JOB DESCRIPTION

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Cardiographer

Band: 2

Directorate: Specialist Medicine

Location: Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

2. JOB PURPOSE

Accurate cardiac diagnostic testing is reliant on high quality accurate recording with
appropriate preparation technique and explanations to the patient. These
fundamentals are applicable to all the following areas of the cardiographers work:

 To perform quality electrocardiography (ECG) testing with basic interpretation

skills
 To modify ECG recording techniques, as directed, applicable to specific
medical requirements e.g. rhythm strip records during performance of carotid
sinus massage testing
 To fit ambulatory 24 hour ECG monitors
 To take a manual blood pressure (BP) record and fit ambulatory BP monitors
 To fit ECG event recorders
 To download ECG event records to PC database via trans-telephonic or
manual means
 To make hard copy (paper) duplications of diagnostic records for medical
review
 To provide support as directed by senior technical physiologist colleagues and
medical staff in the event of a departmental patient emergency, this to include
the provision of basic life support skills
 To make patient bookings (as required)
 Undertake training for more in-depth arrhythmia recognition after initial
training period.
 3. DIMENSIONS

Key working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team, including
nursing and medical staff, allied health professionals and support workers

4. ORGANISATION CHART

Principal Physiologist

Senior Physiologist

Physiologist

Cardiographers

5. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Communication

 Demonstrate throughout all interventions and tasks the RCHT Nursing and
Midwifery 5 key elements and Trust values
 Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary
team, patients and their family/visitors/carers
 Respond appropriately to queries, take phone messages and pass on written
and verbal information to patients
 Provide basic information to patients, family/visitors/carers and colleagues
 Aware of the importance of accurate documentation and contribute to reports of
patients’ activity and progress
 Accept constructive feedback.
 Give constructive feedback to colleagues.
 Participate in discussions about patient care and ward/departmental
development, including handover and team meetings
 Maintain patient confidentiality
 Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and
colleagues

Personal and People Development

 Understand own level of responsibility and accountability in relation to trained

staff
 Identify own learning needs and produce a personal development plan in
conjunction with the ward sister/charge nurse
 Participate in annual staff appraisal, staff development and in-service training
activities in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework
 Attend Trust/local orientation programmes, mandatory training sessions and
annual updates
  Take part in reflection and appropriate learning from practice, in order to
maintain and develop competence and performance
 Be prepared to undertake a vocational programme

Health, Safety and Security

 Assist in maintaining a clean environment that is conducive to safe practice

 Report any issues at work that may put health, safety and security at risk
 Summon immediate help for any emergency and take appropriate action to
contain it
 Understand the principles and practice of Infection Control
 Work within own personal/professional limitations and seek help of others to
maintain safe practice.
 Identify potential risks for all staff, patients and visitors and assist with relevant
incident reporting procedures
 Clean patient equipment as required
 Handle and dispose of all body fluids in accordance with universal precautions

Service Improvement

 Undertake administrative and clerical tasks associated with patient care to

facilitate the smooth running of the ward/department
 Maintain adequate levels of stock, equipment and materials and facilitate the
efficient, effective use of resources; report when availability falls below an
acceptable standard or level
 Pass on constructive views and ideas for improving services to ward
sister/charge nurse

Quality

 Ensure a welcoming, caring and safe environment is provided for the patient
and their family/visitors/carers
 Aware of and maintains required standard of care
 Comply with Trust/local policies and procedures

Equality and Diversity

 Carry out duties and responsibilities with regard to the Trust’s Equal
Opportunity policy
 Recognise the importance of people’s rights and act in accordance with
legislation, policies and procedures
 Act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples’ expressed beliefs,
preferences and choices; respecting diversity and valuing people as individuals
 Take account of own behaviour and its effect on others
Enablement to address health and wellbeing needs

 Assist the patient to be as comfortable as possible, i.e. help with moving and
positioning the patient using appropriate equipment
 Involve the patient in shared decision-making and obtain their consent before
undertaking nursing procedures
 Prepare appropriately for the activity to be undertaken
 Support and encourage the patient to meet their own health and wellbeing
need

Provision of care to meet health and wellbeing needs

 Work co-operatively as part of the multi-disciplinary team, helping nursing, and

other clinical staff in routine work associated with patient care.
 Ensure all clinic rooms are prepped before clinic and tidied after clinic.
 Provide comfort, reassurance and support to patients and/or their carers if
anxious or distressed
 Assist with essential patient care, Assist patients to become as independent as
possible by giving the appropriate level of support as delegated and under
supervision
 Maintain patients dignity when performing obs and promote patient dignity
when preparing them for ECG’s. Escort patients to other departments
 Record intake and output and understand the need for accuracy
 Assist patients to access and use appropriate toilet facilities, ensuring privacy
and dignity are maintained
 Alert trained staff promptly of changes in the patient’s condition or any possible
risks

