Chief Cardiac Clinical Physiologist/Scientist (Echocardiography)

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit a number of highly motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our dynamic and forward-thinking organisation as part of the Cardiac Physiology Team.

As a senior member of the team you must be committed to continually improving your professional skills and supporting development of the team and service. Knowledge of all invasive and non-invasive Cardiac Investigations is essential to this role, as well as possessing a strong leadership ability.

You will independently undertake routine and complex diagnostic investigations, interventions and assessments, and offer specialist support, guidance and interpretation in your chosen sub-speciality area of Echocardiography.

The department offers an extensive range of cardiac investigations and procedures across all sub-speciality areas, delivered by a large and compassionate team of healthcare science assistants / associates, practitioners, physiologists and clinical scientists.

The Cardiac Physiology service at South Tyneside and Sunderland performs between 16,000-18,000 echocardiograms per year and currently provides both transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography for outpatients and inpatients.

The service provides Physiologist led valve clinics, 3D and contrast echocardiography and agitated saline studies.

An oncall commitment is required as part of this role , support to upskill will be offered if required.

Main duties of the job

Successful applicants will also be expected to offer senior operational leadership to the team and support others as team lead and mentor.

The team are supported by and work closely with 19 Cardiologists in the community and hospital settings and participate in an out of hours on call service for PPCI and urgent cardiac procedures.

Duties of the role would include the ability to undertake clinical activity such as (subject to area of specialism);

• Cath Lab invasive monitoring for angiography and PCI,and adjunctive
• Echocardiography, including TOE, stress echo, contrast and bubble studies with ability to advise and interpret findings.
• ECG , ETT and Ambulatory monitoring

Other non-clinical duties would include;

• Leadership and mentorship, with ability to deputise for Snr Chief Physiologist/ Service Manager
• Responsibility for own learning and development
• Leads and participates in audit and research activities
• Leads on delivering training and education across the immediate team and wider Cardiology staff

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To work as an independent practitioner providing an efficient and effective specialist clinical service within the field of Cardiology ensuring high standards of patient care subspecialising in the area of Echocardiography.

Perform a full range of diagnostic procedures with responsibility for the provision of an accurate written clinical report taking appropriate action to advise clinicians where necessary. To participate in an out of hours oncall rota.

To provide expert training, advice and support for Trainee Clinical Physiologists, ETP & STP trainees, healthcare science assistants and Junior Medical Staff.

To assist the Head of Service and Operational Head of Department in the planning and the day-to-day running of the Department.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Able to undertake complex eye-hand coordination tasks
• Highly developed coordination skills with good dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination and skills required for the performance of fine analytical techniques
• IT literate
• Has an understanding of the role of a Cardiac Physiologist / Clinical Scientist in healthcare and disease and its application in a healthcare setting.
• A committed, in-depth interest in Echocardiography and its application to direct clinical care of patients in a clinical environment.
• Knowledge acquired through study and experience to formulate appropriate advice and judgements, including clinical judgements involving facts or situations that impact on patients.
• Have an understanding of quality control and management assurance in a science or work based context
• Ability to develop proficiency in the performance of routine and complex techniques currently in use where they are training (ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately)
• Able to identify problems associated with scientific equipment, inappropriate testing, incompatible results and to investigate these, plan corrective action confirming appropriateness with senior colleagues and follow up.
• Ability to analyse and assess scientific, technical and medical literature. Application and interview Ability to use, maintain and troubleshoot scientific equipment.
• Good IT skills and knowledge of common computing packages for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation packages and databases.
• Ability to analyse complex information.

Desirable

• Ability to work autonomously coordinate and prioritise
• Presentation skills

Physical Skills

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both writing and speaking in English language
• Explain analytical, scientific and clinical aspects of the work to a variety of people including scientific colleagues, clinical professionals, service managers and patients and to listen to their needs.
• Make formal presentations to groups of colleagues.
• Good active listening skills to build rapport with the listener to encourage an open discussion.
• Self-aware and flexible enough to adopt a range of evaluative or empathising listening styles according to the needs of the listener and the situation.
• Ability to work autonomously in the planning and execution of their own work and under the guidance of their Departmental Supervisors.
• Flexibility to acquire the skills to organise, plan and monitor the workload of others.
• Ability to work under pressure (emotional resilience and ability to prioritise and plan work)
• Under guidance develops good interpretative skills in the formulation of advice to multi-disciplinary team members on diagnosis and appropriate treatment of patients.
• Good personal organisational skills. Application and Interview Effective team worker, willing to adopt a role working in collaboration with others.
• Good understanding of ethics and professional practice, the NHS constitution and the importance of patient-centred care
• Ability to support patients (or their carers) including those with a range of acute or chronic clinical conditions and disabilities in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Ability to travel to locations off site.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Clinical Physiology( or equivalent experience) and at least 2 years experience as a Senior Clinical Physiologist, or completion of STP programme.
• Specialist knowledge in Cardiac Pacing or Echocardiography.
• BSE accreditation.
• Knowledge in all aspects of non-invasive and invasive procedures within the field of Cardiac Physiology.
• Leadership skills to assist Senior Chief Clinical Physiologist / Service Manager in the day-to-day planning and running of the service.
• Intermediate life support(ILS).
• Registration with AHCS, RCCP , HCPC.

Desirable

• ALS.

Experience

Essential

• Practical experience appropriate to role and familiarity with a range of all cardiac investigations within physiology.
• Relevant 2 years experience in all procedures at a level of Senior Clinical Physiologist.
• Experience of invasive/non-invasive Cardiac Clinical Physiology sufficient to be accepted onto the RCCP/AHCS/ HCPC register.
• Experience of performing and reporting adult Transthoracic echocardiograms , supporting TOE , DSE and complex echo independently.

Desirable

• Operational management and team leadership.
• Prior experience / participation in oncall activity.

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

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

SUNDERLAND

SR4 7TP

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

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