Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 8 Chief Sleep Practitioner to join the new Dorset Sleep Service which will be providing Sleep Diagnostics and CPAP Therapy for Dorset residents in collaboration with University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. The role is full-time during office hours; flexible working is available, and job-sharing would be considered where a suitable job-match could be found.
Main duties of the job
The job will consist of leading the running and development of the new Dorset Sleep Service, including performing, interpreting and training junior staff in sleep studies and CPAP therapy, managing the department and its staff, ensuring the department meets its KPIs and works within budget, preparing the department for IQIPS accreditation and for planned and new service expansions, and undertaking other suitable routine clinical and administrative duties as necessary to maintain the service. Training will be provided - including working towards nationally recognised professional qualifications where appropriate.
We're looking for someone with a degree or masters in healthcare science, clinical physiology, or a similar field, who holds ARTP qualifications in respiratory and/or sleep physiology, who has worked in a respiratory and/or sleep department for at least 2 years, and is familiar with overnight oximetry, polygraphy, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, and CPAP therapy.
You will need to be able to work independently, to prioritise your own workload and to supervise junior staff. Professional qualifications in respiratory and sleep physiology and/or CPAP therapy, and the ability to work some time outside of office hours (7am-7pm) and/or occasional Saturdays, and to travel to additional sites would be advantageous.
About us
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff
Our Mission is to provide outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them, and our vision is Dorset County Hospital, working with our health and social care partners, will be at the heart of improving the well-being of our communities.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Working towards gaining any necessary qualifications not already held
- Leading and developing the Dorset Sleep Service, including overseeing the work of all junior staff
- Overseeing booking of appointments, ensuring that appropriate time, equipment and staff are available for the planned contacts and procedures
- Seeing patients at sleep study appointments, taking basic measurements of height, weight, and collar size, and recording patients sleep histories and symptoms
- Analysing, interpreting, and reporting on sleep study results
- Referring patients for treatment or to other services as appropriate
- Overseeing the monitoring database of CPAP patients activity, and actioning issues
- Performing CPAP set-up appointments, including choosing appropriate machine settings, fitting masks, demonstrating the equipment, explaining usage and cleaning of equipment, and arranging suitable follow-up; with particular focus on patients with complex needs
- Actioning patients CPAP requests from telephone calls, voicemails and email, or forwarding to other colleagues and professionals as appropriate
- Performing CPAP reviews including replacing or re-fitting equipment, adjusting mask fit and machine settings, advising on adjusting to therapy, suggesting suitable activities, and troubleshooting, with a focus on patients with complex needs
- Liaising with other associated healthcare, social care, and related professionals to ensure excellent care is provided to all our patients and that essential information to enable this is provided promptly, accurately, and clearly.
- Providing expertise and advice to different members of the multi-disciplinary team across the organisation to inform decision-making
- Providing support for our colleagues in Lung Function by occasionally supervising or performing routine and complex lung function tests during times of significant service pressure
- Overseeing stock control, including monitoring stock levels, requesting reordering of supplies in a timely manner, unpacking and storing new stock deliveries, and tidying and organising storage areas
- Working independently, prioritising own workload and managing the day-to-day activities of the junior staff, adhering to National, Trust, and Departmental policies
- Leading the department preparations for IQIPS accreditation, including helping to develop or update departmental policies, logs, checklists, and processes.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Providing routine administrative support such as photocopying, filing, updating patient records, maintaining the department diary, provision of information leaflets, etc.
