Trainee Healthcare Scientist (Echocardiographer) Band 6
Your future begins here.
Would you enjoy the challenge of an exciting new role created to train and develop the next generation of echocardiographers?
We a training positions available, based at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals offering exceptional training opportunities.
We are delighted to join forces with the National School of Healthcare Science and Health Education England to support the Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP). This is a full-time, 18-month training post designed to support the successful candidate towards level 2 British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) accreditation. On completion of the programme, you will be awarded a post graduate certificate in Clinical Echocardiography.
These positions would ideally suit a PTP (Practitioner Training Programme) graduate with a good grounding in cardiac physiology and an interest in developing their skills within echocardiography. However, if you feel you have the relevant skills and experience to be successful in this post, we would also be interested to hear from you.
St Thomas’ is situated in the heart of London, immediately opposite the Houses of Parliament and Guy’s is at London Bridge, opposite The Shard. The echo department has an excellent track record in training and has been instrumental in the development of national standards for echocardiography and the new clinical scientist discipline.
The position will have its primary base location with the opportunity for cross-site rotation Together we have exceptional credentials in training and development and a superior individual BSE success rate.
For more information or to arrange an informal visit to the department please contact either
Job Summary
The Trainee Echocardiographer will be employed for a fixed term of 18 months during which time they will work through a programme of learning.
In conjunction with and supported by the Designated Training Officer, the Trainee Echocardiographer will be responsible for their own progression through the training programme, completing a mixture of work based competence and experience in NHS scientific departments, completing the learning outcomes as outlined in the Curriculum Library , undertaking the complementary academic Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography and preparing for and completing the BSE Transthoracic Accreditation process.
At all times the Trainee Echocardiographer is expected to work within standard operating policies and procedures and adhere to high standards of professionalism, health and safety, risk reduction, confidentiality, patient care and dignity, and respect for equality and diversity as set out in the NHS Constitution.
The Trainee Echocardiographer will be employed by Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust for a fixed term of 18 months during which time they will work through a programme of learning. This will be combined with an academic programme at Post Graduate level over the first year of the programme.
The trainee will undertake the full training programme in order to progress through the academic and practical elements of the training scheme. In so doing they will learn how to perform and interpret clinical and specialist scientific processes underpinned by theoretical and applied knowledge and practical experience and will learn how to:
Perform and interpret routine cardiac investigations.
Perform specialised diagnostics investigations.
Carry out complex scientific and clinical roles, including those working directly with patients.
Analyse and interpret and data compare investigative and clinical options.
Make judgements, including clinical and differential judgements, involving complicated facts or situations that impact on patients.
Initiate and undertake innovation, improvement and R&D and be involved in the education of healthcare science trainees and other learners in the workplace.
Carry out audit to continuously improve patient care and service needs.
Participate in the training and development of both external university students and junior team members.
Communicate and interact effectively within a multidisciplinary team to ensure a positive patient experience.
Assist the Principal Cardiac Physiologist and other senior members of the team in the day to day organisation and delivery of the cardiothoracic diagnostic service.
They will be expected to complete all work-based training and assessment alongside the academic course to exit the programme with eligibility for registration with the BSE and the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). Trainees must meet the AHCS Standards of proficiency for Healthcare Science Practitioners.
Post qualification and with appropriate additional experience and competencies, graduates from this scheme would be eligible to apply for Clinical Scientist equivalence and HCPC registration.
In addition, they will be expected to undertake work based experience to enable them to communicate complex technical, scientific and sensitive information to colleagues within their department in both verbal and written forms.
Key Relationships
The trainee will work closely with the training coordinator/officer and more senior members of staff to follow the curriculum for the Echocardiography Training Programme.
The trainee will work in specified areas of the department and be responsible to the Designated Training Coordinator/Officer for their own work and progression through the scheme.
