Senior Assistant Sleep Physiologist

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A large UK hospital trust is seeking a dedicated individual to join their sleep physiology team. This role involves initiating and managing patient studies, supporting CPAP patients, and ensuring their comfort and care during treatment. Applicants should possess essential GCSE qualifications and demonstrate excellent communication skills. Opportunities for training and professional development are available within this permanent full-time position. The role is based in Canterbury with a salary range of £27,485 to £30,162 per annum.

Qualifications

• Competence in working autonomously or under guidance when necessary.
• Strong desire to learn and develop within sleep physiology.
• Demonstrated resilience in managing workloads.

Responsibilities

• Initiate respiratory polygraphy studies.
• Undertake CPAP issue clinics.
• Support CPAP patients via email or phone.

Skills

Ability to work under pressure

Excellent interpersonal communication

Good IT skills

Education

GCSE English, Maths, Biology at A-C grade

Job description

Job Summary

Are you passionate about respiratory sleep medicine and on making a difference to patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). You will be joining a team of committed enthusiastic practitioners (physiologists and nurses) involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with OSA. As a team we work hard to ensure we put patients, their families and carers at the heart of everything we do.

This role provides a secure opportunity to employ and develop a solid understanding of the sleep physiology service whilst learning the necessary skills required to becoming a key and valued member of the team. A willingness to learn and develop will prove critical to any successful applicant.

Progression within this role will be encouraged. The expectation is that successful applicants will commence the introductory ARTP Sleep Associate CPAP Certificate within the first 6 months of employment and complete it no later than 12 months after employment. There is a 6 month time frame for the completion of the certificate. If you do not complete this in a timely manner it will jeopardise any subsequent qualifications, such as the apprenticeship in Healthcare Science (Respiratory and Sleep), that you undertake. During the apprenticeship you will also gain experience in respiratory physiology (lung function testing), so a keen interest in developing your job role is required.

Main Duties

• Initiate and download respiratory polygraphy studies, check their quality and demonstrate use of the equipment to patients, their families and carers
• Undertake one stop CPAP issue clinics
• Undertake CPAP review and adherence clinics
• Support CPAP patients by email or telephone
• Complete administration tasks associated with CPAP patients e.g. updating written documentation, scanning appropriate paperwork to Sunrise, updating IT systems
• Arrange replacement consumables for CPAP patients
• Supervise and assist in training of junior members of the team
• Problem solve in order to meet patient-centred directives
• Support the sleep physiology team with returned CPAP devices, e.g. cleaning, downloading and deleting data, phoning patients and completing documentation
• Support the sleep physiology team with CPAP consumables stock management
• Support the sleep physiology team with the mask Field Safety Notices
• Liaise with the respiratory and sleep administration team regards patient appointments
• Any other activities as deemed necessary by the lead sleep physiologist

About Us

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is “great healthcare from great people”. Everything we do is guided by our values: “People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference”. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called “We care” – it is about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day‑to‑day. We’re looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. We are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.

Details

• Date posted: 17 December 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 4
• Salary: £27,485 to £30,162 per annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 344-6181QEH
• Job locations: Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, CT1 3NG

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications and Training

• GCSE English, Maths, Biology (or other science) at A‑C grade or equivalent

Desirable Qualifications and Training

• Evidence of scientific and/or academic ability to analyse and assess scientific, technical and medical literature – demonstrated by Science based A-levels, a Foundation Degree or Degree
• Relevant CPD

Essential Clinical Skills and Experience

• Ability to work under pressure (emotional resilience and ability to prioritise and plan work)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Good IT skills and knowledge of common computing packages for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation packages and databases

Desirable Clinical Skills

• Experience in a patient‑/customer‑focused environment

Essential Governance

• Experience of resolving patient‑/customer‑/service user concerns effectively

Essential Personal/Professional Attributes

• Strong desire to learn and develop within sleep physiology
• Ability to work autonomously in the planning and execution of own work, and under the guidance of others when needed

Desirable Personal/Professional Attributes

• Flexibility and adaptability (to meet the demands of the sleep physiology service)
• Flexibility to acquire the skills to organise, plan and monitor the workload of others

Essential General

• Ability to travel to all sites as required by the sleep physiology service
• Commitment to own learning and professional development
• Positive and enthusiastic

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Employer Details

• Employer name: East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
• Address: Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury, CT1 3NG
• Employer's website: https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/