Band 6 Highly Specialised Clinical Physiologist (Neurophysiology)

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL & SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES

To continually monitor and maintain high professional standards of Neurophysiological services to patients. May be required to initiate remedial action where necessary.

To participate in the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines/ protocols.

To plan, perform and interpret a range of basic and specialised Neurophysiological investigations and to undertake training in advanced highly specialised Neurophysiological investigations

Electroencephalographic (EEG) investigations including activation procedures at clinical physiologists discretion, employing current standard techniques autonomously and without supervision in the neurophysiology department, taking appropriate action and adjusting techniques where necessary and appropriate.

EEGs on outpatients and inpatients of all age groups, as routine, non-routine and emergency studies at various locations in the hospital including ITUs, SCBU and A&E. For EEGs undertaken outside of the Neurophysiology Department, portable equipment is transported by the Clinical Physiologist to the clinical area.

EEG investigation using specialist techniques including:

- Sleep Deprived EEGs

- Melatonin Induced sleep EEGs

- Sedated EEGs

- Sphenoidal EEGs

- Polygraphic recordings

- For medico-legal purposes

- During administration of medication (e.g. to titrate anaesthetic drugs, to monitor neurophysiological function)

Nerve conduction studies for carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy, and provision of reports on these investigations for Consultant Neurophysiologist to approve.

Assisting Consultant Neurophysiologist with EMG (electromyographic) examinations, NCS (nerve conduction studies).

All modality evoked potentials according to departmental protocols in the department and on the wards (e.g. ITU, HDU, SCBU) taking appropriate action where necessary. For example:

• VEP (visual evoked potentials) pattern and flash
• ERG (electro-retinogram) pattern and flash
• BSAEP (brainstem auditory evoked potentials)
• SSEP (somatosensory evoked potentials) ulnar, median, posterior tibial, common peroneal.

To undertake clinical investigations on various types of patient including:

• All ages including: children (including those with behavioural problems), babies, neonates and premature babies (can be in incubators with or without life support).
• Uncooperative patients: those with learning disabilities, autism, behavioural problems, neurological disorders and those distressed, frightened or in pain.
• Psychiatric patients including aggressive or disinhibited patients, those detained under the mental health act, those under 24 hour watch.
• Non-English speakers with/without interpreter.
• Forensic psychiatric patients from secure units.
• Aggressive and abusive patients.
• Convicted prisoners.
• Confused/demented patients.
• Patients with movement disorders such as Parkinsons disease, Huntingtons Chorea and myoclonic jerks.
• Patients in status epilepticus.
• Infectious patients in isolation.
• Infectious patients not in isolation (MRSA positive patients, those with CJD, HIV, Hepatitis, Meningitis, Encephalitis).
• Neutropaenic/ immune-compromised patients in isolation.
• Patients with head injury/wounds from recent neurosurgery.
• Patients whose heads are immobilised.
• Patients being ventilated (mechanically or manually), dialysed, ultra-filtrated.
• Unconscious patients.
• Disabled patients who are wheelchair or bed bound.
• Deaf or blind patients.
• Patient with relatives present, for example parents of babies on Special Care, who often ask reason for / result of test.
• Medico-legal patients.
• Patients on life support whereby the EEG may contribute to management decisions regarding continuation of treatment.

Investigations will be undertaken in various environments. This will include confined spaces e.g. ITU, side rooms or wards; situations where there is limited access to patients heads because of other equipment attached to patient or because patient is in incubator (requiring clinical physiologist to be able to demonstrate a high degree of manual dexterity for delicate manoeuvring whilst in an uncomfortable position); dimly lit environments; hot atmosphere; while under exposure to unpleasant odours while in physical contact with unkempt and dirty patients and noisy environments.

To have basic first aid, including CPR training. A large number of patients seen for EEG tests are prone to seizures, and it sometimes happens that a patient has an attack in the department/during the test. In these instances prompt and appropriate action must be taken by the clinical physiologist present, in the form of administering first aid and where necessary enlisting the help of other health professionals outside the department e.g. nurses/doctors in clinic, crash team departmental medical personnel are often not available to assist.

To collect and determine diagnostic parameters and numerical values for a range of tests. To conform to national guidelines.

