Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioner/ Clinical Scientist

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 24 April 2025

Job summary

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioner / Specialist Cardiac Physiologist / Clinical Scientist to work as part of our friendly team providing a Cardiology and Respiratory diagnostics service. The principal hospitals within County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust are The University Hospital of North Durham, Darlington Memorial Hospital, Bishop Auckland Hospital and Shotley Bridge Hospital. The Cardiology & Respiratory Investigations Units comprise a team of approximately 40 staff who provide a broad range of invasive and non-invasive procedures including echocardiography, stress echocardiography, trans-oesophageal echocardiography, diagnostic angiography, pacing implant / follow-up, complex device follow up, tilt testing and nerve conduction studies. The hospital base for this post is Darlington Memorial Hospital. We are actively developing services and encourage personal development / extension of roles. We are committed to providing learning and development opportunities. We actively encourage and support all appropriate professional development.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work as part of a team in the busy Cardio-Respiratory departments. They will be a specialist in cardiac rhythm management/Devices and Invasive Cardiac Procedures, but will also perform a range of other physiological tests available within the department. They will produce evidence based clinical reports. They will provide training to other healthcare professionals and students and will supervise junior staff as well as deputise for more senior staff on occasions. They will work closely with colleagues to ensure that protocols and procedures meet local and national requirements for good practice and service delivery.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Date posted

03 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year AFC Band 6 per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9439-2425-1501

Job locations

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Job description

Job responsibilities

The candidate will be a specialist in Invasive Cardiac Diagnostics, Cardiac rhythm and Cardiac Device Management, and will derive clinical reports. They must have experience of working in a Cardiac Investigations department at band 5 or 6 level and have achieved the minimum academic qualifications in the Person Specification. They must be registered on the AHCS / HCPC register. For applicants not on one of these registers, Annex 21 will apply until the advanced professional qualification (BHRS/IBHRE Allied Professionals Certified Cardiac Device Specialist Exam) is obtained

They must hold a current certificate in Immediate Life Support, or be willing to undertake this within 6 months of employment.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The candidate will be a specialist in Invasive Cardiac Diagnostics, Cardiac rhythm and Cardiac Device Management, and will derive clinical reports. They must have experience of working in a Cardiac Investigations department at band 5 or 6 level and have achieved the minimum academic qualifications in the Person Specification. They must be registered on the AHCS / HCPC register. For applicants not on one of these registers, Annex 21 will apply until the advanced professional qualification (BHRS/IBHRE Allied Professionals Certified Cardiac Device Specialist Exam) is obtained

They must hold a current certificate in Immediate Life Support, or be willing to undertake this within 6 months of employment.

Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science: Cardiac Physiology or MSc Clinical Science (Cardiac Science) or equivalent, with acceptance onto AHCS / RCCP / HCPC professional register.
  • For staff who are not yet eligible to register, Annex 21 will apply.
  • Have or working towards BHRS Certification/HRUK Certification/ IBHRE Allied Professionals Certified Cardiac Device Specialist Exam.
  • Immediate Life Support certificate, or be willing to undertake this within 6 months of employment

Desirable

  • Teaching / mentoring qualification.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Organizational skills
  • Ability to prioritise workload
  • Good communication skills written and verbal.
  • Ability to perform a range of cardiology and/or respiratory diagnostic procedures.
  • Underpinning knowledge of physiology applied to the cardiovascular system
  • Knowledge of pathologies relevant to Cardio-Respiratory medicine.
  • Knowledge of medication which may be administered within Cardio-Respiratory Physiology and ability to administer as appropriate
  • Ability to analyse complex information, interpret results and provide accurate reports to Medical staff and other Healthcare professionals within Primary and Secondary care. Provide advice to clinicians.
  • Ability to assess patient condition and seek expert assistance when required.
  • Able to provide day to day supervision of section / group of staff.
  • Computer literacy
  • Undertaking audit and participation in research programmes

Desirable

  • Presentation skills
  • Supervisory experience
  • Ability to train other staff of all levels and act as a mentor
  • Ability to use evidence based practice to ensure quality standards.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in the field of Cardiac Rhythm Management/Devices and Invasive Cardiology.
  • Experience at Band 5 or Band 6 level, or equivalent.
  • Experience of working within a Cardiac investigations Unit.
  • Experience of a broad range of diagnostic procedures within Cardiology.
  • Experience of audit and quality assurance programmes
  • Experience of training staff from a range of disciplines.

Desirable

  • Able to work in a range of clinical environments

Statutory Registration

Essential

  • Registered with AHCS or HCPC
Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science: Cardiac Physiology or MSc Clinical Science (Cardiac Science) or equivalent, with acceptance onto AHCS / RCCP / HCPC professional register.
  • For staff who are not yet eligible to register, Annex 21 will apply.
  • Have or working towards BHRS Certification/HRUK Certification/ IBHRE Allied Professionals Certified Cardiac Device Specialist Exam.
  • Immediate Life Support certificate, or be willing to undertake this within 6 months of employment

Desirable

  • Teaching / mentoring qualification.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Organizational skills
  • Ability to prioritise workload
  • Good communication skills written and verbal.
  • Ability to perform a range of cardiology and/or respiratory diagnostic procedures.
  • Underpinning knowledge of physiology applied to the cardiovascular system
  • Knowledge of pathologies relevant to Cardio-Respiratory medicine.
  • Knowledge of medication which may be administered within Cardio-Respiratory Physiology and ability to administer as appropriate
  • Ability to analyse complex information, interpret results and provide accurate reports to Medical staff and other Healthcare professionals within Primary and Secondary care. Provide advice to clinicians.
  • Ability to assess patient condition and seek expert assistance when required.
  • Able to provide day to day supervision of section / group of staff.
  • Computer literacy
  • Undertaking audit and participation in research programmes

Desirable

  • Presentation skills
  • Supervisory experience
  • Ability to train other staff of all levels and act as a mentor
  • Ability to use evidence based practice to ensure quality standards.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in the field of Cardiac Rhythm Management/Devices and Invasive Cardiology.
  • Experience at Band 5 or Band 6 level, or equivalent.
  • Experience of working within a Cardiac investigations Unit.
  • Experience of a broad range of diagnostic procedures within Cardiology.
  • Experience of audit and quality assurance programmes
  • Experience of training staff from a range of disciplines.

Desirable

  • Able to work in a range of clinical environments

Statutory Registration

Essential

  • Registered with AHCS or HCPC

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).

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.

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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Cardiac Physiologist

Trudy Thompson

Trudy.thompson1@nhs.net

01325743154

Date posted

03 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year AFC Band 6 per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9439-2425-1501

Job locations

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)