Chief Cardiac Physiologist (Echo)NHS

Job summary

An exciting career opportunity has arisen for a Chief Cardiac Physiologist in Echo to join our friendly team in the Clinical Measurements Department at the James Paget University Hospital as well as providing an Echo service within the newly built Community Diagnostic Centres.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking and motivated Chief Cardiac Physiologist to join our team. You will need to have excellent communication skills with the ability to work both as part of a team and independently, along with an advanced knowledge of cardiac anatomy.

The Echocardiography team provide a full inpatient and outpatient transthoracic echo service including ACHD clinics. As well as TTE we run Physiologist led valve clinics, bubble studies and DSE clinics as well as supporting TOE lists.

The department offers a comprehensive range of non-invasive investigations including ambulatory monitoring and Physiologist led exercise tolerance tests.

Suitable applicants will have completed a BSc in Clinical Physiology (or equivalent) and be RCCP or AHCS registered. They will hold BSE accreditation in Adult Transthoracic Echo (or equivalent) as well as meeting the requirements detailed in the person specification and job description.

Only fully accredited applicants in adult Echocardiography will be considered for this post.

Main duties of the job

To assess, plan and implement non-invasive cardiac diagnostics without direct supervision, primarily in Echocardiography in line with BSE standards.

To support the management responsibilities of the Multi-Disciplinary Team within the Clinical Measurements Department with specific responsibility for providing professional support and highly specialist cardiac physiologist advice as necessary.

To take charge of the Clinical Measurement Department as required.

To maintain health and safety of patients and colleagues at all times by complying with all relevant Trust policies.

To be an active member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team, leading/liaising/communicating as necessary and supporting junior staff.

The Cardiac Physiologist shall, at all times, act in such a manner as to justify public trust and confidence to safeguard the interest of individual patients.

Job description

Staff Management:

• Provide a supporting role in the management of junior staff within the department as required
• Promote/assist in achieving high morale within the department based on fair and clear staff relationships

Technical / Clinical Procedures:

• Independently practice with a high level of skill and autonomy to British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) standards in Adult Echocardiography, providing a full and comprehensive report
• Participate in a range of advanced Echo procedures:
• Bubble Studies
• Dobutamine Stress Echo
• Exercise Stress Echo
• ACHD Echo
• TOE
• Undertake a range of other cardiac procedures as an independent and solo practitioner, as per demands of the service:
• Electrocardiography
• Exercise testing
• Ambulatory monitoring (24/48/72 hour cardiac monitoring, blood pressure monitoring and event recording)

Professional Issues:

• Maintain a safe clinical environment at all times and support the Manual Handling & Health and Safety Lead for the department
• Be accountable for own clinical practice and address others clinical practice as required
• Present a positive image of the department and Trust at all times
• Maintain BSE accreditation and support others working towards their own accreditation
• Take a role in the provision of clinical and professional advice, expertise and support the process of developing practice and monitoring performance in all technical procedures undertaken within the Department
• Maintain registration with the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP) or the Academy for Health Care Sciences (AHCS)

Education, Training and Development:

• Act as an effective role model at all times
• Partake in an ECG training programme for Student Clinical Physiologists, Cardiographers and other health care professionals as required
• To be proactive in awareness of current issues/research and updating colleagues as appropriate
• Provide training for other health care professionals as required
• Undertake further / on-going training in Cardiac investigations and reporting as required
• Commitment to ongoing personal development by solo study and identification of relevant courses
• Undertake further Echo training in 3D Echo and other training as new technologies in Echo arise

Quality management/assurance:

• To ensure that the quality of clinical practice within the department is at an optimum level
• To support the departments QA programme
• To take a leading role in standard setting, monitoring and evaluation, taking corrective action when necessary

Complaints/Untoward Incident:

• To assist the Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist in investigating complaints/untoward incidents and ensure appropriate action is taken
• To, at all times, promote good practice
• To ensure that all staff wear name badges or carry identity cards and adhere to the Trusts uniform policy

Communication:

• Ensure that necessary information is communicated to Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist and where appropriate within the team
• Support and enhance good communications between members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Liaise with other departments/agencies both within and outside the Trust to ensure the optimum delivery of service

Resource Management:

• To assist the Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist in utilising all resources effectively and identifying areas for savings
• To assist in effectively managing the levels of stock and equipment
• To participate in department audits as required

About us

The James Paget University Hospital is a vibrant university hospital and an amazing place to work, full of caring and compassionate people going the extra mile to ensure that patients have a truly positive experience of care.

The Clinical Measurements Department is a non-invasive cardiology department providing an outpatient and inpatient Echo service.

You will be joining a friendly, supportive and professional team of Cardiac Physiologists.