Role: Chamber Supervisor
Length: 2 years
Location: Chichester, St Richards Hospital
Department: The Centre for Defence Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine (CDDHM)
On call rate: £173.00 per week for on call commitment
Competitive hourly rate: paid when called out to supervise patient treatment and for training time
Main purpose of the job
To provide a high quality service to patients requiring emergency and elective hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) inside a hyperbaric chamber within a hospital setting.
Responsible for the safe and effective operation of the hyperbaric chamber, supervising the delivery of HBOT while following company policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
To support the contractual obligation for the provision of 24/7 emergency cover by providing on-call support for:
- Ministry of Defence (MoD) diving training and operations
- NHS civilian divers and patients with emergency life or limb threatening illnesses
- To work effectively as part of a team in the provision of emergency and elective hyperbaric treatment.
- To support and supervise operations of the chamber during treatment, training and trials of pressure.
Typically the Chamber Supervisor will be working with the following roles in the provision of each emergency and elective hyperbaric treatment.
- Duty Diving Medical Officer - Hyperbaric Doctor
- Supervisors (this is a chamber supervisor)
- Attendants (this can be a registered nurse or trained chamber attendant)
- Operator (Individual trained and competent to operate the chamber).
Key responsibilities and tasks
This role has an on-call commitment requiring attendance at the Unit in Chichester within 90 mins of notification. (Anticipated about 13 weeks on call a year.)
- To supervise the set and operation of the chamber during HBOT, trials of pressure or education ensuring compliance with our SOP's, safety protocols, guidance and Company Policy.
- To monitor chamber equipment operations and respond appropriately to emergencies providing guidance to the operator.
- To safely follow the treatment table prescribed by the Duty diving medical officer (DDMO) responsible for the treatment, trial and/or training.
- Assist where appropriate the rest of the team with patients before, during and after HBOT ensuring safety, high quality care, respect and dignity is prioritised.
- Ensure the maintenance of accurate records, logs and reports for all chamber activity
- Perform routine maintenance on chamber systems as required in conjunction with other members of the chamber team.
- Recognise, escalate and report a concern or safety issue appropriately.
- To help maintain chamber equipment, cleanliness and function in compliance with the Trust Infection Control Policy and SOP's.
- To participate with the multi-disciplinary team in reviewing chamber Sop's and Emergency Operating Procedures.
- Maintain competencies and keep up to date with evolving practices within the department.
- Participate in training, continued education and complete NHS mandatory training to keep up to date with relevant practices. This requires a minimum of 1 day per month in-person training in addition to on-call commitment.
- Responsible for their own safety and that of in chamber attendants, colleagues, patients and visitors.
Essential requirements
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Disclosure.
- UK Service Clearance
- Experience of operating / supervising hyperbaric chambers
- Experience of supervising RN, US or Comex dive tables.
- Awareness and understanding of current legislation pertaining to:
a. Diving at Work Regulations 1998
b. Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy
Preferred Requirements
- ACST qualification, ADC (Association of Diving Consultants) supervisor or military equivalent
Desirable Skills
- Hyperbaric Chamber supervisor/operator skills
- Diving related experience / knowledge
- Theoretical and operational understanding of the physics and physiology of diving.
- Core understanding of the need for compliance and adherence to safety, technical and operating procedures and guidelines.
- Effective documentation and record keeping
- Willingness to undergo education and training to achieve Chamber Operator Accreditation from EBAss.
- Willingness to undertake and pass Basic Life Support Skills and Healthcare related mandatory training.
