Vascular Healthcare Science Associate Technician

at  North Bristol NHS Trust

The Vascu la r Healthcare Science Ass ociate Technician is a member of the Vascular Testing team who supports Clinical Vascular Scientists to meet the departmental clinical and administrative needs. They will have a responsibility to provide diagnostic tests (within Scope of Practice) care and assistance to patients undergoing vascular ultrasound in the Vascular Testing outpatient department as well as inpatients on the ward, the Emergency Department and peripheral outpatient clinics.
The post holder will aid the Vascular Testing team in the day to day running of the department, with clinical and administrative tasks to facilitate the throughput of patients attending the department.
If training is required, the successful candidate will be appointed at Band 3 with automatic progression to Band 4 on completion of qualifications/training.
The Healthcare Science A ssociate Technician will support the Vascular Testing scientist team deliver the diagnostic vascular service at NBT. You will be working directly with patients, performing and reporting defined diagnostic tests in c luding A B PI’s exercise tes ting, TCP02 TBI’ s and AAAs and following protocols and procedures in line with a set Scope of Practice. In addition your role wil l include providing administrative support, b ooking and contacting patients and dealing with telephone queries , ordering stock and any other associated administrative duties to support the team.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who wants to work within Healthcare Science as part of a small team and is flexible and adaptable to change.
Good communication skills are essential in dealing with a wide range of people you will meet.
North Bristol NHS Trust is the hub for the Major Arterial Centre for the Bristol, Bath and Weston Vascular Network. Vascular Testing is central to the Network and is based in the modern Brunel Building at Southmead Hospital in Bristol which is a busy vibrant and multi cultural city.
We are offering an exciting opportunity for an individual who wishes to start a career in Healthcare Science. The successful candidate will be an integral part of the team providing clinical and administration support. Achieving relevant qualifications are encouraged and supported. W e are a progressive enthusiastic and friendly unit and work within one of the largest Vascular Networks in the UK . The Vascular Testing team is comprised of six clinical vascular scientists, two renal specialist nurses, two assistants/t echnicians, an STP trainee and an administrator.
Being located at the major arterial and trauma centre for Bristol we are a busy department with an annual work activity of over 1 1 ,000 scans per year. The job provides variation with staff required to perform investigations 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 .
Work life balance and staff well being is an important element of the department’s ethos. Work pattern requests are considered taking this important element into account alongside service delivery requirements.

To deliver (including reporting) an ABPI, Toe pressure and TCP02 service as specified by Vascular Scientist without direct supervision.
To perform AAA ultrasound scans following strict protocols and guidelines without direct supervision of a Vascular Scientist.
To monitor patients ’ response to specific investigations and feedback to Vascular Scientist as required
To organise own workload within delegated clinical assessment sessions
To use a range of verbal and non-verbal tools to communicate effectively with patients and carers to facilitate the execution of investigations. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating e.g. patients who may be dysphasic, deaf or blind, depressed or aggressive
To communicate effectively verbally and non-verbally with Vascular Testing colleagues as necessary and other members of the Multi Disciplinary Team
To demonstrate safe use of equipment to patients for execution of exercise test
To work within Departmental, and Trust guidelines and policies
To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient investigation records
To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with the agreed objectives and personal development programme to meet set knowledge and competencies, plus service needs
To mentor the Vascular Science Assistant and participate in staff appraisal scheme as an appraiser as appropriate
To deliver in-service training sessions as appropriate
To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit, research or monitoring of service
To undertake basic/simple wound dressings as required
To assist the Vascular Scientist on call deliver an efficient inpatient and emergency vascular ultrasound service within NBT
To assist the Vascular Testing department deliver an efficient outpatient service by monitoring Dashboard and preparing rooms and patients for investigations, organising porters and directing patients as required
To be responsible for monitoring of stock levels and requesting /ordering of stock and equipment on regular basis
To undertake administrative tasks, assisting with audits and research research and compiling databases
To undertake as directed any housekeeping duties e.g. cleaning of equipment, tidying work areas, restocking room