Job summary
Cardiac Physiologist
Band 5
37.5 hours per week
We are one of the largest tertiary cardiac departments in the UK, providing a full range of standard and complex, invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests routinely performing complex interventional techniques on adult and congenital patients
We are looking for band 5 Cardiac Physiologists to join our progressive and enthusiastic team working across our hospital sites in Leicester. We can offer on-going training and development opportunities and actively encourage continued professional development. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates due to graduate this year as well as qualified Cardiac Physiologists.
We are really committed to the development of our colleagues and have a great career pathway in place with linked bandings. This means as you learn and develop with us, you can move through band 5, band 6 and band 7.
The successful applicants will be expected to work weekends and bank holidays as part of their shift patterns if required
Please note, applicants must be able to attend the department in person for interview. Telephone or Skype interviews will not be offered as part of this recruitment process.
All candidates should be on or eligible to join the voluntary RCCP register or the AHCS Healthcare Science Practitioner register.
If this post interest you, we would encourage you to come for an informal visit, or call for a chat or further information.
Main duties of the job
To undertake a range of routine cardiac physiological measurement tests on both adult and congenital patients, and to assist the Senior Cardiac Physiologists with other non-routine investigations.
To professionally develop oneself in preparation for progression to senior cardiac physiologist and maintain own CPD portfolio and adapt to the changing needs of the department
Working within a fast paced environment with a strong and friendly team you will provide a variety of basic and complex investigations to the whole of Leicestershire and beyond, whilst maintaining excellent standards of service and care. You will be specialised in a full range of both invasive and non-invasive investigations available in the Cardiac Investigations Department.
Supervise less experienced staff in own area of work, so maintaining the service.
Adhere to departmental policies and procedures, ensuring a quality service is maintained to patients, general practitioners and clinicians across the three sites
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Perform the procedures/investigations listed below on a routine basis: -
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Application/issue of ambulatory cardiac monitors on adult and paediatric patients
- Analyse and produce accurate clinical reports of ambulatory ECG recordings, which requires a high level of concentration over a period
- Assist with exercise tolerance tests
- Perform manual blood pressure measurements both at rest and during exercise testing
- Left heart catheterisation
- Right heart catheterisation and oximetry
- Temporary pacing
- PCI and emergency PCI
- Pericardial aspiration
- Immediate life support including emergency defibrillation
- Perform routine elective cardioversion
- To assist senior cardiac physiologists: -
- Basic echocardiography
- Routine basic pacemaker follow-up and advanced pacemaker follow-up
- Permanent pacemaker insertion
- Provide technical support during intra-aortic balloon pump insertion
- Paediatric catheters and intervention
- Valvuloplasty (e.g., Mitral)
- Cardiac output studies
- Electrophysiology and ablation studies
- Prepare equipment, ensuring that daily checks are carried out and the equipment is safe.
- Prepare the patient prior to the test, where necessary, ensuring repeatable accurate electrode placement to obtain the desired results and instruct the patient on test procedure.
- Operate equipment correctly, demonstrating accurate keyboard skills and observation of the rolling ECG and/or pressure measurements throughout several procedures e.g., exercise tolerance tests, ambulatory ECG analysis, left heart catheterisation.
- Recognise life threatening arrhythmias and follow adult ILS or paediatric BLS protocols in an event of life-threatening situation and recognise less critical problems, and as appropriate, seek assistance from medical or senior staff within the area.
- To organise and prioritise own day to day workload according to the urgency of the tests and respond to requests for additional tests.
- Respond to emergency or urgent calls and record good quality ECGs as required by the team responsible for the patient e.g., in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest or collapse.
- Effectively communicate with all patients in a reassuring and helpful manner to obtain the information necessary prior to performing the test and to gain their co-operation during the test.
- Recognise the sensitivity of some of the information received and ensure that patient confidentiality is always maintained.
- On occasion, deal with confused and aggressive patients, relatives and carers with tact and diplomacy
- Process test results and ensure that they are made available to the referrer via the correct route (orally, written or electronically) and within department time standards.
- Ensure accurate documentation of procedures performed on a manual or computerised database.
- Transport equipment, (which is light or medium weight and manoeuvrable, but may be sensitive and expensive) required for the procedure to outpatient clinics or wards, to provide the same quality service away from the main department.
- Adhere to existing departmental procedures and refer to senior staff as necessary.
- Maintain a high level of professionalism when potentially distressing or upsetting situations arise and on the occasions that working conditions are unpleasant e.g., when attending a cardiac arrest or when there is contact with body fluids.
- Responsible for keeping own skills up to date, attending lecture programs and acquiring additional skills in specialised and innovative procedures for continuing professional development.
- Participate in research from various clinical areas performing tests to agreed protocols.
- Assist in the development of the service provided by the Cardiac Investigations Department in accordance with service need.
- Supervise and train less experienced staff in carrying out the procedures above as directed by the Training Co-ordinator or Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist.
- Participate in the department appraisal process for professional and personal development and progression.
- Participate in technical appraisal of new equipment.
- Participate in audits, research and clinical trials as directed by the senior chief Cardiac physiologist, performing tests to agreed protocols.
