Senior Assistant Technical Officer (XR03)

NHS; Leeds; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking healthcare provider in Leeds as a Senior Assistant Technical Officer. This role offers a unique opportunity to work within a dynamic cardio-respiratory team, where you will perform essential diagnostic tests like ECGs and spirometry. You will be part of a supportive environment that values professional growth, with training provided to enhance your skills. The department operates during weekdays, ensuring a balanced work-life schedule. If you're passionate about patient care and eager to develop your expertise, this position is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Competent to perform ECGs and understand basic rhythms.
• Experience with ambulatory ECG, sleep monitoring, and spirometry.

Responsibilities

• Perform 12 lead ECGs and basic spirometry testing on patients.
• Provide technical advice to patients and train junior staff.

Skills

ECG Competency

Understanding of ECG Interpretation

Basic Spirometry Testing

Ambulatory ECG Monitoring

Patient Communication

Education

GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Maths

SCST certificate in Electrocardiography or equivalent

Job description

Senior Assistant Technical Officer (XR03)

LeedsTeaching Hospitals has an exciting opportunity to recruit a number of SeniorAssistant Technical Officers (Senior Cardiographer) to join ourcardio-respiratory team.

Wewelcome applications from those seeking both full and part time work. Thedepartment is open Monday-Friday 08:30-16:30 with no routine evening orweekend commitment.

Weare looking for people who enjoy working with others, motivated to learn newskills and will provide the best care to our patients. The successfulapplicants will join a large team that support the cardio-respiratorydepartments at Leeds General Infirmary and St James Hospital and as seniormembers of the team you will also support the delivery of services in ourwider sites; Seacroft Hospital, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Wharfedale Hospitalas well as Armley Medical Centre and Beeston Village Surgery.

Therole of an Senior Assistant Technical Officer (Senior Cardiographer) isexciting and varied. This role should appeal to those who are currentCardiographers or to other professional healthcare backgrounds who haveexperience and current competency in ECG services. All necessary trainingwill be provided in regards to the wider clinical requirements.

[e-mail]- ECG Manager

[e-mail]- Clinical Service Manager

Main duties of the job

Allof the Cardio-Respiratory departments and sites stated above are openMonday-Friday 08:30-16:30. The main duties for this role will includeperforming resting 12 lead electrocardiograms (ECGs), fitting overnightambulatory ECG, sleep and BP monitors on patients with clear instructions,and you will also perform basic spirometry testing. Immediately informingsenior colleagues of any concerns or abnormalities regarding the patient ortest results as per departmental protocols.

Otherduties at times may include general admistration tasks and working alongsidethe healthcare scientists within the cardio-respiratory department,supporting patients undergoing other diagnostic investigations such ascardiac ultrasound.

Oncecompetencies have been achieved, you may work alongside visiting students andteach them how to perform investigations correctly.

Successfulapplicants will work as part of a team to provide high quality and efficientservices. The department has a monthly governance meeting where training willbe provided to keep up to date with any new equipment and technology. SeniorAssistant Technical Officers are supported by the Associate Practitioner team(band 4) who will ensure a fair and varied rota.

Wepride ourselves on supporting staff to grow and develop with careeropportunities in the future, including opportunities for AssociatePractitioner roles (band 4).

About us

Comeand join our team in Leeds and become part of The Leeds Way sharing ourvision and values. Our Trust is recognised for our staff engagement, greatcare and rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission.

LeedsTeaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute health providers inthe UK and based in one of the fastest growing and vibrant cities in thenorth.

AtCardio-Respiratory CSU, we aim to be a fair and supportive CSU with positive,caring teams who are champions of the Leeds Way values. Our values are partof what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, aswell as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set outwhat they see as important to how we work.Our five values are:

Accountable

Empowered

LeedsTeaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job advertsare subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or removeadverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in theshortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while thisprocess is completed, and contact the named contact if you have anyquestions.

Job responsibilities

PRINCIPALDUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

ClinicalDuties

Carries out all aspects of clinicalwork as approved by their Line Manager, working within established codes ofpractice.

Performs the followinginvestigations on a range of Cardiac and Medical patients, including theelderly, paediatrics, acute and critically ill, inpatients and outpatients:

o 12 lead Electrocardiogram

o Application of ambulatory ECGmonitors

o Application of ambulatory BPmonitors

o Basic spirometry respiratory testing

o Application of sleep monitoring

To be professionally and legallyaccountable for all aspect of own work, including the management of patientsin your care and dealing with their specific needs.

Uses own discretion to ensure apatient is suitable for the investigation.