Service Development Responsibilities
- Developing departmental plans for expansion into providing NIV and ASV therapy, and to improve the Sleep Service overall
- Developing departmental procedures, processes, and guidelines alongside collaboration from the team and other related colleagues and professionals
- Promoting our ethos of continuous improvement
- Leading team meetings and disseminating new knowledge to the team
Physical and Financial Resources Responsibilities
- Overseeing tracking of sleep study and CPAP equipment
- Engaging with effective use of resources to deliver the best value for money
Human Resources Responsibilities
- Leading the welcome, induction, mentoring and training of new staff as appropriate
- Supervising, training and mentoring apprentices and supporting junior staff to move forward with their professional development
- Providing sympathetic, responsible and innovative leadership to promote recruitment and retention of staff
- Fully participating in the Trusts appraisal system and personal development planning process
- Taking a proactive role in managing risk in the workplace, in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
Information Resources Responsibilities
- Training to use Office, Trust, and Departmental software and maintain accurate, timely and legible records in accordance with Trust policy
- Upholding excellent standards of information governance and confidentiality at all times
Research and Audit Responsibilities
- Participating in research projects, service audits, or staff surveys as necessary
Teamworking Responsibilities
- Maintaining service delivery by assisting colleagues during absences and peaks of work
- Undertaking other reasonable clinical and administrative duties as and when required as directed by line manager
- Providing teaching and education sessions for other healthcare professionals in formal and informal settings
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
- Working towards gaining any necessary qualifications not already held
- Leading and developing the Dorset Sleep Service, including overseeing the work of all junior staff
- Overseeing booking of appointments, ensuring that appropriate time, equipment and staff are available for the planned contacts and procedures
- Seeing patients at sleep study appointments, taking basic measurements of height, weight, and collar size, and recording patients sleep histories and symptoms
- Analysing, interpreting, and reporting on sleep study results
- Referring patients for treatment or to other services as appropriate
- Overseeing the monitoring database of CPAP patients activity, and actioning issues
- Performing CPAP set-up appointments, including choosing appropriate machine settings, fitting masks, demonstrating the equipment, explaining usage and cleaning of equipment, and arranging suitable follow-up; with particular focus on patients with complex needs
- Actioning patients CPAP requests from telephone calls, voicemails and email, or forwarding to other colleagues and professionals as appropriate
- Performing CPAP reviews including replacing or re-fitting equipment, adjusting mask fit and machine settings, advising on adjusting to therapy, suggesting suitable activities, and troubleshooting, with a focus on patients with complex needs
- Liaising with other associated healthcare, social care, and related professionals to ensure excellent care is provided to all our patients and that essential information to enable this is provided promptly, accurately, and clearly.
- Providing expertise and advice to different members of the multi-disciplinary team across the organisation to inform decision-making
- Providing support for our colleagues in Lung Function by occasionally supervising or performing routine and complex lung function tests during times of significant service pressure
- Overseeing stock control, including monitoring stock levels, requesting reordering of supplies in a timely manner, unpacking and storing new stock deliveries, and tidying and organising storage areas
- Working independently, prioritising own workload and managing the day-to-day activities of the junior staff, adhering to National, Trust, and Departmental policies
- Leading the department preparations for IQIPS accreditation, including helping to develop or update departmental policies, logs, checklists, and processes.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Providing routine administrative support such as photocopying, filing, updating patient records, maintaining the department diary, provision of information leaflets, etc.
