Apprentice Associate Physiologist - Birmingham, United Kingdom - Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
Verified Company
Birmingham, United Kingdom

3 weeks ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Apprentice Associate Physiologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, within our Respiratory Physiology Department, which operates across three sites, City Hospital, Sandwell Hospital and The Lyng Medical Centre in West Bromwich.

You will be trained to perform routine lung function tests and work towards a Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science.

The role is fully supervised by a registered practitioner. In 2024 we will also operate at our brand new hospital in Smethwick

Working week

Mon - Fri, 08:30-16: hrs)

Expected duration


Apprenticeship programme is on average 24-27 months, including end point assessment and following successful and timely completion this post will move to a band 4 Associate Respiratory Physiologist.


Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWBT) is an integrated care organisation with a budget of approximately £600 million and over 7,000 staff.

Diversity and social care is at the core of what we do as the Trust provides Community and Acute Services to over half a million people in an urban centre that demands massive regeneration and has substantial premature mortality.


We have three newly emerging strategic objectives:

  • Our People - to cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff
  • Our Patients - to be good or outstanding in everything we do
  • Our Population - to work seamlessly with our partners to improve live

Clinical - Respiratory Physiology:


  • Dynamic Lung Volumes
  • Maximal flow volume curves
  • Response to inhaled bronchodilators
  • Static Lung Volumes by Nitrogen Washout, Helium Dilution or Whole Body Plethysmography
  • Transfer Factor for Carbon Monoxide using the Single Breath Technique
  • Assessment of blood gas status via pulse oximetry
  • Setup of Overnight Oximetry
  • Setup of multichannel cardiorespiratory sleep studies
Tests adult patients with a wide age range in a variety of locations.

This will involve communicating complex instructions and clinical information effectively to patients of all ages and relatives to ensure cooperation and compliance and to obtain accurate technical and clinical data.

This may be when the patient shows poor understanding (e.g. with language barriers, hearing and/or visual impairment, impaired mental state), when there may be some hostility (e.g. confused and aggressive patients) or when persuasive and motivational skills may be required with patients reluctant to undergo investigations.


Assists with specialist investigations such as:

  • Multi-Channel Sleep Studies
  • LTOT & Ambulatory Oxygen Assessments
  • Produces accurate technical notes on the tests performed
  • Performs all investigations according to relevant national and international professional and departmental guidelines at all times
  • Collects and records calibration and quality control data
Desired skills

  • Effective, confident communicator
  • Able to work effectively in environments with particular reference to emergency conditions and situations
  • Able to take day to day delegated responsibility for busy clinical services with competing priorities
  • Sound organisational skills
  • Able to speak, understand and receive instructions in English without risk of misunderstanding
  • Communication skills for customer facing work
  • Ability to communicate at all levels
  • Excellent listening skills
  • Be able to use a standard key board proficiently
  • Maintain a positive working environment
  • To be able to work as part of a multiprofessional team
  • Work to deadlines and prioritise work accordingly
  • To be able to handle telephone enquiries, to take detailed messages and in the redirection of calls
  • Advise and redirect enquiries to relevant staff/team
  • Able to deal with several ongoing tasks
Personal Qualities

  • Ability to act professionally at all times
  • Attention to detail is paramount with an ability to work accurately at all times
  • Motivated, calm and objective
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, approachable and tactful
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality
  • Be able to work as part of a team
  • Able to use their initiative
  • Understands and adheres to their own designated limits of authority
  • The ability to deliver a quality service
Desired qualifications/ Qualifications Required

  • An interest in science and GCSE Grade B (Grade 6) or above is required
  • GCSE (or equivalent) mathematics & English at Level 2/GCSE grade A-C (49 under new GCSE grading system) and a science at Grade 'B' or above
  • A Levels or a Level 3 science qualification an advantage
Future prospects


On successful completion of this apprenticeship you will have the opportunity to progress to a permanent position within the department.


Those who successfully gain substantive employment with the Trust will have the opportunity to progress on to higher level standards and further education, where appropriate.

Things to consider

First question

Explain what skills and qualities you can bring to this Healthcare S
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