University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Cardiology Healthcare Scientist Assistant
The closing date is 23 November 2026

Job summary
University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) NHS Trust is delighted to announce a new opportunity for enthusiastic and motivated Cardiac HCS assistant to join our wonderful team.

This is a very exciting time for our Cardiology Department. We have been fortunate to have had a full departmental rebuild and refurbishment. This is just part of a multi-million-pound investment in redevelopment across the whole hospital, to establish us as the largest and most modern NHS Hospital in the Southwest.

We are also part of the Plymouth Community Diagnostics Centre (CDC) offering 4 echo rooms as well device follow-up, ECG/ambulatory monitoring and an array of other diagnostics.

We are a Centre of Excellence, looking to expand our cardiac physiology team with opportunities for specialists in electrophysiology, cardiac devices and echocardiography.

As the tertiary hospital and cardio-thoracic centre for the Southwest, we provide a full range of non-invasive and invasive procedures (including a large congenital non-invasive service). We work closely with surgical teams performing structural interventions and ablations. As a teaching hospital we have close links with the local university with PTP and PGCert students.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Main duties of the job
To support patients attending for Cardiology diagnostic procedures and assist the Cardiac Healthcare Scientists performing the procedures to ensure the patients receive a high standard of care, this includes:

• To assist in the preparation of Cardiology diagnostic rooms prior to procedures and to in the cleaning of designated areas as directed in line with local guidance and infection control.
• To assist those patients who require help with mobility and undressing and dressing for the procedures, to attend to these patient's basic personal care and needs under direct supervision as necessary.
• To help position the patient for the procedure in accordance with local guidelines.
• Assist in maintain stocks of consumables within the department, i.e., gowns, ultrasound gel, tissues, couch roll, electrodes etc.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 2
Salary: £25,272 a year Per Annum Pro Rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share
Reference number: 216-LH-DC8369041
Job locations: Cardiology Department, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, PLYMOUTH, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To assist in the preparation of Cardiology diagnostic rooms prior to procedures and to in the cleaning of designated areas as directed in line with local guidance and infection control.
• To maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.
• To be able to recognise and meet the specific needs of patients undergoing cardiology procedures.
• Transport and assist in-patients to and from the department and wards.
• To instruct and reassure patients on the intended cardiology diagnostics and procedures.
• To facilitate communication regarding patient care needs between wards, patients and senior clinical staff within the department.
• Act as patient chaperone as/if required.
• To assist those patients who require help with mobility and undressing and dressing for the procedures, to attend to these patients basic personal care and needs under direct supervision as necessary.
• To help position the patient for the procedure in accordance with local guidelines.
• Liaise with doctors, nurses, ward clerks and other members of staff regarding patients attending the department.
• To determine the mobility of ward patients through liaison with ward staff.
• Liaise with MEMS regarding general maintenance and reporting faults under the direction of senior staff. To be responsible for the delivery and collection of faulty machinery for service or repair.
• To be able to assist the clinical scientists and the departments admin teams with administrative responsibilities under direction and as required.
• To manoeuvre the equipment (including ultrasound equipment weighing 200kg) within the department as required/requested by senior staff.
• Assist in maintain stocks of consumables within the department, i.e., gowns, ultrasound gel, tissues, couch roll, electrodes etc.
• Always maintain a high standard of hygiene. The postholder will be expected to be familiar with, and contribute to, the control of infection within areas of work.
• To continually evaluate personal performance and development, maintaining and updating professional and clinical skills and knowledge.
• To undertake training for new equipment or service developments as required.
• To actively participate in departmental based continuing education, assisting in mentoring and facilitating junior support workers/HCAs and providing support for students, visitors, and new members of the team.
• To make decisions in own area, e.g. identifying correct application of procedures, knowing when to report a problem and how to report concerns.
• Safe use and maintenance of equipment by self and others, assisting with ordering and stocking of supplies, ensuring safe storage of equipment.
• May be required to demonstrate own duties to other healthcare professionals, new employees, or trainees.
• To ensure that patients privacy and dignity is maintained.

For further details please see te attached JD & PS

Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience

• Essential: Proven evidence of team working.
• Essential: Demonstrable experience of working in a healthcare environment.
• Desirable: Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Desirable: A base proven knowledge of other cardiological investigations.

Qualifications

• Essential: GCSE's 9-4 (A-C) in Maths & English
• Essential: NVQ level 2 in related subject or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Desirable: Computer literate (ECDL)

Aptitude and Abilities

• Essential: Enthusiasm, motivation, and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Essential: Effective verbal & non-verbal communication skills
• Desirable: Ability to work in a busy environment.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address: Cardiology Department, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, PLYMOUTH, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Lead Cardiac Physiologist, Vicky Church, victoria.church@nhs.net, 01752432141

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