Information Processing

 Able to use RCHT documentation at a basic level to input and retrieve

information as required

6. GENERAL

 Adhere to the RCHT commitment to the CARE Challenge and adopt a

professional approach to customer care at all times
 Comply with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and treat staff, patients,
colleagues and potential employees with dignity and respect at all times
 Take personal responsibility for promoting a safe environment and safe patient
care by identifying areas of risk and following the Incident, Serious Incidents
and Near Misses reporting policy and procedure
 Take personal responsibility for ensuring that RCHT resources are used
efficiently and with minimum wastage, and to comply with the Trust's Standing
Financial Instructions (SFIs)
 Comply with Trust policies for personal and patient safety and for prevention of
healthcare-associated infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for rigorous
 and consistent compliance with Trust policies for hand hygiene, use of personal
protective equipment and safe disposal of sharps
 In accordance with the Trust's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act
2004 to undertake work and alternative duties as reasonably directed at
variable locations in the event of and for the duration of a significant internal
incident, major incident or pandemic
 Be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures, the Health and
Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection Act
 Maintain confidentiality at all times

7. OTHER

These guidelines are provided to assist in the performance of the contract but are
not a condition of the contract. The job description is not intended to be exhaustive
and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing
circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.

All staff will be regularly assessed on their knowledge, skills and behaviour, and
application of all aspects of the job description, in line with the Trust’s Personal
Development Review (PDR) process.

Staff will also be expected to abide by the relevant code of professional practice
relating to their discipline.

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN CONSULTATION WITH

THE POST HOLDER

8. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

Job holder's Signature: Date:

Head of
Department Signature: Date:

Title:

Please note:
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A provisional offer of
employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring
Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions,
reprimands, final warnings, as well as convictions.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust is a non-smoking organisation. Smoking

will not be permitted on any of the sites by staff in trust uniform and/or
wearing a trust identification badge in any location, in vehicles owned or
leased by the Trust or in the homes (including gardens) of any patients visited
at home.
 Person Specification for the Post of: Cardiographer

ATTRIBUTES REQUIREMENTS METHOD OF

ASSESSMENT

ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE

QUALIFICATIONS Basic literacy and GCSE or Qualifications

numeracy skills equivalent in Application Form
English and
Mathematics

EXPERIENCE Experience of working Experience of Application

with the public / people working in a
Interview
facing role. healthcare setting
References
Knowledge and Experience of
understanding of the working in a team
importance of equal
opportunities.
Demonstrates
understanding of
importance of
maintaining privacy and
dignity.

COMMUNICATION Able to communicate Good IT skills Application

accurately and
Interview
effectively with patients
and colleagues, References
verbally and in writing
Able to follow
instructions and
complete assigned
tasks
Able to deal with the
public in person and on
the phone
Able to support and
reassure patients/carers
in distress
Understands
importance of
maintaining
 confidentiality
Able to demonstrate a
good standard of written
English

PERSONAL AND Demonstrates Application

PEOPLE understanding of own
Interview
DEVELOPMENT role within the team
References
Willing to produce a
personal development
plan with manager
Willing to undertake a
vocational programme
Willing to undertake in-
house study
Mandatory Training

PERSONAL Demonstrates the Trust Willingness to Application

ATTRIBUTES values undertake career
Interview
progression

ADDITIONAL A Disclosure and DBS Clearance

CIRCUMSTANCES Barring Service Check
OH Clearance
satisfactory to the
organisation.
Ability to undertake
duties
OH Clearance
Post-holder must
comply with
professional code of
conduct and/or code of
conduct for NHS
managers where
applicable.

SPECIFIC Flexible approach to

REQUIREMENTS shift patterns
 KSF Outline for: Cardiographer

KSF Dimension, Level and Indicator

Dimen Dimension Foundation Second

sion Gateway Gateway
Number ( Subset Outline) ( Full Outline)
Level Indicators Level Indica
tors
1 Communication 1 All 2 All
2 Personal and People Development 1 a), b), c) & 1 All
Dimension

d)
Core

3 Health, Safety and Security 1 All 1 All

4 Service Improvement 1 a) and d) 1 All
5 Quality 1 All 1 All
6 Equality and Diversity 1 All 2 All

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

HWB4 Enablement to address health and 1 All 1 All

Dimension

wellbeing needs
Specific

HWB5 Provision of care to meet health and 1 b), c), d) & 1 All
wellbeing needs f)
INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE
IK1 Information processing 1 a), c), d) & 1 All
e)