Highly Specialist Cardiac Physiologist/Clinical Scientist

Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in the UK is seeking a Highly Specialist Cardiac Physiologist to join their Cardiac Ultrasound team. The successful candidate will have Level 2 BSE Adult Transthoracic Accreditation and expertise in advanced imaging techniques. This role involves performing specialist echo procedures, leading a sub-specialty, and contributing to the education of staff while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. Flexible working patterns are available to support work-life balance.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Continuous professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong experience in echocardiography, preferably at band 6.
• Expertise in advanced echocardiographic procedures.
• Ability to deliver theoretical and practical training.

Responsibilities

• Perform and report a wide range of echocardiographic procedures.
• Lead and develop teams within clinical specialties.
• Contribute to clinical audits and quality assurance.

Skills

Advanced echocardiographic skills

Leadership skills

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Communication skills

Education

Cardiac Physiology BSc or equivalent

Level 2 BSE TTE Adult Accreditation

Registration with AHCS/HCPC

Teaching qualification

Tools

Technical echocardiography equipment

Job description

Overview

Highly Specialist Cardiac Physiologist / Clinical Scientist at Band 7 to join the Cardiac Ultrasound team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic and forward-thinking BSE-accredited department, dedicated to team development and delivering high standards of care to service users. The successful candidate will hold Level 2 BSE Adult Transthoracic Accreditation and be capable of independently scanning and reporting at an advanced level. They should be confident in advanced imaging modalities, including speckle tracking and global longitudinal strain (GLS), and able to provide imaging support for transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE).

They will apply their expertise across a range of advanced physiologist-led specialist clinics at Leeds and be committed to ongoing professional development that enhances their role as a sonographer and the wider service. Strong day-to-day leadership skills are essential, as is a willingness to contribute to service development initiatives and collaborate with the Service Manager in delivering both practical and theoretical training.

Flexible working patterns are available to help support work-life balance. Informal visits and conversations prior to interview are warmly encouraged.

Main duties of the job

The post holders will be responsible for performing and reporting a wide range of specialist echo procedures. They will demonstrate the ability to make accurate and reproducible measurements, independently interpret findings, and produce reports to high standards.

The continuous development of advanced echocardiographic skills will be supported, with training provided to facilitate active participation in established physiologist-led services; ICC, valve and stress echo.

The post holders will take ownership of a sub-specialty within the service and are expected to lead, motivate and develop small teams within their area of expertise.

As part of the senior team, the post holders will contribute to the day-to-day organisation of service delivery and play active roles in the department's extensive audit, quality assurance, and governance programmes.

Applicants should be well-organised, adaptable, and dependable, with the ability to work effectively under pressure. Strong prioritisation and teamwork skills are essential, along with a commitment to supporting the development of junior staff.

The echocardiography department has a strong role in education and training, contributing to student programmes and the development of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals from within and outside the organisation. There will be opportunities to assist in designing training plans and delivering both practical and theoretical teaching.

About us

Come and join our team in Leeds and become part of The Leeds Way, sharing our vision and values. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute health providers in the UK and based in one of the fastest growing and vibrant cities in the north.

The Cardio-Respiratory Clinical Service Unit aims to be fair and supportive with positive, caring teams who are champions of the Leeds Way values. Our values are part of what makes us different from other organisations, so we see this as a strength and a responsibility. Our five values are:

• Accountable
• Empowered

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to redeploying at-risk members of our existing workforce to new roles. All job adverts are subject to this policy, and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you experience a delay in shortlisting, please bear with us and contact the named contact if you have questions.

Job responsibilities

Principal duties & areas of responsibility

Clinical Duties

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.

Routinely undertakes assessment of both in-patients and out-patients prior to a range of cardiological investigations and uses discretion to ensure the patient is suitable for the investigation.

Provides lead specialist advice during highly complex situations where analytical judgement is required to all other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including consultant physicians.

Carries out all aspects of clinical work as approved by their Line Manager.

Leads specialist in their own clinical field. Implements change in their specialist area based on experience and evidence-based practice.

Works within and towards national guidelines and directives (e.g., BSE guidelines).

Works as an autonomous practitioner within established departmental policies and those recognised by international organisations.

Communicates with all members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure the best possible patient care, including negotiating, reassurance, empathy, and persuasiveness.

Communicates sensitive information about routine and complex cardiac investigations to patients and relatives/carers and to those with learning and/or physical disabilities.

Calibrates and handles a wide range of complex, expensive, technical equipment; processes, creates, updates and stores information.

Performs or provides factual reports on investigations including: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE), 3D/4D Echocardiography, Strain/Speckle Echocardiography, Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT), Physiologist Led Stress Testing, Sonographer Led Valve Clinic, Support for Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE), Support for Interventional Cardiology.

Reports equipment faults in accordance with departmental policy and ensures safe use; responsible for ensuring others are trained in the safe use of equipment within their specialist area.

Maintains stock levels by ordering from pre-agreed schedules and seeking additional resources as service demands change; responsible for day-to-day security of expensive equipment.

Professional

Maintains own technical competencies and reports clinical incidents to the Service Manager (e.g., ultrasound probe heating / Datix).

Maintains state registration and provides formal mentorship and coordination of training for staff in training within their area.

Provides highly specialist training for doctors and cardiac physiologists; participates in in-service training, tutorials, external courses and peer review.

Undertakes Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in line with the Personal Development Plan (PDP) with the Line Manager; attends departmental meetings and keeps up-to-date with evidence-based practice.

Involved in capital and consumable equipment evaluation prior to purchase to ensure alignment with service needs and budget.

Contributes to data collection for audits, research projects and equipment testing; participates in clinical trials involving new technologies.

Provides training in highly specialist cardiological techniques to staff, including specialist physiologists and medical staff.

Collaborates with the Service Manager on changes impacting the wider service provision.

Organisational

Ability to prioritise and organise the clinical caseload within a designated area of Cardiology, planning for expected and acute workload and deploying junior staff accordingly.

Responsible for the delivery and day-to-day management of the delegated area within their specialty.

Effort: Moderate physical effort required; frequent transferring of patients and equipment; prolonged MSK activity during ultrasound scans.

Dealing with challenging interactions and occasionally distressing or emotional situations; exposure to bodily fluids and high levels of concentration; occasional exposure to aggression.

Complies with the Trust’s manual handling policy and maintains professional conduct under pressure.

Person Specification

Skills & behaviours

• Ability to motivate clinical teams
• Ability to navigate competing pressures and prioritise clinical workload
• Understanding of team dynamics and giving constructive feedback
• Ability to implement change following new guidance or clinical/service audit

Qualifications

• Cardiac Physiology BSc, Cardiac Science MSc (STP) or relevant degree with ETP qualification, or HNC/MPPM with qualifying long service and clinical experience
• Registration with the AHCS/HCPC or ability to gain registration within 6 months (reviewed at interview)
• Level 2 BSE TTE Adult Accreditation and active professional membership
• BSE Stress Accreditation
• Teaching qualification

Additional Requirements

• Why are you applying for this position at LTHT
• Are you wanting full or part time hours?

Experience

• Significant experience at band 6 level with BSE TTE Accreditation level 2
• Proven experience and expert knowledge in Echocardiography
• Competent to perform and report a full range of advanced echocardiographic procedures
• Delivered formal theoretical and/or practical training in echocardiography
• Active involvement with the BSE committee
• Personal development in leadership areas
• Specialist area of Echocardiography
• Experience in Echo support for interventional cardiology

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 to submit to the Disclosure to check for any previous criminal convictions.