical Physiology (or equivalent)
Desirable
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience at highly specialist level with relevant accreditations (BSE or European equivalent)
- Experience of analysing, interpreting, and providing expert advice for a specialised service
- Experience with training and line management of all grades of staff
Desirable
- Experience of planning and developing specialist services including contributing toward local and national policies
- Experience of developing service plans, business cases and cost improvement plans
- Evidence of communicating specialist information to key stakeholders including clinicians
Skills
Essential
- Day-to-day frontline operational management.
- Ability to manage and lead team in emergency situations
- Comprehensive leadership and management abilities
Desirable
- Fully competent in Echo and other Cardiac diagnostic tests.
Knowledge
Essential
- Expert theoretical and practical knowledge in Echocardiography
- Work under pressure and to deadlines.
- Utilise research in clinical practice, applying an evidence-based practice approach
Qualifications
Essential
- BSE/ESC accreditation
- BSc Clinical Physiology (or equivalent)
Desirable
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).
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.
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).
