This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Associate Sleep Practitioner to join the Dorset Sleep Service which provides Sleep Diagnostics for patients in catchment to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester and CPAP Therapy for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea across the entire county.
The successful candidate must be able to travel to different sites around the county, including occasional cover days in Weymouth and Dorchester, however their main base will be in the East of Dorset where the Sleep Service works out of St Leonard’s Hospital in Ringwood. They will also need to thrive in busy environments, be self-motivating and adaptable. They will be joining a friendly, positive team who have regular meetings and 1-2-1's to ensure that they feel supported and ensure that there is standardised practice across the multiple sites.
The role is full-time during office hours. Full training and professional development will be provided inhouse and courses/conferences may be provided on an 'as needed' basis.
The job will consist of issuing and downloading sleep study devices; monitoring a live database of CPAP patients’ treatment and escalating any issues to senior staff; receiving and recording phone calls and emails from CPAP patients; setting out CPAP equipment for collection; and undertaking routine clinical and administrative duties such as cleaning equipment, updating patient records, and filing.
We have both local and national targets to work within and so this is a busy service which undergo regular reviews and changes to working practices.
We’re looking for someone with 5 GCSEs including English and Maths, and a Level 3 qualification (e.g. A-Level, AS-level, NVQ3, BTEC); with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with patients and colleagues; good IT skills in Microsoft Office and ability to learn to use specialist software; good attention to detail, organisation, and time management; and who is enthusiastic about providing excellent healthcare to a wide range of patients. A background in healthcare would be beneficial but is not necessary; our team has people with a wide range of previous experiences. We recommend familiarising yourself with the basics of sleep studies, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, and CPAP therapy to gain a better understanding of the role.
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff where they feel valued and are given opportunities to progress where possible.
Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.
We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role.
Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.
Right to Work in the UK: This role is not available for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to support visa applications for this post in line with UKVI regulations.
The Dorset Sleep Service opened in Autumn 2023 and provides diagnostic sleep studies for patients in catchment to Dorset County Hospital, and CPAP treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea for Dorset’s entire population of around 380,000 residents. We perform around 1,700 sleep studies a year and at the moment manage 5,000 patients already on CPAP therapy; we expect this to rise to about 2,000 sleep studies a year and over 8,000 CPAP patients over the next five years.
The team will consist of Administrators, Sleep Practitioners at Associate, Practitioner, and Senior level, a Head of Department, and is overseen by two Consultants in Respiratory Medicine.
The Service is reasonably new and we value collaboration towards continual improvement, innovation and new ways of thinking to solve problems and you will be an integral part of creating and refining responsive and effective procedures. We aim to create a diverse, inclusive, and supportive environment where everyone – colleagues and patients alike – are treated with respect and consideration.
