Echocardiography Support Worker, Band 3

Job purpose

• Working within the Cardiology Investigation Department the Echo support worker will assist the Echo Physiologists in delivery of a wide range of cardiac diagnostic testing for outpatients and inpatients.
• Support the Echo team to deliver a high-quality service by taking responsibility for patient flow, acting as chaperone as required and organising porters and transport for patients and equipment
• Ensure the ultrasound room is prepared and ready for use.

• To work cross-county on a rotational basis, within a number of sites, throughout the Trust as required.
• To communicate effectively with patients, carers, relatives and all members of the multidisciplinary team
• Maintain high standards of care
• Take responsibility for personal development and support the development of others as required.
• Conduct oneself in a professional manner and be a role model at all times
• Work proactively to ensure that every patient attendance meets the Trusts expectations with timely undertaking of procedure and effective communication with relatives, patients and carers.

• Meet and greet patients and relatives.
• Initial confirmation of patient ID.
• Provide care for patients in the clinical imaging environment.
• Perform height, weight and blood pressure measurements
• Perform ECG (electrocardiogram) as required.

• Attend patient on CRIS/ISCV system and prepare any necessary paperwork.
• Assist patients with dressing and undressing as appropriate for the examination.
• Act as a chaperone if required.
• Assist with patient flow, moving patients from waiting areas to examination rooms
• Assist patients to the toilet ensuring patients dignity is maintained
• Recognise and respond to emergency situations and take appropriate action, according to trust/department policies
• Assist in emergencies of an unwell patient and provide assistance for those in distress or needing support.
• Perform basic life support where required, assist with toileting/vomiting etc.
• Maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records in line with departmental and professional standards
• Distribute patient results to the referring Health professional.
• Maintain patient dignity and confidentiality at all times
• Provide aftercare for patient as required.
• Escalate or seek advice from colleagues if concerned.
• To maintain a clean and clinical environment, of the clinical area, after each patient.
• To restock all clinical rooms with agreed stock levels on a daily basis.
• To perform daily checks of defibrillation trolleys throughout the department.
• To undertake the safe transportation of patients to and from the department, in line with Trust moving and handling policy.

• To cover the Cardiac Investigations department reception when required.
• Assist with other clerical duties as required.

• Develop and maintain clinical skills and knowledge necessary for the role and to deliver service.
• Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems including the use of electronic patient record, E-Learning & email.
• Keep up-to-date with information disseminated in the Trust
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of Accountability, responsibility and Duty of Care.
• Support the safeguarding of individuals following local protocols and standards.
• Relate to others in ways that support rights, inclusion and the wellbeing of individuals, supporting individuals to keep themselves safe.
• Good personal organisational skills.
• Effective, collaborative team worker.
• Accurately enter clinical information onto the patient reporting systems and ultrasound equipment when required.

• Exposure to unpleasant conditions body fluids, body odours, blood, vomit
• Contact with infectious patient
• Contact with violent / aggressive patients and relatives Physical effort
• Frequent requirement to provide manual handling, assist with lifting and movement of patients following trust manual handling training
• Moving bulky/heavy equipment within the department and to the wards in order to perform the Echocardiogram
• Regular patient transfer between the department and the wards using a wheelchair or trolley
• Provide CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) as appropriate Leadership and management
• Comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g.

• In conjunction with their manager, identify training needs.
• Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in the departmental and Trust protocols.

• Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with lead staff.
• Ensure a smart, professional image that enhances the public perception of the Trust and the professionalism of its staff is portrayed.

• Be actively involved in and support departmental education programmes
• Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced staff in the clinical practice setting.
• Undertake all mandatory training
• To maintain skills and knowledge within resuscitation, as per Trust guidelines
• Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations.

• Demonstrate a commitment to research-based practice and clinical excellence and play and active part in the introduction of research-based change to improve patient centred care.

• Work with senior staff undertaking audit and research projects, to further own and teams clinical practice within each rotation.

• Contribute to the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda by active participation in service initiatives, health and safety and risk management.
• Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/ protocols/ guidelines relevant to the specialist area.
• Openly question and challenge practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved.
• Take part in departmental surveys and Trust staff surveys as required.

Contact Details If you would like to know more about this new exciting role, or arrange an informal visit, I would be very happy to chat to you, so please do not hesitate to contact me: Samantha King Principal Physiologist (Lead Physiologist Echocardiography) 0300 422 8281 (GRH) 0300 422 3561 (CGH)