Healthcare Science Practitioner - Respiratory

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust; Margate; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in the UK is looking for a qualified Band 5 Respiratory Healthcare Practitioner or a Band 4 trainee. Responsibilities include performing and interpreting respiratory investigations, maintaining quality control, and supporting junior staff. The ideal candidate should have excellent communication skills and attention to detail, operating within clinical guidelines. Opportunities for professional development are available.

Qualifications

• Ability to interpret lung function tests.
• Commitment to quality and adherence to guidelines.
• Good communication in explaining test results.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day service operation.
• Maintain department equipment and stock management.
• Contribute to policy and service development.

Skills

Ability to perform respiratory investigations

Excellent communication skills

Attention to detail

Willingness to support junior staff

Job description

Responsibilities

• Provide and contribute to the day to day running of the service.
• Interpret lung function tests and, where required, explain their meaning to non-respiratory colleagues.
• Record all activity and validate results in a timely manner.
• Perform, without supervision, the following respiratory investigations in accordance with ARTP/BTS/ERS guidelines: Spirometry/Flow volume loops; Single breath gas transfer; Static lung volumes via body plethysmography; FeNO; Reversibility studies; Capillary blood gases.
• Keep up-to-date with best practice in respiratory physiology testing and update protocols and SOPs as required.
• Work within local, national and international clinical standards and protocols.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of department policy, procedures and service development.
• Support junior staff within the service.
• Maintain quality control procedures, highlight when corrective actions are required and contact EME for further support as needed.
• Maintain all department equipment in a fully functional state and manage stock within the service budget.

Context and Scope

The Respiratory physiology and sleep service at East Kent Hospitals is a large and busy service, undertaking a significant number of tests annually and supporting a range of respiratory diagnostics across multiple sites. There is opportunity to join as a qualified Band 5 Respiratory Healthcare Practitioner or to join as a Band 4 trainee with in-house and external Degree level training to develop into a Clinical Physiologist.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Ability to perform respiratory investigations and interpret results in line with ARTP/BTS/ERS guidelines (as listed above).
• Ability to record and verify activity promptly and accurately; good attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to explain test results to non-specialists and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for all customer facing roles.
• Willingness to support junior staff and work within departmental policies and SOPs.
• Understand and adhere to local and national clinical standards and protocols; participate in professional development and CPD.
• Disclosure and Barring Service considerations for eligible roles; some posts require enhanced checks for vulnerable groups. UK Visas and Immigration criteria apply for eligible roles; some roles may require Tier 2 sponsorship.
• Subject to the Trust's no-smoking policy and flexible working arrangements as part of the People Strategy.