Modernising Scientific Careers Programme

MODERNISING SCIENTIFIC CAREERS PROGRAMME

Role descriptor for Consultant Healthcare Scientists in Physiological Sciences

The Consultant Healthcare Scientists (HCS) will be able to lead the scientific contribution across a comprehensive range of Physiological Sciences. They would be involved in performing, interpreting and reporting complex investigations and some therapies see patients referred direct from their GPs, and some would require prescribe specific drugs. They will have a very high level of expertise in their specific area(s) and may develop an expert interest in one specialist area providing consultant level advice with regard to diagnostic planning, clinical management, data interpretation, clinical results and implications which directly affects patient management. They would be expected to provide clinical and scientific leadership and be able to lead on education and research programmes and work closely with other specialties such as paediatrics, medical physics and senior managers. In some specialisms the Consultant Healthcare Scientist would carry their own caseload of complex cases where an assessment of neurosensory function[s] or assistive technology needs are required.

More specific examples in some of the areas are given below.

Example of role in Audiology

Consultant Audiological Scientists will be able to provide scientific leadership within or across the whole of the discipline, being responsible for the operational management, governance and clinical effectiveness of audiology services.

They are directly responsible for the day-to-day running of an audiology department. They may hold budgetary responsibilities and ensure performance objectives are met by liaising with Trust Senior managers. They will set the strategic direction of the service within the framework of the needs of the local organisation, national priorities and established standards of practice.

They identify opportunities for clinical developments, thereafter advising others on the potential for audiological investigations/interventions and best use of scientific assets across the client group. This will include advising and liaising with other health professionals and agencies/organisations (e.g. Suppliers/Manufacturers, Third-Sector, Education and Social Services).

Individually they may carry their own case-load of complex casesand hold clinical authority providing expert hearing and audio-vestibular assessment of function and rehabilitation involving both outpatient and in-patient adults and children, accepting referrals from GPs, health visitors, school nurses, teachers of the deaf, speech and language therapists and medical and educational staff.

Some areas in which they may work and provide expert consultant level advise, include the assessment and management of

• Patients with multifaceted hearing problems such as auditory processing disorders,
• Complex paediatric cases ,
• Patients with balance difficultiesPatients being considered for or having had implantable hearing devices
• Patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis

They may interpret and report complex audiology studies and will provide expert advice on the use of audiology equipment.

Most will be involved in teaching, audit and clinical governance of their own and junior staff including leading research, its evaluation and application of it into clinical practice.

They will direct the clinical research and development of the service they have responsibility for. This will involve identifying research opportunities (liaising with others e.g. colleagues in the academic and commercial research community), promoting, instigating and coordinating research and development activity in pursuit of improved patient outcomes.

Example of role in Neurophysiology:

A Consultant Neurophysiological Scientist would provide consultant level advice regarding the findings of Neurophysiological investigations, and suggest additional investigations to aid patient management. They will have a detailed knowledge and understanding of syndromes, symptoms and disease processes across whole body systems.They will take detailed clinical history and perform a clinical examination to form a diagnostic plan. They will assess the outcomes of the investigations and may propose a differential diagnosis. They will be able to interpret imaging/pathology reports in the clinical context of the patient.

They may have advanced clinical skills in independently performing, reporting and interpreting in the following:-

• Complex peripheral neurophysiology and EMG including
• Needle and surface EMG
• Repetitive stimulation
• Quantitative EMG
• Single fibre EMG
• Quantitative Sensory testing

• Advanced EPs including
• Intra-operative monitoring
• Magnetic stimulation
• Detailed investigation of visual, auditory and somatosensory systems

• Ictal and inter-ictal EEGs including
• ITU recordings
• Paediatric/Neonatal EEGs
• LTM
• Invasive EEG monitoring

• Polysomnography and other sleep recordings

They may develop a specialist interest in one modality depending on needs of local services.

They would provide scientific leadership across the whole of the discipline and offer expert advice on the use of Neurophysiological equipment.

They would lead on education and training, and initiate or lead research programmes and innovation projects.

Example of role in Ophthalmic and Vision Science:

A Consultant Ophthalmic and Vision Scientist would provide consultant level advice regarding the performing and the interpretation of the findings of Ophthalmic and VisionScienceinvestigations. They will have a detailed knowledge and understanding of visual system anatomy and physiology and of the diseases and disorders that can cause visual system dysfunction. They will also have a detailed knowledge of systemic disorders with possible associated visual system dysfunction. They will be able to devise a diagnostic strategy based on the results of clinical examination and history supplied to them by referring clinicians. They will be able to interpret investigational data in the clinical context of the patient.to enable a (differential) diagnosis.

They may have advanced clinical skills in independently performing, reporting and interpreting one or more of the following:-

• Complex psychophysical assessment of vision function;

• Ultrasonography of the eye, orbit and related structures

• Advanced imaging techniques such as fundus autofluorescence imaging (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and imaging with adaptive optics (AO)

• Electrophysiology including electro-retinography (ERG), electro-oculography (EOG), visual evoked potentials (VEP). This may also include closely related psychophysical investigations such as dark adaptometry and formal colour vision testing.