Identifies any automaticallygenerated reports that are false and or inaccurate, escalating any errors tothe appropriate member of LTHT staff.

Reports any potentiallife-threatening situations directly to the appropriate clinical member ofstaff. Seeks advice from more experienced staff members when/if required.

Provides technical advice topatients and other members of the multi-disciplinary team including cardiacand non-cardiac physicians and other health care professionals.

Undertakes clinical supervision andtraining of other professionals, junior and trainee staff.

Works as an autonomous practitionerwithin established departmental Standard Operating Procedures. Including workas an independent practitioner when based at any of the satellite hospitalsites i.e., Leeds General Infirmary, St James Hospital, Wharfedale, Seacroft,Chapel Allerton and any of the Trust CDC sites.

Communicates with all members ofthe multidisciplinary team and trust-wide staff to ensure the best possiblecare for patients by using negotiating, reassurance and persuasivenessskills.

Communicates information aboutroutine cardio-respiratory investigations to patients and relatives/carersincluding children and those with learning and/or physical disabilities.

Demonstrates personal duty of carefor safe use of expensive and highly complex equipment.

Regularly performs routinemaintenance of equipment and reports equipment faults in accordance withdepartmental policy.

Maintains stock levels ofconsumable items and the security of stock/equipment.

Maintains a safe workingenvironment.

Ensure all work is entered onto theappropriate database in a timely manner, allowing for accurate billing forthe Cardio-respiratory CSU.

Works to the departments corehours, however is required to participate and be flexible if requirementschange according to service demand, i.e., late night clinics and weekendworking.

Professional

Responsible for maintaining owntechnical proficiencies and competencies in clinical areas.

Maintains and develops currentknowledge of evidence-based practice in each clinical area.

Responsible for reporting clinicalincidents and adverse events to the appropriate Team Manager / ServiceManager.

Responsible for formal mentorshipand input into coordination of training of designated junior staff andstudents.

Be an active member of thein-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in,in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions,external courses and peer review.

Regularly provides training infundamental cardiac techniques to Trainee Cardiac Physiologists and juniorstaff members.

Undertakes Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment (CPD) in accordance with Personal Development Plan (PDP) asdeveloped with Line Manager.

Attends and participates indepartmental staff meetings.

Frequently undertakes collection ofdata for use in audit, research projects and equipment testing.

Works in close liaison with otherstaff members to ensure efficient and effective delivery of service,contributing to maintaining a friendly and welcoming working atmosphere.

Organisational

Responsible for ensuring the LeedsWay Values and LTHT vision is integrated within the Cardio-Respiratory CSU.

Demonstrates the ability toprioritise and organise the clinical caseload within a designated area ofcardiology.

Responsible for obtaining,transmitting and storing information relating to the delivery of a careservice.

Keep accurate and timely records,inputting accurate data into the departmental databases allowing for theproduction of statistical resource information for accurate billing.

Make appointments for GP ECGreferrals.

Effort

Required to exert moderate physicaleffort. Frequent transferring of patients and equipment on both trolleys andwheelchairs.

There is a frequent requirement forprolonged, but often predictable, periods of concentration.

Frequent exposure to highlyemotional circumstances, i.e. patients undergoing investigation for heartdisease.

To comply with the Trusts manualhandling policy at all times.

Frequent exposure to unpleasantworking conditions on a regular daily basis, e.g., bodily fluids includingblood, sputum, vomit, urine, fleas and lice.

Occasional exposure to verbal andphysical aggression.

Deals sensitively with patients whohave high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by pain, dementia orlimited mobility.

Person Specification

Additional Requirements

• Please state if you wish to work full time (37.5 hours) or part time hours. In addition, if you state part time hours please state the number of days you wish to work.
• Do you wish to work full time, 37.5 hours - Yes or No
• Do you wish to work part time - Yes or No. If Yes, please state the number of days you wish to work.

Experience

• Competent to perform ECGs
• Understanding of ECG interpretation and basic rhythms
• Understanding of Ambulatory ECG, sleep and BP monitoring
• Understanding of spirometry testing and basic measurements; FVC, FEV1 and PEF
• Competent to fit ambulatory ECG monitors
• Competent to fit ambulatory BP monitors
• Competent to fit sleep monitors
• Competent to perform basic spirometry

Qualifications

• GCSE grade C/4 or above in English and Maths
• SCST certificate in Electrocardiography or equivalent

Skills & behaviours

• General physical abilities to undertake role
• Shows initiative to develop and learn new skills
• Enjoys working as part of a team and supporting junior colleagues
• Takes accountability for their work and has pride in their role

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.