Chief Sleep Physiologist

NHS; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust seeks a dynamic Chief Sleep Physiologist to join their team. This role involves patient care and managing a nurse-led sleep service, working with conditions such as COPD and asthma. Candidates should possess advanced skills in respiratory physiology and demonstrate a strong commitment to high-quality patient care, alongside the desire to coach and support colleagues.

Benefits

Access to high-quality education and training

Outstanding benefits including a Fitness Centre

Flexible working supported

Qualifications

• Significant experience at Band 6 level in respiratory/sleep disorders.
• Experience in both inpatient and outpatient care delivery.
• Proven competence in performing specialist respiratory/sleep investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the nurse led sleep service and manage caseload of complex patients.
• Facilitate the planning, delivery, and evaluation of care pathways.
• Contribute to clinical practice development through evidence-based practice.

Skills

Team management

Patient care

Leadership skills

Advanced specialist knowledge

Time management

Education

BSc (Hons) in Clinical Physiology (Respiratory) or equivalent

ARTP Parts I and II or equivalent certification

AHCS or HCPC Registered

Job description

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Chief Sleep Physiologist

The closing date is 12 June 2025

Anexciting opportunity has arisen for a Chief Sleep / Respiratory Physiologist aspart of our team at South Tyneside and Sunderland Hospitals.

TheChief Physiologist will work within the newly established nurse led sleepservice team within our chest clinic in addition to our well-establishedpulmonary function department, across South Tyneside and Sunderland, providingpatient care, as well as leading the management and care delivery for patientswith sleep related breathing disorders, and performing and supervision testsfor patients with conditions such as COPD, asthma, bronchiectisis and ILD. Theywill be a requirement to contribute to the ongoing development and delivery ofnurse lead services for patients with sleep related breathing disorders.

Main duties of the job

Wewould expect the applicant to have significant experience as a Band 6respiratory physiologist with additional experience in sleep related breathingdisorders and ventilation and have experience of CPAP therapy. They must also haveproven leadership skills and clinical skills.

Thesuccessful candidate must be dynamic, highly motivated and a passionateindividual who is committed to high quality patient care. Applicants must havea desire to build upon and share their knowledge with their colleagues who arewilling to challenge and commit themselves to our sleep / respiratory serviceand have a desire to be part of our enthusiastic team. If this sounds like you,then please join us in providing an exceptional and high-quality service to ourpatients at South Tyneside and Sunderland.

About us

Please help us by adding your telephone number to your application form this will allow us to contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description for full details

TheChief Sleep & Respiratory Physiologist will:

Continue to develop advanced knowledge and skills withinspecialist sphere of practice.

Contribute to the facilitation of the planning, delivery andevaluation of care pathways for a designated group of patients.

Support the development of clinical practice within the specialistfield through the use of evidence-based practice and in line with agreednational standards and contribute to the body of knowledge.

Work as an autonomous practitioner and team leader within theirsphere of practice.

Continuously improve clinical standards in line with clinicalgovernance framework.

Lead the nurse led sleep service in the absence of the clinicallead.

Manage own caseload of complex sleep / respiratory patients

Develop the sleep-related breathing disorder service.

Analyse and advise on sleep related breathing disorder diagnostictests.

Offer clinical support to other members of the teams.

Triage referral and offer advice and guidance.

Involvement in HR and budget management of the service.

Offer lifestyle support for patients.

Participate in audit and research projects.

Involvement in the education of other health care professionals

Supervision and implementation of the CPAP group initiationservice.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) in Clinical Physiology (Respiratory) or Healthcare Science (Respiratory & Sleep) or equivalent.
• ARTP Parts I and II or ARTP Practitioner-level certification or proven competence performing complex, specialist respiratory / sleep investigations.
• AHCS or HCPC Registered (or eligible for registration).
• Continuing evidence of CPD
• ARTP Pulse Oximetry and Polygraphy practitioner certificate (or equivalent).

Experience

• Significant experience working at Band 6 level in respiratory / sleep related breathing disorders.
• Experience of care delivery both as inpatient and outpatient.
• Experience of leading a team.
• Evidence of leading innovation in practice in the respiratory field.
• Evidence of leading change management.
• Evidence of practice development.
• Experience of coordinating care for a caseload of patients.
• Experience in sleep-related breathing disorders diagnostics, CPAP and BIPAP therapy and mask fitting.
• Participation in recruitment and selection process.
• Experience in conducting research and critiquing clinical evidence.

Physical Skills

• Good hand/eye co-ordination to operate equipment.
• Able to move patients with moderate effort, e.g. position patient in wheelchair to correct position.
• Able to manoeuvre patients/equipment where space is limited.
• Able to manoeuvre/transport equipment on trolleys around the hospital.
• Capable of identifying coloured gas cylinders / colour-coded equipment connectors / coloured VDU and paper-based numerical and graphical data.
• Occasional need to work cross-site.

Skills & Knowledge

• Advanced specialist knowledge and skills within specialist sphere of practice.
• Effective presentation/report writing skills.
• Knowledge of how to facilitate learning.
• Team management and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of current professional and clinical governance issues.
• Knowledge of research and clinical audit.
• Knowledge and experience of handling complex relationships and interpersonal dynamic
• Competent in ABG and CBG and interpretation.
• Counselling and appraisal skills.
• Time management.
• Ability to assess, deliver, evaluate and benchmark quality care.
• Smoking cessation training.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust