Senior Healthcare Science Assistant
Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.
If you are registered Health Care professional considering relocating to the Hywel Dda area in West Wales please don’t hesitate to contact our recruitment campaigns team directly via [email protected]
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The salary scale above has been agreed as part of the NHS Agenda for Change pay award for 2024/2025 and will be implemented in November 2024 backdated to 1st April 2024 where applicable.
Hywel Dda University Health Board reserve the right to close vacancies after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for a post.
Job overview
We deliver cardiac and respiratory diagnostics and support patients with long term cardiac and respiratory conditions in Carmarthenshire. We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who can work flexibly to support the range of services the team offer.This will involve working alongside qualified staff and working independently to deliver services within a varied work schedule. Attention to detail and accurate record keeping are essential abilities.
This post is advertised as a Band 3, however applicants who do not currently hold all the necessary competencies to a Band 3 level are encouraged to apply and, if successful, will be appointed under Annex 21 rules whereby 70% of the top of Band 3 will be payable during the first 12 months and 75% of the top of a Band 3 during the second 12 months.Applicants would be supported to develop their competencies required to fulfil the role within 2 years. Following successful completion and successful attainment of skills and competences for the role, the post holder will then be paid at Band 3 (minimum point on the scale).
Failure to achieve the competencies in the designated timeframe could result in re-deployment. As part of the Annex 21 process, there is no financial penalty to those who apply for this role where the percentage will cause a reduction in pay, subsequently a local protection would be put in place until the pay has caught up.
Main duties of the job
The main duties are to support the clinical physiology team in the provision of cardiac and respiratory investigations. Working with qualified staff during complex procedures such as exercise testing and stress echocardiography; ensuring patient safety and accurate monitoring.Facilitating the work of qualified staff by greeting patients and performing basic clinical observations and issuing CPAP masks. Working independently to provide routine investigations such as ECG’s and the issue of ambulatory cardiac and respiratory monitors.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the skills and flexibility to manage their own time and organise their daily activities to meet the numerous demands of the role.
The post-holder will be an active team member, supporting the team and the patients by recognising and implementing improvements, teaching and coaching others.
Working for our organisation
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services to almost 400,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest.
Five community hospitals: Amman Valley Hospital and Llandovery Hospital in Carmarthenshire, Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire.
Two integrated care centres (Aberaeron and Cardigan, Ceredigion).
Community facilities, including:
48 General Practices (GP surgeries), 49 Dental Practices, 98 Community Pharmacies (chemists), 44 General Ophthalmic Practices (including eye health and low vision services), 38 sites providing mental health and learning disability services, care within your own homes
Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The successful candidate will deliver a range of tasks and duties, with varied autonomy. They will be supported to develop their skills to recognise abnormal results and act on them. They should ensure the patient is central to all that we do and is comfortable and supported throughout.
- Perform ECG’s, spirometry and record basic observations of height weight, blood pressure and pulse oximetry.
- Assist in the delivery of the ambulatory monitoring services (Ambulatory ECG, BP and Oxygen Saturations, Sleep Diagnostics) by preparing, fitting and removing monitors; supporting the patient at all times.
- Assist clinical physiologists during complex and routine procedures, supporting and monitoring the patient, preparing and decontaminating the environment and equipment.
The role is central to providing an efficient service by supporting the administrative team to facilitating in-patient flow, maximise outpatient schedules, ensure stock rotation and replenishment, maintaining equipment and the environment.
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 27/01/2025
Person specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria- Minimum 3 GCSE or equivalent, to include English, Maths and Science
- Society of Cardiological Science and Technology award in Practical Electrocardiography (or working towards, or equivalent local assessment)
- Society of Cardiological Science and Technology Certificate in Electrocardiography (or working towards, or equivalent local assessment)
- ARTP/BTS Foundation Certificate in Spirometry (or working towards, or equivalent local assessment)
- Qualification Credit Framework for Wales Level 2 or 3 (or working towards)
- Core Health Care Support Worker Training
- Basic Life Support
Experience
Essential criteria- Experience of working in a health care environment
- Experience of working in a small team
- Experience of performing a range of investigations as outlined in the job description
- Experience working as a Healthcare Science Assistant
- Experience mentoring or coaching
Language Skills
Desirable criteria- Welsh Speaker (Level 1)
Hywel Dda University Health Board operates a bilingual policy. All applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked.To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.
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If you are successfully appointed, by completing the application form you authorise the UHB to obtain any previous NHS service details including all electronically held sickness information, via the Inter Authority Transfer process on the national Electronic Staff Record (ESR).
To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK.If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.