Senior Assistant Community Respiratory Physiologist

Job Summary

Working as part of the Chest Unit/ Integrated Respiratory team, the post-holder is responsible for the delivery of quality assured diagnostic spirometry services in Lambeth and Southwark. The post holder will be based at King's College Hospital and provide clinics both in the hospital and in the surrounding community GP practices.

The post-holder will be responsible for independently performing quality assured diagnostic spirometry and exhaled FENO in a community setting and at Kings College Hospital.

The post holder will be expected to work and communicate with many healthcare professionals on several sites including King's College Hospital, Guys and St Thomas's Hospital and GP practices throughout Lambeth and Southwark.

Main Duties of the Job

Responsibility for the provision of a quality assured diagnostic spirometry and exhaled FENO service with no day to day supervision from a Senior Physiologist:

• Independently performing quality assured spirometry on adults in a community, primary care or hospital setting.
• Administering bronchodilator to assess for reversibility.
• Required to obtain the ARTP Foundation Certificate in Spirometry.
• Measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO).
• Preparation of reports for spirometry and FENO results for checking by Senior Physiologist.

About Us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Date Posted: 15 April 2025

Pay Scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 4

Salary: £31,944 to £34,937 a year Per annum incl HCA

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time

Reference Number: 213-CAY-7148135

Job Locations:

Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS

Job Responsibilities

Quality Management

Responsibility to ensure that their own competency records are completed and maintained as necessary. Responsibility to ensure the performance and recording of the required calibration and quality assurance and/or the withdrawal of equipment from use if required. Responsibility for the adherence to schedule and recording of the departments Quality Assurance programme to include BioQC and other required departmental checks. Responsibility for the reporting of non-conformities within the service. Responsibility to represent Kings College Hospital positively whilst working at community locations.

Technical Duties and Responsibilities

Spirometry and FENO

Responsibility for the provision of a quality assured diagnostic spirometry and exhaled FENO service with no day to day supervision from a Senior Physiologist.

Independently performing quality assured baseline spirometry on adults in a community or primary care setting:

• Ensuring that all required calibration and quality control procedures have been performed.
• Obtaining verbal consent prior to testing and highlighting any patients who do not wish to consent to the lead Physiologist.
• Ensuring that all spirometry measurements are performed to the required national standards for reproducibility and reliability.
• Recognising errors in patient technique and providing direction for the correction of errors.
• Ensuring that patients are aware of and have adhered to pre-tests instructions.
• Documentation of deviations to pre-test instructions.
• Documentation of any errors in patient technique so that it is taken into account during the reporting process.
• Ensuring that all relevant contra-indications to spirometry testing have been assessed prior to testing and aware of the procedure if a contra-indication is present.
• Adherence to protocols that ensure infection control and safety during spirometry measurements.
• Ensuring that all equipment issues and faults are escalated to a senior physiologist.
• Recognising if a patient requires highlighting to the clinic lead for urgent clinical intervention.
• Administering bronchodilator to assess for reversibility.
• The post holder will be required to obtain the ARTP Foundation Certificate in Spirometry.
• Independently performing the measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO).
• Preparation of reports for spirometry and FENO results for checking by Senior Physiologist.

Communication

• Independently explaining the purpose of clinical measurements to patients referred to the community clinics.
• Independently gaining verbal consent for testing.
• Independently explaining test procedures and correcting errors in technique where required.
• Ensuring that the appropriate level of coaxing and encouragement is given to each patient to ensure that the maximal results are achieved for spirometry.

Administration

Assisting with the administration of spirometry clinics as required which will involve sending appointment letters and contacting the patients via telephone or e-mail. Assisting with the production and sending of reports to the patients GP.

Information Management

Supporting the teams 6 week diagnostic targets and highlighting potential deviation from targets to the clinical lead. Ensuring that confidential and sensitive information relating to patients is kept confidential and secure in line with Trust policies. Recording information on EPIC in an accurate and timely manner. Recording activity data and patient outcome data into databases and spreadsheets as required.

Human Resources

To be an active team member by supporting other members, offering assistance, being flexible and approachable particularly during changing service demands and staffing levels.

Physical Resources

Ensure all equipment is functioning correctly and arrange for repair or replacement as necessary keeping the Senior Physiologists in the area informed of progress. Responsibility for the calibration, quality control and maintenance of all equipment used and reporting defects in equipment in a timely manner to the clinical lead. Undertaking cleaning of equipment used. Responsibility for stock control for consumables required for spirometry, FENO and exCO.

Service Development

Ensuring that all respiratory department and Trust policies are adhered to. Commenting on changes to departmental policies, procedures and service developments as required.

Training, Education and Research

Participating in the Kings College Hospital Employee Performance Appraisal system and to fulfil its requirements. Responsibility for personal lifelong learning (LLL) attending appropriate courses following discussion with the lead clinician. Participation in the provision of accredited spirometry training courses for external delegates as required.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential:

• 2 Science A levels or Equivalent

Desirable:

• ARTP Foundation Level Certificate in Spirometry

Skills and Competencies

Essential:

• Attention to detail and accuracy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Experience as an Assistant Respiratory Physiologist
• Experience of performing quality assured spirometry and FeNO

Communication & Relationship Skills

Essential:

• Excellent interpersonal skills that are required to work as part of a team including medical, nursing and technical members.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer Details

Employer Name: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address:

Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS

Employer's Website: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)