All trainees will be expected to travel to national academic centres and undertake relevant courses regularly throughout their training. In some cases, this may involve overnight and/or residential stays. Trainees will undertake a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography at a designated academic institution specific for the training pathway. Trainees will be predominantly based at Guys and St Thomas’ but may need to attend other local/regional/national scientific services in order to complete the required pathway work-based curricula, as deemed appropriate by the Designated Training Officer.
Trainees will be a part of a national training programme and will be registered with the National School of Healthcare Science based in the West Midlands Multi-Professional Workforce Deanery.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Professional/Clinical responsibilities
Undertake a range of clinical and scientific investigations as appropriate to the role.
Acquire and maintain a high level of professional competence in the performance of all tests, investigations and measurements carried out.
Interpret and act upon results of tests, investigations and measurements in accordance with departmental policies, procedures and quality systems.
Comment and advise on new proposals and protocols, especially for service improvements.
Assist in the provision of advice to medical, nursing and other healthcare staff on the optimal and safe use of scientific procedures and highly complex equipment, including assisting in the design of new facilities.
Assist with the procurement, acceptance and use of medical devices and consumables.
Be responsible for the safe use of complex scientific and medical equipment, including recording all maintenance and calibration procedures performed and any corrective actions undertaken.
Use reagents, consumables, hazardous materials and equipment safely and in accordance with Health and Safety policies.
Participate in risk management procedures including risk assessment and the investigation and reporting of adverse incidents.
Participate in internal and external audit processes and quality systems
Undertake R&D within the department as an integral part of training and acquire relevant skills to undertake clinical audit.
Teaching and professional development
Successfully complete the training and assessment programme in conjunction with the local Training Coordinator and designated Academic institution to achieve certified competence awarded by the BSE.
Undertake suitable training within the host department and other placements to successfully acquire core competencies and thereafter maintain the required standards of competence when undertaking duties.
Take responsibility for own learning and development by recognising and taking advantage of all opportunities to learn, including appraisal, supervision, academic courses and problem-based learning and maintaining a personal portfolio of learning.
Ensure that own learning needs, identified with the Training officer and reflecting the requirements of the curriculum, are met.
Retain sufficient flexibility and adaptability in learning in order to ensure full contribution to improving services in response to changing health care needs.
Maintain knowledge of recent scientific developments and undertake supplementary training to develop both knowledge and skills.
Attend mandatory training (both vocational and academic) as required.
Participate in internal and external assessment processes.
Assist with supervision and training of support staff, students and new appointees, and participate in departmental seminars and scientific meetings to disseminate knowledge acquired through study or research.
- Patient Management and Clinical Care
Provide support to specialist clinics and specialist treatment interventions
Perform, report and interpret a range of investigations undertaken indirectly for or directly with patients within a range of care settings
Specialist care and treatment interventions for patients across the range of clinical pathways and health care settings
Appropriate clinical and scientific advice and interpretation of analytical results
Participate in multidisciplinary meetings
Apply and promote evidence-based practice and use of relevant clinical protocols and procedures
Ensuring that all equipment used on patients and the public is handled and applied in accordance with health and safety requirements and other national or international guidelines
Communication and interpretation of complex clinical, scientific and technical information to a wide range of people including clinicians, managers, patients and the public
Liaise with senior scientists and clinical users of the service on appropriateness of investigations, interventions and tests
Contribute to audits to inform patient management and clinical care
Contribute to quality audits relating to accreditation and regulation
Perform quality assurance, process and outcomes audits relevant to the specialism
Maintain standards for health & safety procedures
Comply with quality and governance procedures within the department including risk management and risk mitigation
Maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct
Ensure that patient safety and experience and effectiveness of service are maximised.
To carry out any other reasonable duties to achieve learning and experience that may be required, which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the post
This job description outlines the main current duties and responsibilities of the training post. The job description will need to be reviewed and subsequently may be altered. Any resulting changes will be subject to consultation
In addition to regular assessment and planning meetings, the trainee will have a biannual meeting to discuss progress and to consider issues relevant to the wider training programme
