Detailed job description and main responsibilities

General duties

o     To observe and uphold local fire, Health and safety, Control of Infection, First aid, Risk Assessment, Manual Handling Assessment, Display Screen Equipment, Safeguarding and COSHH regulations with regard to patients, carers and colleagues in line with Trust and Divisional Clinical Governance procedures.

o     Be aware of own schedule for any given day, ensure the smooth running of the department and have  the ability to adapt when the need arises.

o     As the Neurophysiology Department is a small department there may be occasions when the post holder may need to undertake reception and clerical duties, equipment maintenance or other tasks to ensure the smooth running of the department. 

o     To oversee daily preparation and maintenance of recording rooms, trolleys and cupboards.

o     Complete appropriate arrangements for patient transport.

o     Deal with suggestions and comments as per Trust Policy.

o     To have the ability to use all types of departmental and hospital patient databases.

o     Liaise and communicate with other medical professionals from both within the trust and from outside organisations.

o     To maintain the confidentiality of patient data and information at all times.

o     To be responsible for the comfort and safety of patients, carers, visitors and other members of staff   during their visit to the department. 

o     Ensure that communication with the patient and their family is maintained at all times during their visit to the   department. 

o     To perform file maintenance, editing and archiving of EEG data. 

o     To maintain the security of the department at all times and to isolate electrical equipment at night. 

o     Keep up to date with all mandatory training.

o     Be willing to continue with professional development and attend appropriate meetings and courses as required.

Technical duties

o   To perform routine EEG recordings on adults and children as outpatients and inpatients whilst awake, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours).

o   To perform EEG recordings on adults as outpatients during natural sleep or in sleep following sleep deprivation, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours).

o   To perform EEG recordings on children as outpatients,  during natural sleep or in drug induced sleep and in sleep following sleep deprivation, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours).

o   Explain and obtain informed consent for activation procedures 

o   Use video equipment during the EEG recordings having obtained written consent from patients/guardians. 

o   Advise patients before leaving the department of the necessary precautions to take if found to be photosensitive during the EEG recording to reduce the risk of further epileptic attacks.

o   Advise patients before leaving the department of the necessary precautions to be taken following sleep deprivation to reduce the risk of further epileptic attacks.

o   To transport portable equipment from the department to perform portable EEG recordings on bed-bound in-patients on various wards, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours).

o   To transport portable equipment from the department to perform portable EEG recordings on bed-bound in-patients on the Integrated Critical Care Unit, Acute Medical Unit, Neonatal Unit and Accident and Emergency, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours). 

o   To work within departmental policies and procedures but have the ability to adjust working practices to perform accurate and reliable investigations under pressure and at speed should an emergency arise. 

o   To utilize digital EEG software to produce a detailed factual report on EEG recordings for viewing by the Consultant neurophysiologist 

o   When performing tests have the ability to adjust settings and parameters of equipment to reflect recording conditions. 

o   Allocation of appointments in appropriate clinics and time slots.

Technical Duties        

o   To transport portable equipment from the department to perform portable EEG recordings on bed-bound in-patients on the children’s wards during drug induced sleep, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours). 

o   To perform visual, auditory upper and lower limb somatosensory evoked responses largely on adult outpatients for detailed neurophysiological assessment of nerve pathways. 

o   To assist medical staff in performing EMGs and nerve conduction studies on both outpatients and inpatients. On occasions this will require the need to transport equipment from the department to various wards including ICCU to allow bedside recordings to be made. 

o   To perform upper limb surface nerve conduction studies on outpatients, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours). 

o   To perform Ambulatory EEG recordings on outpatients, adapting the technique where necessary to accommodate the clinical state (such as psychological, emotional and aggressive) and degree of co-operation of the patient (such as learning disabilities and challenging behaviours).

o   To co-ordinate with the Paediatric nurse/play specialists for their attendance in appropriate children’s clinics.

o   To co-ordinate arrangements for sedation for procedures both in the department and on the ward if this is required. 

o   Obtain additional relevant medical history including results of other investigations from the appropriate source. 

o   To supervise trainee clinical physiologist in the practical aspects of Neurophysiology to the required standards set out in the ANS training log books. 

o   Have an understanding of and take part in clinical audit 

o   Produces a verbal and full written report on normal EEG recordings.