Job summary
- Main area
- Diagnostic Cardiology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 2
- Contract
- 18 months (Fixed term from start of employment)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 190-0625-DIR
- Employer
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
- Town
- Sheffield
- Salary
- £24,465 pa/ pro rata for part time staff
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 03/08/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 11/08/2025
Employer heading

Trainee Cardiac Healthcare Science Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 2
We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.
Job overview
We are seeking a flexible, enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to become part of our dedicated, highly focused Non-Invasive team working to provide and maintain a high standard of healthcare to patients on all wards and peripheral hospitals within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The post holder will be responsible for performing a range of routine non-invasive diagnostic Cardiology investigations on inpatients and outpatients with appropriate training.
They will work as a member of the team, with direction and supervision from Healthcare Scientists and practitioners, whilst completing a training programme to include a national professional examination.
This is a developmental role on an 18-month fixed term contract. At the end of the fixed term contract, there will be an opportunity to progress to a permanent contract as an AFC Band 3 on successful completion of an in-house training program and SCST professional examination (Certificate in Electrocardiography).
Please note this advertisement can be appointed as either a full time or part time opportunity.
This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for a period of 18 months due to this being an apprenticeship/training programme. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts.
A learner/applicant must be a UK, EEA, or EU resident for at least the past three years to undertake an apprenticeship training programme.
Main duties of the job
To perform routine and urgent electrocardiograms (ECG’s) on adult and paediatric patients within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust providing a quality inpatient and outpatient ECG service.
To prepare and fit ECG and Blood Pressure (BP) equipment for periods of ambulatory monitoring. This includes giving clear and concise instructions to patients when fitting the equipment to optimise the recording.
To be trained to give support and advice to patients and/or carers/medical team both prior and following completion of investigative Cardiology procedures.
To be trained to take an active role in the resuscitation of patients (BLS) suffering from ischaemic episodes / cardiac arrest, resulting from clinical examinations designed to provoke cardiac ischemia.
Communicate technical equipment-related information to healthcare colleagues, patients, carers, and suppliers.
Assess all rooms and equipment requirements regarding stock, cleanliness, and infection control issues.
Perform regular checks on the Department Defibrillators and blood glucose monitors address any issues.
Record all modalities of Cardiology measurements to agreed performance standards.
Working for our organisation
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its employees. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
The Diagnostic Cardiology Unit at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides an extensive range of non-invasive, invasive and specialist cardiac investigation to the South Yorkshire region. The investigation provided by the department include
· 12 Lead ECG.
· Ambulatory ECG Monitoring.
· Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring.
· Tilt Table Testing.
· Signal Average ECG.
· Exercise Tolerance Testing.
· Simplex and complex cardiac device follow up including CRT optimisation clinics.
· Physiologist led ILR implantation.
· Trans-thoracic Echocardiography including 3 Dimensional assessment, Valve assessment, Stress and Congenital heart disease.
· Tran-oesophageal Echocardiography including 3 Dimensional assessment.
Cardiac catheter Laboratory support for:-
· Left and Right Heart Catheterisation including PCI / PPCI, FFR, IVUS, PVR, IABP.
· Simplex and Complex device implantation.
· Cardiac Device Extraction.
· Simple and Complex electrophysiology procedures including SVT, AT, VT, 3D Mapping.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please note this advertisement can be appointed as either a full time or part time opportunity.
This vacancy is advertised on a fixed term contract basis for a period of 18 months due to this being an apprenticeship/training programme. The fixed term contract status of the post holder will be reviewed in accordance with the Trust's legal obligations regarding fixed term contracts.
A learner/applicant must be a UK, EEA, or EU resident for at least the past three years to undertake an apprenticeship training programme.
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good basic level of education to include 3 GCSEs at grade A-C (4-9) to include Maths, English and a Science subject.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous hospital ward/ department, or community-based care experience or experience of working in a residential/ care home.
- An understanding of the Healthcare Science Assistant role in Diagnostic Cardiology
Desirable criteria
- Experience of direct patient care
- Previous experience of performing ECG’s
Further Training
Essential criteria
- Experience of using computer systems including data input
- Commitment to undertake training to obtain the full Certificate in Electrocardiography within 18 months of the fixed term contract
Desirable criteria
- SCST practical and/ or theory exams
- Knowledge of ECG interpretation
- Knowledge of basic physiology of the heart
Special Skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills
- Good IT skills with experience of working with Microsoft Office
- Able to work autonomously and within a team
Desirable criteria
- Excellent organiser
- Experience of working with NHS software systems.
Other
Essential criteria
- Awareness of Confidentiality issues and data protection
- Able to travel to, and work at, different sites in Sheffield
Desirable criteria
- Flexible attitude to working hours
- Evidence of flexible and reliable approach to working practices
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Tracy Cook
- Job title
- Training and Education Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0114 2714315
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