Important Job Application Information
Thank you for your interest in NHS Tayside vacancies
Please see below Job Description/Person Specification and General Conditions of Service
Your Application Form must be completed in full. Please note copies of Curriculum
Vitae, Qualifications and Course Certificates will not be accepted at this stage.
Please return your completed Application Form to recruitment.tayside@nhs.net (quoting
the vacancy reference number in the subject box) or to the postal address given on the
General Conditions of Service.
All completed applications are held in Human Resources until the closing date. After
the closing date a panel will meet to prepare an interview shortlist. Once this decision
has been made, all shortlisted applicants will be emailed to invite them to attend for
interview. It is important that you check your emails regularly.
This process takes approximately 6 weeks. Therefore, if you have not been contacted
regarding interview within 6 weeks of the closing date, your application has been
unsuccessful and you will receive no further correspondence from Human Resources.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Find out more about living and working in Tayside at:
www.dundeecity.gov.uk
www.angus.gov.uk
www.pkc.gov.uk
NHS TAYSIDE – AGENDA FOR CHANGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title
Specialist Paediatric Pulmonary
Function Clinical Technologist
(Physiologist)
Department(s)/Location
Paediatric Pulmonary Function, Child
Health / Pulmonary Function
Laboratory, East Block
Number of job holders
1
JOB PURPOSE
The Paediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory provides specialist lung function testing in
children for NHS Tayside and occasionally other children within the catchments area of the
North of Scotland Paediatric Respiratory Network. The main (adult) Pulmonary Function
Laboratory provides a NHS Tayside wide service for patients with a range of (respiratory)
problems.
The principle role is to undertake routine and advanced clinical physiological tests and
procedures on children, to interpret test results and report to clinicians. There will also be a
clinical governance requirement to work in the adult laboratory.
There is a potential to develop key areas of the paediatric pulmonary function laboratory.
Full training on all the paediatric pulmonary function equipment and performance of the tests will
be offered for the successful applicant under direction of Caroline King, Head of Service, Clinical
Respiratory Physiologist, Respiratory Function Laboratory, RHSC, Yorkhill, Glasgow
ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
The staffing of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory, under the Head of the Vascular Laboratory,
consists of three respiratory physiologists and a senior respiratory physiologist, who are supervised
by a clinical specialist.
Clinical Specialist
Paediatric
respiratory
consultants
Chief engineering
technologist MPD
(personnel issues)
Clinical Physiologist
(This post) AFC 5
Adult Pulmonary function
laboratory
4 posts
SCOPE AND RANGE
This post is based primarily in the Paediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory situated beside the
offices of the paediatric respiratory specialist nurses and the Paediatric Respiratory Consultant.
This is principally an autonomous post, however it is essential to develop close working relationship
with a nominated member of adult lab for the purposes of clinical governance. The post holder has
a significant commitment to participate in and develop the provision of the paediatric pulmonary
function service within the Maternal and Child Health Sciences. There is, however, a commitment
to the adult laboratory both as part of clinical governance and to enable development of key service
areas within the paediatric laboratory.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Administration (20%):
Responsibilities for policy and service development implementation:
Follows policies in own role which are determined by others, no responsibility for
service development, but may be required to comment on policies, procedures or
possible developments.
Responsibilities for financial and physical resources:
Responsible for the safe use of expensive and highly complex equipment (e.g. body
plethysmograph).
Responsibilities for Human Resources:
Provides advice, or demonstrates own activities or workplace routine to new or less
experienced employees in own work area.
Responsibilities for information resources:
Records personally generated information (e.g. clinical observations, test results, case
reports).
Research & Development (10%):
Responsibilities for research and development:
Undertakes surveys or audits, as necessary to own work; may occasionally participate
in research and development, clinical trials or equipment testing.
Patient Care (70%):
Responsibilities for patient care:
Provides clinical technical services to patients (e.g. undertaking standard diagnostic
tests on patients, calibrating complex equipment for use on patients.
Test carried out include:
 Spirometry
 Flow-volume loop
 Reversibility
 Gas transfer
 Nitrogen washout
 Bodyplethysmography
 Mouth pressures
 Peak Flow
 Inhaler technique
 Oximetry
There is a potential to develop the following assessments
 Bronchial Challenge (histamine) – using KoKo digidoser
 Bronchial Challenge (methacholine) – using aerosol provocation system (APS)
 Exercise Induced Asthma
 6 minute walk
 Full Cardio-Respiratory exercise test
 Flight Assessment
 Hyperventilation Provocation / Capnography
 Impulse Oscillometry (IOS)
 Infant plethysmography tests may be performed
 Sleep studies, including home oximetry, Embletta etc.
Induction Standards & Code of Conduct
Your performance must comply with the national “Mandatory Induction Standards for
Healthcare Support Workers in Scotland” 2009; and with the Code of Conduct for
Healthcare Support Workers.
COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder must have good communication skills, particularly in the day to day work
with patients and be able to maintain an effective working relationship with staff from
Maternal and Child Health, adult respiratory and relevant sectors of the Medical Physics
Department, NHS Tayside and the University of Dundee.
Post holder provides and receives complex (e.g. condition related information for this job),
sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training,
empathic or re-assurance skills are required. This may be because agreement or
cooperation is required or because there are barriers to understand (e.g. children, patients
with learning disabilities).
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
The postholder will be educated to degree level in an appropriate discipline e.g. physiology
or equivalent level of knowledge.
You will need to develop and demonstrate an understanding of a range of work procedures
and practices, which requires expertise within the respiratory specialism, underpinned by
theoretical knowledge or relevant practical knowledge.
Experience in the field of respiratory physiology is desirable but not essential
Full training in the practical aspects on all the paediatric pulmonary function equipment and
performance of the tests will be offered to the successful applicant under direction of
Caroline King, Head of Service, Clinical Respiratory Physiologist, Respiratory Function
Laboratory, RHSC, Yorkhill, Glasgow. This will require a willingness to travel to Yorkhill for
training at the start of the job.
The postholder will be expected to:
work towards gaining professional accreditation.
work closely with paediatric specialist nurses to underpin clinical knowledge and skills.
develop specialist knowledge in all relevant aspects of paediatric respiratory diseases
and their potential complications e.g. infection risk, autoimmune disorders etc.
SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
Responsible for the safe use of expensive and highly complex equipment (e.g.
bodyplethysmograph, nitrogen washout, exercise equipment, bronchial provocation
equipment, computers).
Records personally generated information (e.g. clinical observations, test results, case
reports).
N.B. the department has recently undergone a full equipment upgrade in 2013
Equipment used:
 Jaeger SpiroPro Plus
 Jaeger Masterscreen Body Box with on-line computer
 Jaeger Impulse Oscillometry (IOS)
 Jaeger Aerosol Provocation System (APS)
 Jaeger Infant plethysmograph










Reebok Exercise Step
Dell Optiplex comp.
Dell Inspiron laptop comp.
Nonin Onyx pulse oximeter
Minolta Pulsox 3iA SensorMedics Vmax 229
SensorMedics Vmax Spectra (Bodyplethysmograph)
Ergoline Ergometrics 800
Medix Minor Nebulisers
Ferraris KoKo Digidoser
Medifit MFE Ergometer
Software used:
 Microsoft XP (incl. see above)
 Vmax Spectra IVS-0101-12-3
 Vmax 229 IVS 0101-06-1C
 Minolta Pulsox DS3 ver 3.01
 KoKo PFT System Ver 4.3
RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All records created in the course of the business of NHS Tayside are corporate records and are
public records under the terms of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937. This includes email
messages and other electronic records. It is your responsibility to ensure that you keep appropriate
records of your work in NHS Tayside and manage those records in keeping with the NHS Tayside
Records Management Policy and with any guidance produced by NHS Tayside specific to your
employment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Physical skills:
The post requires highly developed physical skills, where accuracy is important (e.g.
skin prick testing).
Physical effort:
There is a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short
periods during a shift (e.g. pushing wheelchairs, lifting patients etc.)
Mental effort:
There is a frequent requirement for concentration where the work pattern is
unpredictable with competing demands for attention.
Emotional effort:
This post is based in paediatrics, with occasional exposure to distressing and emotional
circumstances (e.g. delivering unwelcome news, patients or parents with challenging
behaviour).
Working conditions:
Exposure to unpleasant working conditions (e.g. histamine and chemicals)
DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
Analytical & Judgemental skills: Judgements involving complex facts or situations, which require the
analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options.
Expected results are defined and the post holder is guided in how to achieve them by principles and
broad occupational policies or regulations. Guidance may be provided by peers or external
reference points (e.g. ARTP / BTS / ATS / ERS
Key Contacts
Paediatric Respiratory Consultant
Clinical Scientist/Clinical Specialist (Vascular Laboratory)
Paediatric specialist respiratory nursing staff e.g. CF nurses
Director of Medical Physics (Richard Lerski)
MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
Ensuring that all patients’ investigations are carried out sensitively and professionally, meeting the
requirements of the Trust and ARTP, BTS and ERS guidelines. Ensuring that outpatients will be
seen within 6 – 8 weeks (urgent patients within 1 – 2 weeks). Ensuring that in-patients will be seen
within one week.
Developing key areas of the paediatric service as an autonomous practitioner and as part of the
team within the adult pulmonary function laboratory.
Team work essential as this post will be working closely with a nominated member of the adult lab
staff.
To provide a high quality diagnostic service, both in terms of accuracy and technical complexity
To be responsible for the accurate documentation of factual reports and correlation with previous
results which may impact on patient management
Dealing with heavy workloads on a daily basis due to large clinical demand, unusual disease
profiles etc
Time management.
Addressing the equality and diverse needs of patients and staff.
