Job summary
To assist with the provision of Cardio-Respiratory services throughout the Trust and partnership agencies and to ensure the delivery of a high standard, quality service in an extended role to that of a Assistant Practitioner
To ensure courtesy, privacy, confidentiality and respect at all times to patients, relatives, staff and colleagues.
The Cardio-Respiratory Department provides a high quality service for all cardiac and respiratory diagnostic investigations. A 24/7 service is provided for basic investigations such as ECG and spirometry which is provided by Senior Assistant Technical Officers and Assistant Practitioners.
You will have at sufficient experience as a Senior ATO within the cardiac or respiratory field during which you will have completed a six month basic in-service training programme and at least a further 12 months continuing to build and expand upon these skills. You will be aware of the full range of procedures provided by the department.
You will undertake a wide range of work activities. As an Assistant Practitioner you will be expected to :
1. Supervise basic and junior trainee staff
2. Participate in a 24 hr shift system, work alone with the backup of on call Physiologist if necessary.
Post is subject to Enhanced DBS check + Children's & Adults' Barred Lists
Main duties of the job
3. ECG's throughout the Trust - wards, clinics, A & E and other departments.
4. Cardiac monitoring during clinical procedures eg. cardioversions, carotid sinus massage and valsalva manoeuvres.
5. Basic spirometry and Peak Flows.
6. Arterial blood gas analysis.
7. Non-invasive BP measurement.
8. Blood glucose measurement.
9. Holter monitoring, 24 hr ambulatory ECG & BP hook up.
10. Actively participate at cardiac arrests, with ILS training.
11. Use of external pacemaker.
12. Participate in audit collection.
13. Assist with Exercise Tolerance Tests - 2nd person attending.
14. Assist with Tilt Table tests - 2nd person assisting.
15. Responsible for mouth guard in TOE's.
16. Cleaning and maintenance of equipment and reporting of any faults to a senior physiologist.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
17. CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
18. SAFETY that is of the highest standards
19. COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
20. SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
21. PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
22. Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
23. Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
24. Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
25. Follow the Department Mission Statement.
26. ACE Behavioural Standards.
27. Compliance with all Departmental & Trust policies and procedures.
28. Attendance & Punctuality.
29. Compliance with OOH rota.
30. Adherence to Uniform & Infection Control policy.
31. Health & Safety.
32. Request help if required.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
33. Basic clerical and administration duties.
34. Monitoring of stock levels.
35. Participate in audit collection.
36. Field calls to senior on-call staff.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES
37. Supervision of trainees.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
38. Diploma or equivalent experience
39. Immediate Life Support
Desirable
40. Certificate in Electrocardiography or equivalent.
41. IT qualification.
42. Certificate in spirometry or equivalent.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
43. Significant years previous experience as a Senior Assistant Technical Officer in a Cardiology or Cardio-Respiratory Department.
44. Experience of assisting Clinical Physiologists in a wide range of specialist investigations.
45. Experienced in supervising of junior staff.
46. General experience in spirometry.
Desirable
47. NHS experience
Skills
Essential
48. Competent in a range of routine Cardio-Respiratory investigations.
49. Skilled in a range of basic routine tests.
50. Proficient in basic interpretation of routine tests.
51. Ability to work independently and to a high standard.
52. Resuscitation skills including use of external pacemakers.
Other
Essential
53. Portfolio of Clinical Practice.
54. Evidence based file of Clinical Assessment.
55. Portfolio of Continual Professional Development.