They would provide scientific leadership across the whole of the discipline and offer expert advice on the appropriate use of Ophthalmic and Vision Science services.

They would lead on education and training, and initiate or lead research programmes and innovation projects.

Appendix 1

Role Descriptor Template

Scientists who are on the Higher Specialist Register for Scientists

•will be eligible to compete for consultant level appointments

•undertakes roles which:

provide clinical and scientific expertise and leadership

provide consultant level advice within the context of direct patient care

give strategic direction, innovation and highly developed and specialised skills to the service

develop and provide substantial management responsibilities

initiate or lead formal research activities

lead education and training activities

initiate innovation projects

Scientific & Technical practice

Requires expert knowledge and understanding of relevant clinical, scientific and technical principles and practice and their application to broad areas of patient care

• Provide a high personal level of scientific and professional expertise applied to critical problem solving.
• Ability to act as a source of specialist scientific advice to medical staff , allied health professionals, professional bodies, medical industry and academic institutions
• Is responsible for quality and delivery of clinical and scientific services across a broad range of patient care
• Perform accurate and skilled investigations using complex and/or specialist methodology.
• Perform scientific and clinical validation of analytical results.
• Compile and authorise standard and complex reports for patients and other healthcare professionals.
• Provide result interpretation and reach conclusions on implications for patient care and management
• Provide consultant level advice in area of practice

Clinical Practice

•Requires expert knowledge and understanding of physiology and pathophysiology as applied to a broad range of clinical situations

•Provide consultant level clinical advice on a range of investigations and therapies and on complex results and their implications for patient care and management.

•Perform, interpret and accurately report a range of complex investigations

•Direct and promote evidence-based practice and use of relevant clinical protocols

•Direct and report on relevant clinical audits

•Responsible for provision of appropriate testing strategies and development of matching clinical protocols

Patient contact and care

• Undertake more complex patient cases with a higher level of patient interaction required with regard to responsibility for obtaining and assessing history and interpreting results in light of clinical information.
• Develop and implement a multidisciplinary ‘holistic’ approach to patient management, and the impact of their contribution
• A greater scope of responsibility for imparting results to and discussing with patients where outcomes may be highly sensitive, emotive or have serious implications.
• Responsible patient care and contact across scientific service.

Management and Leadership

• Manages/ Directs clinical and/or research service

• Lead and motivate staff to ensure effective delivery and achievement of service objectives in a changing healthcare environment
• Lead strategic service development planning across a broad service
• Direct programmes of clinical and scientific projects as appropriate
• Direct the operation of a broad service to ensure compliance with local and nationally accepted standards
• Be accountable for budget setting and monitoring expenditure for a broad service
• Has overall accountability for ensuring compliance with the governance and risk management requirements for a broad service
• May provide leadership within an area of practice at a national or international level
• Demonstrable ability to successfully initiate, manage and sustain change

Communication and working with others

• Communicate complex clinical, scientific and technical information in a wide range of settings and formats
• Liaise with peers and clinical users of the service on all aspects of service delivery
• Work effectively with senior colleagues in MDT’s and other cross-professional settings
• Communicate research and development findings in written and oral formats to local, national and international audiences

Teaching, training and assessing others

• Coordinates training programmes for junior doctors and registrars and all scientists from HCSA to Senior Scientists with ASE.
• May advise on national training requirements and curriculum for all these grades.

•Assess and make provision for the teaching and training requirements of staff, professional colleagues and users of the service

•Participate in clinical, scientific and technical teaching and training of peers, undergraduates, post graduates and other healthcare professionals within relevant areas of practice

•Actively maintains a progressive learning environment for all grades of technical staff.

•Promotes a multidisciplinary approach to education utilising and valuing the expertise of other health care professionals and ensuring the positive contribution of the technical expertise to this process.

•Evaluate the quality of teaching and training provided and make recommendations for improvement

•May develop teaching programmes in area of specialist practice

Research and development

•Direct and plan the introduction, evaluation and application of improved scientific and operational procedures to continually develop the service

•Evaluate published research and innovation and make recommendations for future service provision

•Stimulate innovation and appropriate research initiatives within the department and a wider multidisciplinary field

•Initiate and direct R&D programmes including original and translational research

•Ensure compliance with ethical and financial research governance requirements for a service

Personal and Corporate Governance

•Ensure effective Clinical Governance according to Trust clinical governance policies

•Ensure service complies with all relevant quality and governance procedures

•Ensure delivery of high standard of health & safety and working environment

•Make sure your conduct at all times justifies the trust of patients and colleagues and maintains the public’s trust in the scientific profession

•Responsible for own clinical practice during diagnostic testing and theraputic procedures.

•To challenge current practice, promoting service innovation or different ways of working. Building/supporting business cases for capital and staffing cost improvements

•To introduce measures to actively manage and reduce risk to patients. Ensure the formal reporting and recording of any adverse incidents, in line with Trust policy.

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