To develop excellent communication channels between members of the multidisciplinary team
Person Specification
POST REF NO:
P/HC/49
JOB TITLE/BAND:
Respiratory Clinical Physiologist- Band 5
LOCATION:
Department of Medical Physics, (Paediatric Pulmonary Function)
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
HOURS:
37.5 hours per week
CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL
EXPERIENCE:
Concurrent with undergraduate
training
DESIRABLE
Experience working in a
hospital clinical environment
Team work
QUALIFICATIONS:
(Training; Research;
Publications)
Relevant degree eg physiology
ARTP accreditation
KNOWLEDGE &
SKILLS:
To undertake mandatory
professional qualification in
respiratory function
Experience in basic
paediatric respiratory
function
Understanding of current health
and safety NHS guidelines
Knowledge of infection
control and implications in
respiratory assessments
Intermediate computer skills
Excellent communication skills
PERSONAL QUALITIES:
Ability to identify and address own
learning needs
Good organisational skills
Ability to recognise own limitations
and when to ask for help.
Respect diversity and
equality
Use professional judgement
in the interest of the
patients and public
Take responsibility for own
workload
OTHER:
(eg travel across Tayside)
Flexibility in working hours to suit
the demands of the service
Experience in clinical quality
control.
Ability to follow Standard
Operating procedures (SOP)
Develop own SOPs
General Conditions of Service
POST REF NO:
P/HC/49
JOB TITLE/GRADE:
Respiratory Clinical Physiologist – Band 5
LOCATION:
Department of Medical Physics, (Paediatric Pulmonary Function)
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
Conditions of Service
Remuneration
Hours of Duty
Superannuation
The terms and conditions of service for this post are those
determined by the NHS Staff Council.
The current salary scale for the post is £21,388 to £27,901
per annum (pro rata for part-time staff). Placing on the scale
on appointment is normally at the minimum but may be
higher subject to verification of previous relevant service.
Salary is paid Monthly by Bank Credit Transfer.
The hours of the post are 37.5 per week (8.30am – 16.30pm)
Start and finish times will be determined by the needs of the
service.
Membership of the NHS Superannuation Scheme is not
compulsory but is open to all staff between the ages of 16
and 70 (65 in some instances).
The contributions paid are a percentage of superannuable
pay, which is essentially basic pay excluding, for example,
overtime or travelling expenses.
Contribution rates with effect from 01.04.12 are as follows:
Annual Pensionable Pay
(Full-time equivalent)
Up to £15,000
£15,001 to £21,175
£21,176 to £26,557
£26,558 to £48,982
£48,983 to £69,931
£69,932 to £110,273
£110,274 to any higher amount
Annual Leave
Contribution
5%
5%
6.5%
8.0%
8.9%
9.9%
10.9%
Contributions are subject to tax relief and reduced National
Insurance contributions.
NHS Tayside also makes a
substantial contribution towards scheme benefits – currently
around 14% of basic pay.
On appointment = 27 days (pro rata for part-time Staff) or 5.4
weeks per year.
After 5 years aggregated service = 29 days (pro rata for parttime staff) or 5.8 weeks per year
After 10 years aggregated service = 33 days (pro rata for
part-time staff) or 6.6 weeks per year
References
Public Holidays = 8 days (pro rata for part-time staff) or 1.6
weeks per year
All offers of appointment are subject to receipt of two
satisfactory references
Occupational Health
Clearance
All offers of appointment to new entrants to the National
Health Service are subject to a medical examination. Medical
examinations are arranged and undertaken by the
Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Service (OHSAS).
Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974
(Exclusions and
Exceptions) (Scotland)
Order 2003
All current or spent criminal convictions, cautions, warnings
or any case pending must be disclosed prior to commencing
in employment as detailed on the application form.
Disclosure Scotland
Please note that having a conviction will not automatically
debar you from obtaining employment with NHS Tayside.
Careful consideration will be given to the relevance of the
offence to the particular post in question. However, if you are
appointed, and it is found that you did not reveal a previous
conviction your employment may be terminated.
The successful applicant will be required to become a
member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG)
in respect of regulated work with protected adults and
regulated work with children.
Immigration, Asylum
and Nationality Act 2006 It is a criminal offence for an employer to employ anyone who
does not have permission to live or work in the UK.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to produce specific
original documentation at interview e.g. Passport, or full birth
certificate together with an official document giving the
applicants permanent National Insurance Number and name
issued by a Government Agency or a previous employer, as
well as photocopies of these documents.
Professional Registration/ New entrants to NHS Tayside will be required to achieve the
Induction Standards & Code
mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support
of Conduct
Workers (HCSWs) in Scotland and comply with the Code of
Conduct for HCSWs throughout your employment.
Smoking Policy
Applications
Internal candidates will be required to comply with the Code
of Conduct for HCSWs.
Smoking is prohibited within NHS premises and grounds.
Completed forms should be returned to:
recruitment.tayside@nhs.net quoting the job reference in the
subject line
or Human Resources, Management Offices, Perth Royal
Infirmary, Taymount Terrace, Perth PH1 1NX
By closing date of Friday, 21 June 2013