Apprentice Healthcare Science Associate (Neurophysiology)

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

Birmingham, B18 7QH

Closes in 14 days (Friday 22 November)

Posted on 6 November 2024

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Summary

An exciting opportunity to join the NHS as an apprentice in our Neurophysiology team. Working in a team of clinical professionals to perform neurophysiological investigations for patients of all ages with a range of medical conditions across the Trust sites or local community, whilst undertaking Level 4 Healthcare Science Associate apprenticeship.

Annual wage
£22,816 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

During the apprenticeship programme the rate of pay will be band 2 on NHS Agenda for Change. On completion of the apprenticeship programme salary will be NHS Agenda for Change band 3.

Training course
Healthcare science associate (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm - including study time within working hours. Study time to be agreed with training provider

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Sunday 1 December

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

  • Achieve HCS level 4 Apprenticeship Standard 
  • Provide assistance to medical and healthcare science staff in Neurophysiology Electromyography (EMG) clinics
  • Assist Consultant Neurophysiologists. This includes operation of medical equipment and patient preparation and manual handling
  • EEG clinics. Assist Clinical physiologists and scientists performing EEG on patients of all ages in the dedicated department but also on the medical wards, critical care units or emergency departments
  • Provide administrative support for Neurophysiology's administration and clinical teams. Tasks include managing patient data on the IT system and filing
  • Archiving and storage clinical data
  • Maintain safety and cleanliness of equipment

Where you’ll work

City Hospital

Dudley Road

Birmingham

B18 7QH

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

DUDLEY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Your training course

Healthcare science associate (level 4)

Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)

Course contents
  • Act in line with legislation, standard operating procedures, codes of conduct and ways of working that apply to own role.
  • Work within the scope of the role, the limits of own knowledge and skills and support others to do the same.
  • Act in line with probity requirements and support others to do the same.
  • Promote mental health, wellbeing and resilience in the workplace.
  • Provide technical healthcare-science-based services relevant to own role.
  • Recognise problems and seek technical solutions to them and support others to do the same.
  • Perform a range of equipment management activities appropriate to own role including fault-finding, preventative maintenance, calibration or repair.
  • Contribute to the drafting or revising of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Support decisions made to initiate, continue, modify or cease using techniques or procedures.
  • Analyse, interpret, record and present healthcare science technical data.
  • Provide or support the provision of person-centred care.
  • Take responsibility for any care provided by yourself and your team members including adhering to duty of care and safeguarding requirements.
  • Apply policy and protocols that relate to informed consent.
  • Protect the dignity, rights, privacy and confidentiality of individuals and support others to do the same.
  • Deliver or support the delivery of high quality technical clinical procedures in the investigation or management of individuals.
  • Convey information using appropriate techniques.
  • Give and receive feedback that informs your own practice and that of others in the team.
  • Use techniques to reduce communication barriers and support others to do the same.
  • Keep accurate, confidential records and produce reliable data, inputting and retrieving information within required governance processes and checking that others do the same.
  • Share information correctly as part of the healthcare science team and the multi-professional team.
  • Use technology to present information.
  • Follow protocols for dealing with or reporting difficult situations and complaints.
  • Work as part of the healthcare science team and the wider healthcare team to provide healthcare science services.
  • Plan, review and report on the work of a team and individuals within it.
  • Follow delegation, reporting and escalation protocols appropriate to own role.
  • Demonstrate leadership skills appropriate to own role and work in partnership with the healthcare science and wider healthcare team.
  • Help create the conditions that assist the team in providing a supportive environment for colleagues.
  • Maintain and check that others maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
  • Participate in the management of risk, supporting others to do the same.
  • Take appropriate action in response to incidents or emergencies, reporting or escalating as required by the situation.
  • Move and transport items safely for example individuals or equipment and items.
  • Adhere to protocols for infection prevention and control and support others to do the same.
  • Follow guidelines and procedures for handling hazardous materials and substances.
  • Demonstrate relevant health, safety or security practices to others in the team.
  • Take part in quality management technical audit processes relevant to own role.
  • Participate in audit or service improvement programmes.
  • Share the outcome of audit or service improvement with others.
  • Support the improvement of healthcare science practice by taking part in innovation or research or service improvement activities.
  • Undertake audit, research or other activities which support quality improvement, innovation and sustainability in healthcare science.
  • Critically reflect on your technical and non-technical practice and how it impacts on the quality and safety of patient care.
  • Work within the limits of your personal competence, keeping up-to-date by engaging in continuing personal and professional development.
  • Take part in mentoring processes with colleagues and students.
  • Respond to appraisal or performance review and feedback in relation to your own development and action plans.
  • Supervise and demonstrate practical skills to others.

    • Your training plan

    • Statutory and Mandatory Training in line with job role, including Health & Safety, Fire Awareness, GDPR and Data Protection, Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
    • Level 4 Healthcare Science Associate apprenticeship programme

    Requirements

    Essential qualifications

    GCSE in:

    • Maths & English (grade 4 or equivalent)

    Desirable qualifications

    A Level in:

    • Any subject (grade D)
    • Science - preferably biology or physiology (grade D)

    Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

    Skills

    • Communication skills
    • IT skills
    • Attention to detail
    • Organisation skills
    • Customer care skills
    • Problem solving skills
    • Administrative skills
    • Number skills
    • Analytical skills
    • Logical
    • Team working
    • Non judgemental
    • Physical fitness
    • interest in neurophysiology

    Other requirements

    This role will involve a significant amount of time dealing with patients and therefore compassion, communication and interpersonal skills will be needed.

    About this company

    Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Trust employs over 8000 staff. We understand that work is only one part of life. We are committed to helping our colleagues achieve the best possible work/life balance. We proudly offer supportive, inclusive and family friendly employment and flexible working policies. We have a wide range of professional services and employee networks to help our colleagues be at their best - and find support if they need it.

    Company benefits

    NHS Pension Minimum of 27 days annual leave increasing to 33 days Staff benefits including wellbeing, cycle to work, flexible working and salary sacrifice schemes. Subsidised childcare in our day nursery.

    Disability Confident

    Disability Confident

    A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

    You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

    After this apprenticeship

    Further progression through in-house training in other Neurological investigations, including nerve conduction studies and completion of professional examinations.

    May be further opportunities to progress, should an opening become available.

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

    Sally Walters

    sally.walters@nhs.net

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000286233.

    Apply now

    Closes in 14 days (Friday 22 November)

    When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

    After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

    Company’s application instructions

    You must apply for this role via the link above.