To provide written factual reports on all investigations carried out, using the department database/report system. With evoked potential studies (EP) results are compared with normative control data to determine the final interpretation. In the absence of consultant neurophysiologist to convey the results to the referring clinician with an indication of degree of abnormality if outside the excepted normal range.

To collaborate with Consultant Neurophysiologist to create final report and to provide technical/ factual reports on a range of Neurophysiological investigations.

To provide verbal interpretation for diagnostic tests when required to do so.

To contribute to the provision of technical and non-technical services in the neurophysiological

At all times to act in accordance with professional guidelines and trust policies (for example COSHH, infection control procedures, HSE requirements - especially those relating to electrical and patient safety), and to respect the requirements of patient confidentiality and data protection.

To be responsible for the scheduling of all EEG and EP appointments, assigning priorities to test sequences and offering advice to referring clinicians, fielding enquiries on nature and effectiveness of tests.

To provide an on-call neurophysiology service to the region (giving cover at nights, weekends and public holidays).

To contribute to the day-to-day running of department.

To contribute to the induction and day to day supervision of temporary/ new secretarial, administrative & clerical staff working in the department.

To be responsible for ensuring that there are adequate supplies in the department and also to contribute to the efficient and effective management of physical resources.

To contribute to the planning and organisation of information resources, ensuring effective administration, patient reporting and data storage. This includes the archiving of all relevant investigative data.

To provide and maintain statistical information as required for statistical and other management purposes.

To utilise departmental databases and trust PAS system to register new patients, check patient details

To contribute to health and safety and quality assurance policies for patients, staff and visitors in accordance with Trust policies and guidelines.

To attend Trust, Regional and National meetings relating to issues of neurophysiological service provision.

EDUATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

To participate in the provision and co-ordination of specialist training and development of clinical physiologists (neurophysiology) within the designated specialist area.

To participate in the teaching and training in neurophysiology to a broad range of healthcare workers including medical, AHP, nursing, HCS, etc

To participate in the education and training of student and junior clinical physiologists (neurophysiology) colleagues in line with mandatory, professional and personal development according to service needs.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE/ AUDIT AND RESEARCH

To contribute to the development, implementation, and maintenance of professional and local policies and procedures and clinical standards/protocols/guidelines.

To contribute to departmental audits, to ensure compliance with and development of professional and local policies and procedures and clinical standards/protocols/guidelines.

To participate with research and development programmes.

To undertake any reporting of incidents in line with Trust procedure.

To work within agreed Trust and local policies and protocols.

This vacancy has been advertised in accordance with the new NHS pay rate which will take effect from autumn 2024. Please note if your employment starts before the 24/25 pay scales are implemented you will be paid under the 23/24 pay scales and any backpay will be adjusted accordingly. Further information can be found at https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/pay-scales-202425.

Person Specification

Royal Free World Class Values

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Qualifications

Essential

• To have completed and passed the 4 year BSc (Hons) Clinical Physiology (Neurophysiology) or to have a minimum of 4 year training and experience in the field of Neurophysiology and equivalent formal specialist training (Other appropriate qualifications e.g. BTEC HNC/D in MPPM/ or equivalent experience + professional exam ECNE Part 1)
• RCCP registration

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience and familiarity with routine EEG investigations

Aptitudes and Skills

Essential

• Handling investigation requests and determining priority
• Ability to perform Routine EEGs, Sleep and portable EEG investigations
• Ability to provide technical Neurophysiological investigation results
• Able to work autonomously, coordinate, plan and prioritise
• Able to undertake complex eyehand coordination tasks such as electrode placement and dexterity and co-ordination for use of diagnostic equipment e.g. applying large number of electrodes on a neonate in special care conditions.
• Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods e.g. during IOM procedures, which may take up to 12 hours of continuous concentration
• Sensitive handling of children and adults who may be suffering from a wide variety of medical conditions, may be psychiatrically disturbed, physically or verbally aggressive
• IT literate

Desirable

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in a variety of forms to patients, relatives and carers including children and patients with learning or physical disabilities and psychiatrically disturbed patients
• Ability to cope in highly stressful environments and with occasional distressing patients and conditions, including critically ill patients, unpleasant body odours, exposure to body fluids
• Ability (physical strength) to move equipment, patients in wheelchairs and in hospital beds

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Pond Street

Hampstead

NW3 2QG

Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)