We have an exciting opportunity to offer our first Lead Cardiac Physiologist Advanced Practitioner role in Echocardiography integrating advanced clinical echo skills with leadership and management skills and responsibilities.

With these skills the successful applicant will take the lead in embedding a patient first approach and culture aligned to the Trust's mission and values, working with the Teams to deliver a high quality service across two sites. They will be responsible for working with the Head of Service in implementing and aligning process and protocols across the echo service as well as quality assurance, service transformation and working towards departmental BSE accreditation.

Main duties of the job

To work autonomously as lead specialist in echocardiography. To lead the echocardiography area of Cardiac Physiology services, ensuring provision of research based patient care, effective and efficient management of resources and staff development and education.

To assist in leading the Cardiac Physiology workforce across both Worthing and St.Richard's sites, deputising for the Head of Service when required.

To undertake, supervise and teach highly complex cardiac clinical physiology procedures working to the standards set by the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), Society for Cardiological Science and Technology (SCST), British Cardiac Society (BCS) and the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP). To provide leadership and direction for the specialist cardiac physiology service within the echocardiography department, wider Cardiac Departments and the Cath Labs.

About us

Our service consists of two friendly, professional inclusive teams of Physiologists, admin staff and wider Cardiology teams who are continually seeking to improve patient care, through leadership, learning and service improvement with a culture of teamwork and collaboration.

Having merged with legacy Trust BSUH we make up one half of the wider Trust's Cardiac Investigations Service covering East and West Sussex.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

• Communicate sensitively with patients and carers at all times, understanding that the level of co-operation may be compromised by illness, disability, age etc
• Demonstrate an awareness of the needs and priorities of co-workers, other departments and of the role of Cardiac Physiology within the Trust as a whole coordinating and cooperating with colleagues and applying a flexible, collaborative team building approach
• Develop networks and liaise with other hospital professional groups and outside agencies as required on behalf of the department.
• Manage and deal with complex, sensitive, confidential and continuous information.
• Liaise with staff and managers over a range of issues.

Service Delivery and Improvement

• To provide a Physiology led echocardiography service.
• To provide Physiology led outpatient clinics specifically focused on echocardiography follow-up supported by the wider Cardiology Team
• Liaise with Consultant Cardiologists, Cardiothoracic Surgeons and the wider clinical team to ensure correct treatment pathways
• Provide expert clinical/technical advice and input into all areas of the analysis and reporting of highly advanced echocardiography procedures, including:

Transthoracic Echocardiography, Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography, Exercise Echocardiography and Bubble/Contrast Echocardiography

• Act as a highly expert clinical specialist, maintaining the highest possible standards of technical competency in the provision of all procedures undertaken and to be a visible and accessible presence to all Cardiac Physiologists, giving expert professional advice where required.
• Provide advanced level of clinical expertise in all cardiac investigations, following current local and national guidelines, interpreting the results and taking an appropriate course of action
• Provide specialised diagnostic reports to the appropriate level and highlight any urgent problems
• Be responsible for discipline and standards of technical competency in the provision of all echocardiography services
• Participate in the evaluation of new equipment and assess its value and application for implementation of its use
• Respond quickly to emergency situations, identifying when deviation from protocol or clinical intervention is indicated
• Ensure protocols are followed to support the safe delivery of the highest quality service
• Responsible for accurate data entry and for ensuring that all staff comply with data entry and reporting requirements
• Develop and update protocols, guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) within all disciplines of Cardiac Physiology
• Provide leadership and management to the entire Cardiac Physiology workforce ensuring the smooth delivery of an efficient and high quality service
• Take a lead role in the development of the department to meet changing requirements
• Initiate and encourage the development of innovative practices and solutions within the department
• In conjunction with Head of Service and the leadership team, take a lead role in recruitment and selection of all grades of Cardiac Physiologists
• Take a lead role in departmental meetings and a proactive approach to issues relating to quality of care, technical standards and efficiency improvements, as applied to own area of work and that of junior colleagues
• Take a lead role in the implementation and development of local policies, procedures and protocols, working with colleagues to meet changing healthcare needs
• Be responsible for stock control when required including ordering and ensuring efficient usage of consumables whilst maintaining optimal stock levels of stores in order to meet service needs at all times and liaising with company representatives as required
• Aim to bring income into the department through Echocardiography training days and programmes that can be advertised to other Trusts
• Participate in specialist research. To assist in the development, implementation, maintenance, research and audit of clinical services
• Implement and participate in audit programmes within cardiology, ensuring that requirements are adhered to and data is available as requested
• Maintain clinical documentation and databases and participate in the provision of data for statistical analysis, applying and promoting high standards of record keeping with respect to accuracy, timeliness of completion and confidentiality
• Contribute to Clinical Governance, achieving the goals of the Division and the Trusts strategy

People Management and Development

• Be responsible for own clinical practice and that of others
• Keep up to date with new developments and attend the appropriate courses necessary to maintain required skill and competency levels
• Ensure personal compliance with CPD guidelines and professional codes of conduct
• Take a lead role in developing educational standards specific to echocardiography
• To be committed to the development of all individuals, providing a strong sense of direction for all areas of Cardiac Physiology
• Take a lead role in setting local and technical standards of training and ensure these are continually updated to incorporate current professional recommendations and evidence based practice.
• Identify own education and training requirements, addressing any developmental needs as required in order to ensure best practice is maintained within the highest professional standards
• Provide leadership and standards of best practice, promoting ethical and professional practice within a multi-disciplinary network
• Carry out performance appraisals as required
• Support, motivate and develop staff within the team
• Influence, support, co-ordinate and take the initiative to obtain co-operation or agreement to alter ways or working, particularly where the need for change cannot easily be identified
• Provide support and assistance to colleagues in dealing with difficult and conflicting situations including those that are of a clinical / professional nature
• Act as a role model at all times

Patient Care Delivery

• In conjunction with the leadership team, be responsible for delivery of a high quality and efficient service in Cardiac Investigations for all users, including patients, staff, clinicians, within and external to the Trust and GPs
• Ensure a safe and clean environment is maintained at all times and contribute to the health and safety and quality assurance policies for patients, staff and visitors
• Proactively assist Head of Service with development and improvement of new services within Cardiac Physiology for continued improvement of patient care

Learning and Development

• Attend mandatory training updates as required.
• Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
• Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
• Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager
• Participate in the Trusts appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the department and the organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Masters Level Education
• Relevant BSc such as Clinical Physiology - Cardiology or Healthcare Science

Desirable

• Leadership or Management qualification
• Teaching or Assessment qualification

Professional Qualifications

Essential

• BSE Accreditation in Transthoracic Echocardiography
• BSE Accreditation in Transoesophageal Echocardiography

Professional Registration

Essential

• RCCP Registration

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years extensive clinical experience at Highly Specialist Level

Skills

Essential

• Evidence of extensive experience and knowledge in Echocardiography
• Evidence of extensive knowledge of all Cardiac Investigations
• Evidence of ability to work independently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Evidence of developing and delivering training

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

279-5399444-SEP23