The Neurophysiology Department has an exciting opportunity for a highly specialist clinical neurophysiologist in our highly regarded and forward-looking department.

We are a friendly department providing regional neurophysiology services across Bedfordshire to patients of all ages, from a large range of specialities. This includes supporting a Level 3 NICU and a range of paediatric neurodevelopmental clinics. The breadth of our clinical activity is rich and varied and we use the latest equipment and technology to support our practice.

The ideal candidate must:

• Be knowledgeable and skilled in Clinical Neurophysiology (including various modalities of EEGs, EPs and NCS)
• Be able to undertake interpretation of results and provision of reports
• Be passionate about service delivery and quality improvement
• Demonstrate great interpersonal and communication skills, working autonomously and as a part of the team, working collaboratively with others to ensure service needs are met
• Be able to participate in training new physiologists / apprentices
• Be able to plan and organise clinical and non-clinical work, taking part in development of the services provided

Please read the job description and person specification carefully, as only candidates meeting the essential criteria will be considered.

Main duties of the job

You will be expected to:

Provide highly complex, specialist Clinical Neurophysiological services to patients of all ages, from a range of specialties suffering from a wide variety of medical disorders, including those which may be neurological and/or psychiatric in nature

Plan, perform and interpret a range of advanced Neurophysiological investigations including specialised tests, using highly complex medical equipment, to a high level of competence on patients of all ages including: various modalities of EEG tests, Evoked potentials, Nerve Conduction Studies (Carpal Tunnel and other peripheral nerve conditions)

Undertake interpretation of results and provision of factual / technical reports to clinicians for all tests

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A& E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.

Our Values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The department provides a consistently high quality comprehensive ( regional ) Clinical Neurophysiological investigative Service (including highly complex specialist investigations) to patients of all ages from a large range of specialities suffering from a wide variety of medical disorders including those which may be neurological and/or psychiatric in nature.

Some of the duties include:

To provide highly complex, specialist Clinical Neurophysiological services to patients of all ages, from a range of specialties suffering from a wide variety of medical disorders, including those which may be neurological and/or psychiatric in nature

To maintain personal professional skills at the highest level.

To develop and / or maintain a specific part of the specialty as agreed.

To take responsibility for the planning, organisation, development and quality assurance of the service that the specific role applies to (e.g. home video telemetry recording, Evoked potentials, NCS).

Work collaboratively in planning strategies (medium and long term) to develop Neurophysiology services overall.

Work collaboratively on a day-to-day basis with others to ensure that the service needs are met.

Deputising for the Neurophysiology Manager/Senior Chief as and when requested to do so. This is a shared responsibility with other Band 7s.

To undertake interpretation of results and provision of factual / technical reports to clinicians for all tests.

Supervision of trainees and junior staff.

To initiate and participate in quality assurance, audit and / or research and development programmes.

To carry out duties as requested by the Neurophysiology Manager and to be supportive in the deputising role.

Plan, perform and interpret a range of advanced Neurophysiological investigations including specialised tests, using highly complex medical equipment, to a high level of competence on patients of all ages - these may include:

Electroencephalographic (EEG) investigations employing current standard techniques without supervision in the EEG laboratory taking appropriate action(s) where necessary.

Portable EEGs on the ward.

Emergency EEGs on ITUs (Intensive Therapy Units), SCBUs (Special Care Baby Units) or general wards this could be at any hospital covered by the department and appropriate action should be taken where necessary.

EEG investigations using special techniques. These include activated recordings, recordings following sleep deprivation, recordings during administration of medication (e.g. melatonin, diazepam, pyridoxine), recording during stimulation of a non-routine nature, e.g. postural change and exercise.

Long term video EEG monitoring and long term home video ambulatory telemetry EEG monitoring, taking appropriate action(s) to ensure best outcomes.

Nerve Conduction Studies for Carpal Tunnel syndrome and other peripheral nerve conditions.

Assist with EMG (Electromyography) examinations, NCS (Nerve Conduction Studies) in Medical Consultant clinics if needed.

Perform multi-modality evoked potentials taking appropriate action(s) where necessary. These include Visual Evoked Potentials, Sensory Evoked Potentials.

Write accurate factual reports on a range of Neurophysiological investigations.

Maintain Continuous Professional Development appropriate to the range of Neurophysiology services for patients

Contribute to effective organisation of information resources, ensuring effective and administrative patient reporting and data storage / archiving in conjuction with the Administration staff in the department

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oANS Part 1 and Part 2 or an equivalent
• oTraining in EEGs, Evoked potentials and Nerve Conduction Studies
• oBSc (Hons) Clinical Physiology (Neurophysiology or equivalent formal recognised specialist training in Neurophysiology

Desirable

• oAHCS registration (previous RCCP)
• oSpecialised courses - training in neurophysiology techniques

Experience

Essential

• oAppropriate post qualification experience
• oPractical experience and ability to perform specialised neurophysiology tests including various modalities of EEG, EP and NCS testing
• oFamiliarity in range of basic, advanced and more specialised neurophysiological investigations
• oExperience and knowledge of multi-disciplinary team working
• oExperience in dealing with patients of all ages independently (including neonatal) and abilities

Desirable

• oExperience with NHS/healthcare software systems
• oExperience of working with confidential material
• oSupervisory experience
• oWork Based Assessor experience

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• oDemonstrate good verbal and written communication skills
• oAble to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• oAble to dextrously perform intricate eye-hand co-ordination tasks such as accurate placement of the electrodes on un-cooperative patients, premature babies
• oExcellent clinical observation skills
• oGood time keeping ability to perform all tasks within acceptable timescales
• oHigh standard of accuracy

Desirable

• oKnowledge of Trust policies
• oKnowledge of COSHH

Personal skills

Essential

• oEnthusiastic and motivated, high level of initiative
• oOrganised and displaying good at time management
• oHaving flexible approach to working arrangements, able to adapt to change
• oShowing strong analytical skills, attention to detail and accuracy
• oUnderstanding the need to maintain confidentiality

Desirable

• oEvidence of ongoing personal development and willingness to further progress ( knowledge and skills framework and continuing personal development

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS FT

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

418-NEUR5451-EH