Job summary
Job overview:
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Respiratory Physiologist to join our team. The post-holder is required to provide specialist respiratory and sleep services. The candidate should have a working knowledge of all health and safety policies relating to the job role, patient care and their working environment.
Job duties will include:
To perform and be responsible for a wide range of clinical investigations, as well as to analyse and interpret highly complex results obtained and to produce a factual report.
To line manage and clinically supervise junior staff as well as deputise for senior management daily.
To cover clinics in the community including GP practices in the Wirral region and Clatterbridge Diagnostic Centre.
To help organise and deliver all aspects of respiratory and sleep services when required.
To provide education to junior staff, medical students, respiratory nurses and be involved in teaching on respiratory education days.
To participate in clinical audits, research and development.
Main duties of the job
To maintain complete and accurate records of test procedures.
Ensure prompt completion of own duties via the hospital computer system to maintain comprehensive records of procedures
Keep up to date with current developments in the fields of cardiovascular and respiratory medicine and to be aware of future implications for development of these services
Take an active role in meeting the training requirements of assistant practitioners, assistant technical officers, medical and nursing students
Deliver and assist in the development of in house training programmes
Monitor the performance and learning needs of junior staff
Responsible for monitoring safety of equipment and ensuring service/maintenance is carried out.
Participate in the writing and implementation of departmental policies in their area of work, and contribute towards any changes to policies.
Take an active role in assisting with the planning, organisation and development of the service
Take responsibility for tasks assigned by the service leader.
About us
All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as "competent and caring staff" by our patients.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.
We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral's only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.
We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m.
The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be directly responsible for all measurements made for the following investigations, and be fully competent to perform unsupervised the following:
Lung function diagnostics
Spirometry
Assessment of bronchodilator response
Dynamic lung volumes, maximal flow volume loops
Static lung volume measurement by Helium dilution method and N2 washout
CO diffusing capacity measurement using the single breath method
Static lung volume measurement by body plethysmography
Measurements of airways resistance, conductance and specific conductance using body plethysmography
End tidal CO assessment
The post-holder will be expected to assist with the delivery of highly specialist procedures/investigations:
Hyper-reactivity (using mannitol)
Respiratory exercise tests (cardiorespiratory/exercise induced asthma)
Sleep and non-invasive ventilation services
To be directly responsible for all measurements made for the following investigations, and be fully competent to perform unsupervised the following:
Overnight oximetry (issue of oximeters for home and ward overnight sleep studies)
Download, analysis and printout of overnight oximetry studies
Initiation and reporting of limited multi-channel sleep studies.
Specialist procedures/investigations:
Delivery of CPAP initiation treatment package, i.e.:
Analysis of CPAP titration studies, determination and prescription of CPAP pressures (including explanation of results and pressure requirements to patient and carers).
Issue of home CPAP machines and responsibility for any problems/queries from the patient regarding CPAP interface or equipment
Independently review patients in the physiologist CPAP follow-up clinic; evaluate and adjust CPAP settings/pressures and interfaces following review of patients clinical condition (without medical consultation), book on to next CPAP consultant clinic if clinical condition warrants physician review.
Independently troubleshoot complex CPAP problems including the adjustment of prescribed CPAP pressure/interface and humidification requirements as a result of subjective patient comments and/or oximetry results, without medical input.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be directly responsible for all measurements made for the following investigations, and be fully competent to perform unsupervised the following:
Lung function diagnostics
Spirometry
Assessment of bronchodilator response
Dynamic lung volumes, maximal flow volume loops
Static lung volume measurement by Helium dilution method and N2 washout
CO diffusing capacity measurement using the single breath method
Static lung volume measurement by body plethysmography
Measurements of airways resistance, conductance and specific conductance using body plethysmography
End tidal CO assessment
The post-holder will be expected to assist with the delivery of highly specialist procedures/investigations:
Hyper-reactivity (using mannitol)
Respiratory exercise tests (cardiorespiratory/exercise induced asthma)
Sleep and non-invasive ventilation services
To be directly responsible for all measurements made for the following investigations, and be fully competent to perform unsupervised the following:
Overnight oximetry (issue of oximeters for home and ward overnight sleep studies)
Download, analysis and printout of overnight oximetry studies
Initiation and reporting of limited multi-channel sleep studies.
Specialist procedures/investigations:
Delivery of CPAP initiation treatment package, i.e.:
Analysis of CPAP titration studies, determination and prescription of CPAP pressures (including explanation of results and pressure requirements to patient and carers).
Issue of home CPAP machines and responsibility for any problems/queries from the patient regarding CPAP interface or equipment
Independently review patients in the physiologist CPAP follow-up clinic; evaluate and adjust CPAP settings/pressures and interfaces following review of patients clinical condition (without medical consultation), book on to next CPAP consultant clinic if clinical condition warrants physician review.
Independently troubleshoot complex CPAP problems including the adjustment of prescribed CPAP pressure/interface and humidification requirements as a result of subjective patient comments and/or oximetry results, without medical input.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Degree in Clinical Physiology/ Healthcare Science (specifically respiratory physiology)
- Membership or working towards membership of relevant clinical interest groups e.g. RCCP, HCPC
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of the application of respiratory physiology in regard to clinical assessment
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of Clinical Respiratory tests in relation to cardiorespiratory disease
- Experience in the safe and correct use of a range of equipment
- Basic IT skills
Desirable
- Experience of using specialist software such as Vyaire SentrySuite, Lovemedical Bluecherry, and Resmed Airview
- Good clinical reasoning skills based on evidence and current research
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to motivate others to participate in good clinical practice.
- Good communication skills
- To value and promote equality and diversity ensuring that individuals are treated fairly, and individual differences are respected.
- An ability to be compassionate, to empathise and reassure.
- Be a team player and be instrumental in achieving team goals
Person Specification
Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training
Essential
- Degree in Clinical Physiology/ Healthcare Science (specifically respiratory physiology)
- Membership or working towards membership of relevant clinical interest groups e.g. RCCP, HCPC
Desirable
- Demonstrate experience of the application of respiratory physiology in regard to clinical assessment
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of Clinical Respiratory tests in relation to cardiorespiratory disease
- Experience in the safe and correct use of a range of equipment
- Basic IT skills
Desirable
- Experience of using specialist software such as Vyaire SentrySuite, Lovemedical Bluecherry, and Resmed Airview
- Good clinical reasoning skills based on evidence and current research
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to motivate others to participate in good clinical practice.
- Good communication skills
- To value and promote equality and diversity ensuring that individuals are treated fairly, and individual differences are respected.
- An ability to be compassionate, to empathise and reassure.
- Be a team player and be instrumental in achieving team goals
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Arrowe Park Hospital
Arrowe Park Hospital, Arrowe Park Rd
Upton, Birkenhead, Wirral
CH49 5PE
Employer's website
https://www.wuth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
