Trainee Healthcare Scientist (XR06)
Job Description
Job summary
Expected Shortlisting Date
28/04/2025
Planned Interview Date
07/05/2025
Are you a registered Healthcare Scientist with the AHCS, or completing your undergraduate Healthcare Science degree programme this academic year and are looking to specialise in Echocardiography?
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has an exciting opportunity for an 18-month fixed term full-time training post in echocardiography, starting in October 2025. You will be trained by expert Cardiac Physiologists/Clinical Scientists in the British Society of Echocardiography accredited department to become highly skilled in performing and reporting cardiac ultrasound diagnostic procedures.
This opportunity is part of the Echocardiography Training Program developed by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSH and fully funded by NHS England.
Successful ETP trainees will be trained to BSE accreditation level 2 and will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography from University of Newcastle.
Applicants for this programme are required to have a 1st or 2:1 in either an undergraduate honours degree (including an integrated master's degree) in Cardiac Physiology (PTP) or a relevant scientific subject such as Biology, Human Biology or Sports Science and registration with the AHCS.
Main duties of the job
The Trainee Echocardiographer will be employed for a fixed term of 18 months during which time they will work through a program 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 program, completing a mixture of work based competence and experience in NHS scientific departments, completing the learning outcomes as outlined in the NSHCS Curriculum Library, undertaking the complementary academic Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography and preparing for and completing the BSE Transthoracic Accreditation process. This will be combined with an academic program at Post Graduate level over the first year of the program. The academic programme is delivered by the University of Newcastle and the trainee will attend fortnight academic block visits twice during the first year, travel and accommodation provided.
At all times the Trainee Echocardiographer is expected to work within standard operating policies and procedures of the host department and NHS organisation 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.
About us
Come and join our team in Leeds and become part of The Leeds Way sharing our vision and values. Our Trust is recognised for our staff engagement, great care and rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute health providers in the UK and based in one of the fastest growing and vibrant cities in the north.
At Cardio-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 part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.
Job responsibilities
The post holder must possess the relevant qualifications, training and experience as outlined in the person specification.
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 and other courses throughout their training - in some cases this may involve overnight and/or residential stays. Trainees will undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Echocardiography at a designated academic institution specific for the training pathway.
The trainee will undertake the full training programme 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.
Scientific and Clinical Practice
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.
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.
Education and Learning
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 course, 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 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 ...
