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Job Overview
Vascular Testing at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) is offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced Clinical Vascular Scientist, newly qualified (or nearing completion) Scientific Training Programme (STP) or Practitioner Training Programme (PTP) graduate to join our progressive enthusiastic and friendly team and work in one of the largest Vascular Networks (twelve consultants) in the UK. The Vascular Testing team is comprised of seven clinical vascular scientists, two renal specialist nurses, three support workers and an administrator. The department has four climate controlled clinical rooms (three with dedicated high end ultrasound machines and a physiological testing room) and three portable ultrasound machines for mobile assessments around the hospital.
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) is the hub for the Major Arterial Centre for the Bristol, Bath and Weston Vascular Network. Vascular Testing is central to the Vascular Network based in the Brunel Building at the centre of the redeveloped Southmead Hospital. The hospital is in Bristol which is a busy vibrant and multi cultural city.
This is a fixed term contact for 12 months (maternity cover) and offers the opportunity to experience working in a major arterial, trauma and stroke centre.
Main duties of the job
Vascular Testing at Southmead Hospital is an autonomous diagnostic service within North Bristol NHS Trust, providing specialist ultrasound techniques to investigate circulation disorders.
The services it provides are integral to clinical decision-making in a number of key areas including vascular surgery, renal medicine, and stroke medicine.
The post holder is responsible for the accurate performing and reporting of specialised duplex ultrasound investigations with considerable expertise and a high degree of scientific skill. Staff are required to perform scans in the Vascular Testing outpatient department, the Emergency Department, on the inpatient wards and peripheral outpatient clinics in surrounding hospitals where required. They are expected to undertake and be responsible for specific roles and duties in the day-to-day running of the department to include teaching and training activities within the service and participate in research, audit and quality improvement projects.
Working for our organisation
Being located at the major arterial and trauma centre for Bristol we are fortunate to have access to a high volume of work and wide variety pathology. We are a busy department with an annual work activity of over 13,000 scans per year. The job provides variation with staff required to perform scans in the Vascular Testing outpatient department, the Emergency Department, pre-op medi rooms, on the inpatient wards and peripheral outpatient clinics in surrounding hospitals where required. All Vascular Scientists have protected Continued Professional Development time to carry out other tasks of their choice to include audits and research, leadership development and other professional responsibilities. We also have close links with the University of The West of England (UWE) and lecture regularly on the Medical Ultrasound Courses and run, in collaboration with UWE, accredited study days on a variety of specialist vascular topics.
Work life balance and staff wellbeing is an important element of the department’s ethos. Work pattern requests are considered taking this important element into account alongside service delivery requirements
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Post holder is expected to perform and autonomously report a wide range of scans to include:
- Carotid/Vertebral artery
- Upper and lower limb arterial
- ABPI/ exercise testing/ TBI/TCp02
- Upper and lower limb venous
- Lower limb venous incompetence (primary and recurrent)
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Graft surveillance
- Renal Access and fistula assessment
- Temporal artery assessment
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description and person specification document attached.
Applications from individuals who do not possess the experience to perform all the required tests and require training in specific areas are welcome and Banding (range 5-7) will be subject to training required and qualifications.
Part time hours will also be considered.
Informal visits and enquiries are strongly recommended to ensure this is the right role for you. Please do not hesitate to contact the department on 0117 4145300 to discuss or arrange a visit
Person specification
Education/Training/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Science degree
- Relevant postgraduate vascular ultrasound qualification at MSc level or equivalent relevant qualification or experience
- Understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis
Desirable criteria
- Member of the Society of Vascular Technology for Great Britain and Ireland (SVT)
- Full SVT accreditation
- HCPC registration
Work Experience
Essential criteria
- Vascular ultrasound experience
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working as a Clinical Vascular Scientist
Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities
Essential criteria
- Able to perform vascular ultrasound investigations (unsupervised)
- Understanding of vascular diseases: including anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis
- A good understanding of the physics of medical ultrasound
- Ability to produce clear, accurate and concise written reports
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues
Desirable criteria
- Good understanding of Quality Improvement process
Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances
Essential criteria
- Highly self motivated
- Ability and judgement to act independently to resolve complex problems
- Demonstrate initiative and resourcefulness
- Willingness to learn new skills
If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.
Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.
If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.
North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.
At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.
Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.
