Assistant Practitioner, Band 3- Lung Function & Sleep

The Assistant Practitioner post is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to start or develop their career in healthcare science.

The Assistant Practitioner supports the delivery of sleep diagnostic services by preparing, downloading, and managing sleep study data. The role involves setting up equipment and patient study packs, ensuring accurate configuration of sleep monitoring devices, and providing clear instructions to patients on their use.

Key responsibilities include downloading and securely storing study recordings, checking data quality and completeness, and organising files in line with departmental protocols. The post holder will liaise with clinical staff to flag any issues with recordings, maintain equipment readiness, and contribute to the smooth running of the sleep service.

This role requires strong attention to detail, good organisational skills, and the ability to work with clinical systems and digital data while maintaining patient confidentiality and high standards of care.

If you are flexible and enthusiastic with a drive to help people then you may be the person we are looking for.

Additional working pattern details: Working hours 0900\-1700 hrs (30m Lunch break 1215\-1245\)

The post holder will receive on the job training on what is involved in a range of diagnostic sleep equipment:

Prepare and configure sleep study equipment and patient packs in line with clinical protocols

Provide clear instructions and guidance to patients on the use of sleep monitoring devices

Download sleep study data promptly and accurately from recording devices

Check recordings for completeness, signal quality, and technical issues

Organise, label, and securely store patient data within clinical systems

Maintain accurate records and documentation for each study

Identify and escalate poor\-quality or incomplete recordings to clinical staff

Clean, maintain, and ensure readiness of equipment between uses

Monitor stock levels of consumables and report shortages

Adhere to data protection, confidentiality, and information governance standards

Support the wider sleep service with administrative and operational tasks as required.

Once competent you will be expected to undertake independent working, within agreed limitations, with remote oversight from a clinical team colleagues.

Your time in the department will be mainly at the respiratory diagnostic centre at Gloucestershire’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), located at Quayside House, Gloucester, although additional opportunities for working at Cheltenham General Hospital Lung Function hub will also be expected subject to service requirements

We are committed to providing high\-quality, safe, and patient\-centred care across our services, including Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital and the community diagnostic centre.

We pride ourselves on delivering services that are compassionate, innovative, and responsive to the needs of our local community.

As part of the Lung Function and sleep team you will be working within a supportive and forward\-thinking environment that values teamwork, continuous learning, and professional development. The Sleep Service plays a vital role in diagnosing and managing sleep disorders, contributing to improved patient outcomes and quality of life.

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where staff are respected, valued, and empowered to contribute to service improvement.

Employees benefit from access to training opportunities, in this role there is potential for a level 2 Respiratory and sleep qualification wellbeing support, and the chance to be part of a Trust that is focused on excellence in care and staff experience.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1\. Provision of Clinical Services/Clinical Responsibilities

You will be expected to undertake the following tests in accordance with local, national and professional guidelines.

• Set up and issue overnight pulse oximetry \& sleep studies for home use


• Arrange collection/posting of CPAP consumable parts to patients.


• Maintain accurate patient database and health record entries


• Unload, organise and store consumables appropriately


• Telephone message response to support the clerical team

Responsible for appropriate use, upkeep and maintenance of highly specialised and expensive equipment ( \>£6K)

Calibrate and clean daily

Undertake routine maintenance and troubleshooting, fault finding to maintain service delivery

If problems arise that cannot be solved advising a senior member of staff

Monitor stock levels of disposables / chemicals and advise as necessary

Maintain logbook for each machine

3\. Administration / Clerical role

• To assist with the transferring of messages from answerphone to e\-message book; knowing when to escalate to senior members of staff.


• To accurately log all individual activities performed within Lung Function \& Sleep service, to help achieve up to date statistics allowing for service development future audits within the department.


• Booking/Re\-scheduling/Cancelling appointments


• Dealing with patient queries

The HCS Assistant practitioner will be taught the skills through practice to:

Work safely in a healthcare environment and to follow quality procedures.

Follow regulatory requirements of the healthcare industry and role, operating in accordance with Good Scientific Practice.

Technical skills to fulfil their role.

Take responsibility for patient care.

Apply a range of techniques for infection prevention and control.

Deliver high quality technical clinical procedures in the investigation/management and patients.

5\. Communications and Working Relationships

• Patients may have specific needs i.e. hearing difficulties, physical, learning, language difficulties, tests may need to be performed through an interpreter, or they may be anxious or upset following diagnosis.


• Ensure the patients are provided with adequate patient information and the procedures are clearly explained


• Undertakes annual individual performance and development reviews and agrees a personal development plan which compliments both departmental and trust strategic objectives


• Attend regular team meetings to ensure department procedures and requirements are regularly reviewed


• The post holder will need to have contact with:

General Public

Colleagues locally and nationally

Consultants of several specialities across the trust

GP Practises

Medical secretaries

Booking office

Procurement department

Medical engineering department

Estates department

I.T. Department

Allied Health professionals

Portering department

Equipment manufacturers and suppliers

6\. Expectations for the Post holder

• Develop wider sector\-related knowledge to underpin occupational competence in the role of a healthcare science associate. This includes knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the NHS constitution and good scientific practice for person\-centred care and support, involving individuals and the public in HCS and in making choices about their care, good mentoring practice, legislation and policies in HCS and quality management


• Develop a positive attitude to following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and codes of practice, and professional behaviours such as developing practice and performance, working within the limits of own role, respecting the rights of others and working collaboratively and safely, mentoring and the delivery of high\-quality service outcomes and continuous improvements.


• When working within the Physiology team, you are to provide an effective and evidenced based service through assessing, planning and implementing treatment programs including a full explanation to the patient of the tests carried out and their purpose.


• To deliver diagnostic and therapeutic interventions using the principles of treatment in an integrated and patient\-centred approach supported by good clinical practice.


• Lead, educate and encourage patients in required test techniques, explaining the need for full co\-operation and maximum effort in performing these tests by demonstrating the same physical effort and enthusiasm.


• To use clinical reasoning skills to agree functional goals and develop and evaluate the treatment plan. To implement and progress treatment programs in order to promote physical / functional independence. To include the instructing of patients on how to undertake the diagnostic tests and issuing of equipment.


• To use verbal and non\-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers. This may include education, motivation, persuasion, and empowerment. This will include patients/carers who may or may not have barriers to communication through cognitive or physical impairment e.g. dysphasia, deafness, blindness, learning difficulties, and mental health issues.


• Conduct oneself in a professional manner and be a role model to less experienced new staff at all times


• Ensure the rights, privacy, dignity and confidentiality of all patients are protected at all times


• To go above and beyond, creating the absolute best experience for patients visiting the department


• Draw on theoretical knowledge and practical experience to decide on the most appropriate course of action. Assess each patient in terms of the appropriateness/ potential risks of performing the requested tests and acting accordingly.

Keep updated with research/new developments within the specialities and the potential effect on the service

Assist with

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