Service Development Responsibilities
- Developing departmental plans for expansion into providing NIV and ASV therapy, and to improve the Sleep Service overall
- Developing departmental procedures, processes, and guidelines alongside collaboration from the team and other related colleagues and professionals
- Promoting our ethos of continuous improvement
- Leading team meetings and disseminating new knowledge to the team
Physical and Financial Resources Responsibilities
- Overseeing tracking of sleep study and CPAP equipment
- Engaging with effective use of resources to deliver the best value for money
Human Resources Responsibilities
- Leading the welcome, induction, mentoring and training of new staff as appropriate
- Supervising, training and mentoring apprentices and supporting junior staff to move forward with their professional development
- Providing sympathetic, responsible and innovative leadership to promote recruitment and retention of staff
- Fully participating in the Trusts appraisal system and personal development planning process
- Taking a proactive role in managing risk in the workplace, in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
Information Resources Responsibilities
- Training to use Office, Trust, and Departmental software and maintain accurate, timely and legible records in accordance with Trust policy
- Upholding excellent standards of information governance and confidentiality at all times
Research and Audit Responsibilities
- Participating in research projects, service audits, or staff surveys as necessary
Teamworking Responsibilities
- Maintaining service delivery by assisting colleagues during absences and peaks of work
- Undertaking other reasonable clinical and administrative duties as and when required as directed by line manager
- Providing teaching and education sessions for other healthcare professionals in formal and informal settings
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Knowledge and skill at Masters Level or equivalent experience
- BSc Clinical Respiratory Physiology, Healthcare Science, or suitable equivalent
- ARTP Part 1 & 2 or equivalent
- Registered or eligible to register with RCCP or equivalent
Desirable
- ARTP Blood Gas Sampling & Analysis certificate
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Thorough understanding of sleep studies, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, and CPAP therapy
- Min 6 years of working in a respiratory, sleep medicine, or ventilation service
- Experience of managing a team
- Experience in service development
- Experience of working in a busy outpatient environment
- Experience of training, mentoring, and supervising junior staff
- Able to teach clinical skills, undertake clinical assessments of skills, and provide constructive feedback to trainees
- Excellent IT skills
Desirable
- Proficient with Microsoft Office suite of Applications
- Experience in undertaking staff appraisal and performance reviews
- Knowledge of local and national NHS plans and strategies
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Can perform and interpret overnight oximetry and polygraphy sleep studies independently
- Can perform complex CPAP set-ups and reviews independently
- Able to sample and analyse blood gases
- Performs routine and complex lung function tests
- Commitment to continuing professional development
- Commitment to upholding values of respect, dignity, integrity, safety, teamwork, compassion, excellence, and inclusivity
- Able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Innovative and creative approach to problem solving
- Enthusiastic about developing a new service
- Excellent communication skills, able to adapt communication approach to suit situation
- Good organisation and attention to detail
Desirable
- Able to take part in expended working hours
- Able to travel to work at other sites
- Able to prioritise own workload
- Good fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Able to set-up and review patients on ASV and NIV therapy
- Experience in performing and analysing actigraphy, polysomnography, MSLT, MWT
- Able to apply learning and experience to new situations
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Knowledge and skill at Masters Level or equivalent experience
- BSc Clinical Respiratory Physiology, Healthcare Science, or suitable equivalent
- ARTP Part 1 & 2 or equivalent
- Registered or eligible to register with RCCP or equivalent
Desirable
- ARTP Blood Gas Sampling & Analysis certificate
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Thorough understanding of sleep studies, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, and CPAP therapy
- Min 6 years of working in a respiratory, sleep medicine, or ventilation service
- Experience of managing a team
- Experience in service development
- Experience of working in a busy outpatient environment
- Experience of training, mentoring, and supervising junior staff
- Able to teach clinical skills, undertake clinical assessments of skills, and provide constructive feedback to trainees
- Excellent IT skills
Desirable
- Proficient with Microsoft Office suite of Applications
- Experience in undertaking staff appraisal and performance reviews
- Knowledge of local and national NHS plans and strategies
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Can perform and interpret overnight oximetry and polygraphy sleep studies independently
- Can perform complex CPAP set-ups and reviews independently
- Able to sample and analyse blood gases
- Performs routine and complex lung function tests
- Commitment to continuing professional development
- Commitment to upholding values of respect, dignity, integrity, safety, teamwork, compassion, excellence, and inclusivity
- Able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Innovative and creative approach to problem solving
- Enthusiastic about developing a new service
- Excellent communication skills, able to adapt communication approach to suit situation
- Good organisation and attention to detail
Desirable
- Able to take part in expended working hours
- Able to travel to work at other sites
- Able to prioritise own workload
- Good fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Able to set-up and review patients on ASV and NIV therapy
- Experience in performing and analysing actigraphy, polysomnography, MSLT, MWT
- Able to apply learning and experience to new situations
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).
