Associate Respiratory Physiologist

WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST JOB DESCRIPTION Post Title: Respiratory Associate Pay Band: Band 4 Hours: Full Time 37.5 Hours Per Week Fixed term Location / Department: Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Alexandra Hospital Redditch and Kidderminster treatment Centre Cardiopulmonary departments Accountable to: Countywide Respiratory Physiology Lead Reports to: Lung Function Lead Key Working Relationships: Internal: All categories of patients within the trust. All levels of Medical, Nursing, Clerical, Ancillary and Engineering personnel. External: All categories of patients and relatives, general public, General Practitioners and staff, Paramedics, Company representatives and technical training advisors. Job Purpose: The post holder will support the respiratory physiology service in the provision of respiratory diagnostics and sleep therapies to the Worcestershire population.
The post holder will provide leadership and support to all junior clinical and administrative staff, escalate any concerns to the lung function service lead while monitoring waiting list targets are being met. The post-holder will be expected to function independently (upon qualification) as a respiratory associate and assist in other clinical areas as required. You will be working with a group of clinical scientists and clinical physiologists and consultants/nurses who are committed to providing the highest standards of patient care. The post-holder will work closely with the staff within the wider Cardiopulmonary department and will be expected to travel to each of the 3 sites to offer support when required.
The post holder will support the admin and clerical staff to ensure efficient use of NHS resources optimising the waiting lists, and ensure appointment lists are fully booked. Assisting in maintaining quality of the clinical investigation service provision, including audit, research and development, procurement and quality assurance of all equipment. Providing support in the provision and maintenance of IT systems supporting the department, ensuring system resilience and compliance, working with trust IT department and outside suppliers. Translate complex technical information through patient care to patients, their relatives and healthcare professionals.
Key Duties: Professional/Clinical Leadership Consistently provide high quality leadership in a visible and highly professional manner, acting as a positive role model. Act as a source of reference to other members of the department giving support, advice and recommendations. Demonstrate continuous professional development, maintaining a high level of clinical competence. Support service leads to ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of the care and environmental standards they are expected to maintain.
Act as a clinical role model, assessing and delivering care needs as a significant part of their role. They will also ensure high standards of clinical care are consistently achieved and monitored. Role model the trusts values and expected behaviours. Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive, inclusive and timely manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.
Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions. Ensure that waiting times are monitored and reported on a weekly basis and that any potential problems are escalated appropriately. Clinical and professional responsibilities The post requires knowledge in the field Respiratory Physiology, and Sleep Medicine. This is an Associate post and following the training period and qualification ARTP Associate exam you will be expected to be competent at performing the following duties independantly Issuing sleep diagnostic equipment including overnight oximetry and multi-channel sleep studies.
Undertake and interpret measurements of blood gases by either capillary and/or arterial sampling. Undertake routine lung function measurements. Be accountable for own professional actions and attain professional registration. Independently acquire results for a range of specialised procedures and forwarding results to the appropriate referring practitioner when required and also highlighting any urgencies or concern Report urgent outcomes to the appropriate medical teams or clinicians.
To attend training courses to update ones own technical, physiological and pathological knowledge of specialist procedures and to update ones knowledge, in respect of specialised clinical use of equipment. To deliver services ensuring they are delivered in line with Health & Safety and other Trust guidelines Clinical governance and quality To contribute to the maintenance of all trust policies and procedures within the departments. Support systematic clinical audit and monitor improvements. Ensure that physiological tests and interventions are delivered in line with best practice at all sites.
Help ensure a safe, secure environment for patients, visitors and staff. Ensure that confidentiality of patient records is strictly maintained and comply with the Data Protection Act. Ensure the update and smooth running of departmental databases and archive systems. support and monitor the safety of equipment, ensure service / maintenance is carried out to a high level, taking action when faulty equipment is detected.
The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post-holder. The post holder might be required to work across the Trust at any time throughout the duration of their contract, which may entail travel and working at different hospital sites.