- Undertake and adhere department policies for: -
- Risk management
- Health and Safety
- Confidentiality
- Data protection
- Fire
- Infection control
- Child protection
- Equipment malfunction
- Identification of patients
- Uniform
- Any other duties that may be assigned by the Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Perform the procedures/investigations listed below on a routine basis: -
- Electrocardiography (ECG)
- Application/issue of ambulatory cardiac monitors on adult and paediatric patients
- Analyse and produce accurate clinical reports of ambulatory ECG recordings, which requires a high level of concentration over a period
- Assist with exercise tolerance tests
- Perform manual blood pressure measurements both at rest and during exercise testing
- Left heart catheterisation
- Right heart catheterisation and oximetry
- Temporary pacing
- PCI and emergency PCI
- Pericardial aspiration
- Immediate life support including emergency defibrillation
- Perform routine elective cardioversion
- To assist senior cardiac physiologists: -
- Basic echocardiography
- Routine basic pacemaker follow-up and advanced pacemaker follow-up
- Permanent pacemaker insertion
- Provide technical support during intra-aortic balloon pump insertion
- Paediatric catheters and intervention
- Valvuloplasty (e.g., Mitral)
- Cardiac output studies
- Electrophysiology and ablation studies
- Prepare equipment, ensuring that daily checks are carried out and the equipment is safe.
- Prepare the patient prior to the test, where necessary, ensuring repeatable accurate electrode placement to obtain the desired results and instruct the patient on test procedure.
- Operate equipment correctly, demonstrating accurate keyboard skills and observation of the rolling ECG and/or pressure measurements throughout several procedures e.g., exercise tolerance tests, ambulatory ECG analysis, left heart catheterisation.
- Recognise life threatening arrhythmias and follow adult ILS or paediatric BLS protocols in an event of life-threatening situation and recognise less critical problems, and as appropriate, seek assistance from medical or senior staff within the area.
- To organise and prioritise own day to day workload according to the urgency of the tests and respond to requests for additional tests.
- Respond to emergency or urgent calls and record good quality ECGs as required by the team responsible for the patient e.g., in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest or collapse.
- Effectively communicate with all patients in a reassuring and helpful manner to obtain the information necessary prior to performing the test and to gain their co-operation during the test.
- Recognise the sensitivity of some of the information received and ensure that patient confidentiality is always maintained.
- On occasion, deal with confused and aggressive patients, relatives and carers with tact and diplomacy
- Process test results and ensure that they are made available to the referrer via the correct route (orally, written or electronically) and within department time standards.
- Ensure accurate documentation of procedures performed on a manual or computerised database.
- Transport equipment, (which is light or medium weight and manoeuvrable, but may be sensitive and expensive) required for the procedure to outpatient clinics or wards, to provide the same quality service away from the main department.
- Adhere to existing departmental procedures and refer to senior staff as necessary.
- Maintain a high level of professionalism when potentially distressing or upsetting situations arise and on the occasions that working conditions are unpleasant e.g., when attending a cardiac arrest or when there is contact with body fluids.
- Responsible for keeping own skills up to date, attending lecture programs and acquiring additional skills in specialised and innovative procedures for continuing professional development.
- Participate in research from various clinical areas performing tests to agreed protocols.
- Assist in the development of the service provided by the Cardiac Investigations Department in accordance with service need.
- Supervise and train less experienced staff in carrying out the procedures above as directed by the Training Co-ordinator or Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist.
- Participate in the department appraisal process for professional and personal development and progression.
- Participate in technical appraisal of new equipment.
- Participate in audits, research and clinical trials as directed by the senior chief Cardiac physiologist, performing tests to agreed protocols.
- Undertake and adhere department policies for: -
- Risk management
- Health and Safety
- Confidentiality
- Data protection
- Fire
- Infection control
- Child protection
- Equipment malfunction
- Identification of patients
- Uniform
- Any other duties that may be assigned by the Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist
Person Specification
Training and qualifications
Essential
- BSC in Healthcare science (Cardiac Physiology) or BSc Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) or equivalent relevant qualification
- RCCP or AHCS-ability to register immediately
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- 3 years of a combination of academic and practical experience in non-invasive and invasive cardiac investigations. (minimum 40 weeks practical work experience)
Communication and Relationship skills
Essential
- Ability to work and interact as part of a team as well as on an individual basis
- Aptitude for learning and teaching new procedures
- Excellent written communication interpersonal skills
Skills/Knowledge
Essential
- Good working knowledge of a range of non-invasive and invasive cardiac techniques: Ability to perform majority of the technical duties listed in key result area (ECG, Ambulatory Monitor fitting and analysis, assisting in ETT and BP, LHC/ RHC/PCI, temp pacing , CV and emergency defibrillation)
- Use of data entry systems / computers
Desirable
- Basic experience in those technical duties listed in key result area 2 (including Echo, Pacing follow up, Pacing implant, Technical support balloon pump, Paediatric cath and intervention
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
Person Specification
Training and qualifications
Essential
- BSC in Healthcare science (Cardiac Physiology) or BSc Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) or equivalent relevant qualification
- RCCP or AHCS-ability to register immediately
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- 3 years of a combination of academic and practical experience in non-invasive and invasive cardiac investigations. (minimum 40 weeks practical work experience)
Communication and Relationship skills
Essential
- Ability to work and interact as part of a team as well as on an individual basis
- Aptitude for learning and teaching new procedures
- Excellent written communication interpersonal skills
Skills/Knowledge
Essential
- Good working knowledge of a range of non-invasive and invasive cardiac techniques: Ability to perform majority of the technical duties listed in key result area (ECG, Ambulatory Monitor fitting and analysis, assisting in ETT and BP, LHC/ RHC/PCI, temp pacing , CV and emergency defibrillation)
- Use of data entry systems / computers
Desirable
- Basic experience in those technical duties listed in key result area 2 (including Echo, Pacing follow up, Pacing implant, Technical support balloon pump, Paediatric cath and intervention
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
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
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).
