Deputy Sleep Physiology and Educational Lead

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; East Grinstead; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Deputy Sleep Physiology and Educational Lead to join their team in East Grinstead. This permanent full-time position involves leading patient care in sleep diagnostics, managing a team, and guiding clinical practice to enhance care quality and sustainability. The role offers an engaging work environment with the opportunity for professional development through structured training and flexible working patterns.

Benefits

Tailored personal development

Flexible working arrangements

Dedicated reward programme

Qualifications

• RCCP or ARTP registration required.
• Experience in performing and analyzing polysomnography.
• Management experience preferable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations and mentor staff in sleep physiology.
• Conduct assessments for patients and provide specialist advice.
• Manage team performance and lead service improvement initiatives.

Skills

Team Leadership

Patient Care

Sleep Diagnostics

Data Analysis

Education

Degree in Clinical Physiology

Tools

Polysomnography Equipment

Actigraphy

Job description

Deputy Sleep Physiology and Educational Lead

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Sleep Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 276-7244441-AC

Site Queen Victoria Hospital Town East Grinstead Salary £46,148 - £52,809 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 22/06/2025 23:59 Interview date 26/06/2025

Welcome to Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and thank you for your interest.

In addition to receiving tertiary referrals from across the South East of England, we have a network of ‘spoke’ sites at district general hospitals enabling our consultants to offer their expertise with routine treatments and consultations as close to patients’ homes as is possible. With the recent addition of video led ‘virtual’ consultations we also enable patients who have some distance to travel to avoid the additional stress and worry of a long journey.

Working at QVH combines the excitement, challenge and career opportunities of many larger organisations with the satisfaction of delivering excellent patient care that really does re-build our patients’ lives.

We also offer attractive benefits such as

• tailored personal development to support career aspirations, including accredited clinical and management development programmes
• flexible working arrangements for a work-life balance that suits you and your needs
• a dedicated reward programme, offering a range of national and local discounts, cashback and tax relief schemes

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Sustainability

At Queen Victoria Hospital we want to be the first Net Zero Hospital in England, and to achieve that wants every member of staff to be a green champion. The way in which the Trust works has a significant impact on the organisation’s carbon footprint and that of our patients. From the heat, light and power supplies within the hospital to avoiding unnecessary patient journeys, the Trust is empowering all staff to create a sustainable health and care environment for future generations. The Trust expects all staff to reuse and recycle more, to use energy and water efficiently, to walk or cycle to work if you can, and to have a focus on sustainability in the workplace.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Respiratory/Sleep Physiologist with experience in team leadership and a strong interest in Sleep.

The postholder will share responsibility for the day-to-day and overnight operations of the unit and the line management of the physiology and technologist team. The postholder will also support and oversee existing departmental patient care, including overnight limited and full polysomnography (PSG), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) therapy, and home diagnostics such as oximetry and actigraphy studies. Additionally, the role includes mentoring and assessing Level 4 and Level 6 respiratory apprentices.

Flexible working patterns are available, including a hybrid model of remote and on-site working. Twilight shifts (13:30–21:30) or participation in the evening on-call rota may be required.

Main duties of the job

This is a leadership role within the team, focusing on service development and expansion, as well as providing day-to-day supervision and support. The postholder will also oversee and facilitate the training and development of the technical and physiology staff, work alongside external training providers and apprentices, and deputise for the Sleep Physiology Manager when necessary.

Working for our organisation

Rated GOOD overall with outstanding care by the CQC. A specialist NHS hospital providing life-changing reconstructive surgery, burns care and rehabilitation services across the South of England and beyond.

A centre of excellence, with an international reputation for pioneering advanced techniques and treatments. Everything we do is informed by our passion for providing the highest quality care and the best clinical outcomes.

At QVH we are proud of our achievements and our specialist services continue to record excellent clinical outcomes for patients. We regularly receive excellent results from patient satisfaction surveys and on average 98% of inpatients say they would recommend the hospital to their family or friends.

Our success is underpinned by the skills and enthusiasm of our staff and a strong culture of partnership. We are fully committed to training and development of the workforce with support for continuing education and learning.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

•Perform holistic assessments of patients’ needs, plan, implement, and evaluate care delivery with reference to changing respiratory healthcare needs in a hospital setting.

•Provide highly specialist advice to medical staff and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) regarding the treatment and management of patients with complex sleep apnoea.

•Use and maintain a range of technologies to carry out physiological measurements and assessments, including overnight polysomnography (full and limited cardio-respiratory studies), home oximetry, actigraphy, transcutaneous carbon dioxide (TcCO₂) monitoring, Multiple Sleep Latency Tests (MSLT), full lung function testing, and arterial blood gas analysis.

•Apply sensors and electrodes for overnight and daytime sleep studies, including limited respiratory PSG, MSLT, and full PSG with electroencephalogram (EEG), electrooculogram (EOG), and electromyogram (EMG), using both standard sleep staging and extended 10/20 montages.

•Perform bio-calibration of signals prior to each study and verify data quality.

•Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions and ensure data integrity.

•Analyse and score cardio-respiratory, EMG, and EEG events; stage sleep on PSG recordings; and discuss findings with Consultants to aid diagnosis and treatment planning.

•Produce detailed reports summarising data and results.

•Conduct clinical interviews, offer treatment plans and advice, and provide reassurance.

•Initiate patients on CPAP or NIV therapy, determine appropriate equipment settings, and select suitable masks.

•Write clear, comprehensive letters to General Practitioners and update patient records and electronic systems accordingly.

•Conduct outpatient clinics to review patients on CPAP and NIV therapy, adjusting treatment plans as needed.

•Advise on sleep hygiene and lifestyle modifications.

•Formulate and monitor treatment plans, record compliance and efficacy.

•Manage complex patients requiring tailored interventions.

•Maintain and enhance professional competencies in sleep diagnostics and therapy.

•Support data archiving and ensure safe storage of clinical data.

•Assist with the procurement and commissioning of specialist equipment, in collaboration with clinicians and the Sleep Physiology Team Leader.

Professional Responsibilities

•Assist and deputise for the Lead Clinical Physiologist/Department Manager.

•Line manage the physiology and technologist team, including rota management, appraisals, performance reviews, and staff induction.

•Provide expert input on the procurement of medical and IT equipment.

•Review and update clinical protocols with the Lead Clinical Physiologist.

•Work collaboratively to identify service improvements, cost-saving measures, and efficiency strategies.

•Ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures.

•Oversee education and training within the team, including competency assessments and skill development.

•Lead training sessions within the Sleep Disorder Centre.

•Deliver presentations to staff or external groups, as required.

•Engage in the appraisal process and commit to ongoing professional development.

•Participate in research projects and clinical trials as directed.

•Obtain informed consent from study participants and maintain accurate documentation.

•Lead service improvement initiatives as directed by the management team.

•Stay informed of departmental and Trust-wide objectives and strategies.

Person specification

Qualifications

• RCCP or ARTP registration
• Degree in clinical physiology or able to demonstrate specialist knowledge within this field through practical experience
• Registered polysomnographic technologist (RPSGT)
• Registered Clinical physiologist or healthcare scientist

Experience

• Experience in managing a team
• Previous experience of delivering front-line patient care and highly specialist advice within the NHS or other healthcare provider
• Experience in performing full and respiratory polysomnography (PSG), analysing results and producing reports
• Extensive experience and knowledge of sleep diagnostic and therapeutic equipment

The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.