Highly Specialised Clinical Physiologist (Neurophysiology)

Highly Specialised Clinical Physiologist (Neurophysiology) University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We have a new full-time vacancy for a band 8a Highly Specialised Clinical Physiologist on the Sir Jules Thorn Telemetry Unit at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The position will have lead responsibilities for our private patient telemetry on Bloomsbury ward and our burgeoning home video-EEG telemetry service. As a Highly Specialised Clinical Physiologist you will be responsible for supporting the Lead Clinical Physiologist in ensuring that our service users' needs are met through the delivery of a highly complex, specialist Clinical Neurophysiology service.

Our telemetry team provides the full range of video EEG services including:

• Private patient studies on Bloomsbury Ward
• At Home polysomnography and diagnostic videotelemetry
• Diagnostic studies
• Pre-surgical epilepsy studies including ictal SPECT
• Invasive studies (with subdural and depth (SEEG) electrodes)
• Electrocorticography
• Polysomnography, MSLT and Actigraphy

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated and engaging individual with several years of experience within the field of Clinical Neurophysiology who is adept at multidisciplinary team engagement.

The Sir Jules Thorn Telemetry Unit is a self-contained dedicated unit for monitoring patients with a variety of neurological, neurosurgical and neuropsychiatric conditions, performing more than 510 video-EEG telemetry studies and over 150 actigraphy studies per year.

Main duties of the job

Your main responsibilities for the Private patient and HVT services will be:

• To perform and report the full range of highly specialist and complex video-EEG telemetry studies.
• Assist the Lead Clinical Physiologist with the formation of policies and procedures to ensure that the service meets changing healthcare needs, trust policies and nationally/internationally set guidelines.
• To be responsible with the Lead Clinical Physiologist for providing out of hours support and advice on technical issues, via the telephone and remote access, to the nursing staff.
• Ensure the safe and correct working of all telemetry equipment on the unit.
• Communication of highly complex clinical and technical information relating to the neurophysiological investigations, with medical staff both from the telemetry medical team and associated teams and departments.
• Communication of information to the reporting consultant to ensure timely reporting of telemetry data.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Our dedicated Telemetry team consists of a tight-knit team of 11 highly motivated Clinical Physiologists, over 15 dedicated nursing staff, 5 consultant Neurologists/Neurophysiologists and an epilepsy fellow. Medical cover is provided by registrars and SHOs attached to Firm 1 (Epilepsy). Together with our specialist administrative team and support facilities staff we are driven by our organisations strategic objectives and organisational values of kindness, safety, teamwork and improving.

Person Specification Knowledge and Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) in Clinical Physiology (Neurophysiology) or equivalent.
• Post Graduate Degree or equivalent specialised modules/courses or significant equivalent experience.
• Member of Professional Organisation.
• Professional registration.
• Teaching or workplace assessors' qualification or equivalent.

Experience

• Experience in clinical Neurophysiology. Must be able to show that they have the practical experience and familiarity with the full range of investigation and specifically the most complex investigations carried out on the unit (Scalp video EEG with surface EMG, intracranial EEG with depth and grid/strip electrodes; including investigations on the unit and operating theatre, performing the test, reviewing and preparing complex factual reports on these studies.
• Evidence of practical experience in specialist skills such as polysomnographic recording, invasive EEG studies and the underpinning knowledge of these specialist procedures acquired through accredited courses or equivalent experience. Should include evidence of the specialist technical skills needed.
• Able to demonstrate underpinning knowledge of a range of Clinical Neurophysiology concepts with background knowledge and theory behind both routine and complex investigations performed.
• Demonstrate ability to analyze data from the complex investigations carried out on the unit and give technical/factual judgements on the data.
• Demonstrate ability to carry out research and audit activities either independently or in collaboration with colleagues or senior medical staff.
• Evidence of management experience.
• Budgetary management skills, assisting senior staff in monitoring expenditure and developing a culture of careful use of resources.

Skills and Abilities

• Able to use computerised databases, a wide range of specialist and complex technical and administrative software, including report writing and interpretative software used with the telemetry data to improve the information obtained.
• Able to analyse and interpret data from a variety of sources.
• Able to utilise ICT systems including Inphase, electronic healthcare record systems etc as well as standard programs such as word, excel etc.

Values

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving.

Communication

• Able to communicate effectively and sensitively with all patients, both verbally and in writing. This includes being able to discuss complex and sensitive issues with patients some of whom may have communication difficulties or challenging/aggressive behaviour.
• Able to communicate effectively with other health care professionals from various disciplines verbally and in writing on a range of topics, both clinical and non-clinical.
• Able to communicate with consultant medical staff regarding the complex specialist data recorded and able to present this data at a multidisciplinary meeting.
• Able to demonstrate and inform visitors about the work of the department and explain the running of the service.
• Able to train/teach less experienced clinical physiologists using both verbal and written methods.
• Evidence of ability to present research and audit material both within and outside the trust.

Personal and People Development

• Experience of supervising and training less experienced clinical physiologists.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Evidence of supervision and teaching of students or trainees.
• Evidence of ability to assist more senior staff in managing a team including drawing up rotas and balancing staff availability against service demands.
• Evidence of developing training programs for less experienced staff and facilitating staff development.

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Respects the privacy and dignity of the individual.
• Understands the implications of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Opportunities in practice.

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

• Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
• Promotes, monitors and maintains best practice in safety and security.
• Complies with local Clinical Governance and Risk Management policies and procedures.

Specific Requirements

• The post holder will be required to work flexibly and participate in the 7 day rota in place on the unit.
• Evidence of ability to work as part of a small multidisciplinary team.
• Evidence of ability to work in challenging environments.
• Able to manoeuvre patients around the unit safely according to trust policies.
• Able to move portable equipment around the unit and to other sites within the hospital.

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.

Salary

£61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-5104-A

Job locations

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH