Job Description

An opportunity has arisen to cover maternity leave for our Lead Clinical Gastrointestinal Scientist/Physiologist at the Bristol Royal Infirmary for 1 year until 31/8/2026.
This is a full time position, 37.5 hours covering services Monday to Friday.
Are you a driven and compassionate GI Scientist/Physiologist looking to take the next step in your career? Join our award-winning Trust and help shape a forward-thinking, patient-focused GI Physiology service at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
We are seeking an experienced GI Scientist/ Physiologist who demonstrates:

• A minimum of 3 years' experience in the full range of GI physiology investigations
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills
• Commitment to patient-centred care and service development
• Registration (or working towards) with RCCP/ AHCS or HCPC preferred

Main duties of the job
As Lead Clinical Gastrointestinal Scientist/ Physiologist, you will oversee and deliver a range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with gastrointestinal conditions. These include high-resolution oesophageal and anorectal manometry, 24-hour pH/impedance monitoring, hydrogen/methane breath testing, and functional therapies such as biofeedback and bowel management support.
You will manage a small, dedicated team, contributing to workforce planning, recruitment, appraisals, and service delivery, whilst maintaining your own clinical caseload. You'll also be involved in research, national audit, teaching (including STP support), and continuous service improvement aligned with national guidelines.
About us
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.
Details
Date posted
04 July 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
47,810 to 54,710 a year pa pro rata
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
387-S3570-NG
Job locations
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Queens Day Unit, Level 4 Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street
Bristol
BS2 8HW
Job description
Job responsibilities
See for full description of duties and responsibilities
The GI Physiology department carries out investigations including high resolution oesophageal manometry, 24-hour ambulatory pH and impedance studies, high resolution anorectal manometry, and breath tests for gastrointestinal problems. It also has an important involvement in programming sacral nerve stimulator implants and is first port of call for patients needing help and advice implants care.
There is a therapeutic aspect to the department involving provision of biofeedback therapy, bowel management advice, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation treatments, and transanal irrigation.
The postholder will not only be required to participate in the diagnostic and therapeutic clinical role needed to maintain the quality of the service, but also to support the management of the service such as setting up and completing online appraisals, managing sickness and absence, recruitment, organising schedules and workforce planning. Job description
Job responsibilities
See for full description of duties and responsibilities
The GI Physiology department carries out investigations including high resolution oesophageal manometry, 24-hour ambulatory pH and impedance studies, high resolution anorectal manometry, and breath tests for gastrointestinal problems. It also has an important involvement in programming sacral nerve stimulator implants and is first port of call for patients needing help and advice implants care.
There is a therapeutic aspect to the department involving provision of biofeedback therapy, bowel management advice, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation treatments, and transanal irrigation.
The postholder will not only be required to participate in the diagnostic and therapeutic clinical role needed to maintain the quality of the service, but also to support the management of the service such as setting up and completing online appraisals, managing sickness and absence, recruitment, organising schedules and workforce planning.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• 3 year Scientific Training Programme based in the work place and with the academic learning to masters level or equivalent
• Relevant Scientist degree

Desirable

• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Leadership and Management training or equivalent
• Membership of the Association of Gastrointestinal Physiologists (AGIP) as an "Accredited Independent Healthcare Professional" in GI Physiology
• Registered with RCCP or HCPC

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Attained competencies in a full range of GI physiological investigations (E)
• Developed practical, theoretical and analytical expertise in GI investigations to the level of an independent practitioner (E)
• Acquired a minimum of 3 years work-based training in GI Physiology (E)

Desirable

• Experience in management of staff (D)
• A comprehensive grasp of the anatomy and physiology of gastrointestinal and associated organs
• R&D experience in the field of GI Physiology

Aptitudes
Essential

• Excellent communication skills for dealing with patients and staff, providing complex information which can be highly sensitive and distressing, motivational skills, and likely barriers to understanding, especially dealing with very anxious patients undergoing invasive investigations of the GI tract (E)

Desirable

• Display an aptitude for troubleshooting and general problem-solving (D)

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• A high standard of keyboard skills to produce a clinical report, with use of Excel, Word, PDFs
• Knowledge of clinical measurement programs and equipment
• High degree of precision and hand-eye co-ordination for intubation of a patient with catheters for clinical measurement,
• Excellent organisational skills to plan workload for the service, schedules, workforce and long term planning for the service

Aptitudes
Essential

• Excellent organisational and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication skills for dealing with patients and staff, providing complex information which can be highly sensitive and distressing, motivational skills, and likely barriers to understanding, especially dealing with very anxious patients undergoing invasive investigations of the GI tract
• Able to take charge in difficult challenging or distressing clinical situations
• Able to show empathy with patients and treat them with respect, and maintenance of dignity

Desirable

• Display an aptitude for troubleshooting and general problem-solving

Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential

• 3 year Scientific Training Programme based in the work place and with the academic learning to masters level or equivalent
• Relevant Scientist degree

Desirable

• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Leadership and Management training or equivalent
• Membership of the Association of Gastrointestinal Physiologists (AGIP) as an "Accredited Independent Healthcare Professional" in GI Physiology
• Registered with RCCP or HCPC

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Attained competencies in a full range of GI physiological investigations (E)
• Developed practical, theoretical and analytical expertise in GI investigations to the level of an independent practitioner (E)
• Acquired a minimum of 3 years work-based training in GI Physiology (E)

Desirable

• Experience in management of staff (D)
• A comprehensive grasp of the anatomy and physiology of gastrointestinal and associated organs
• R&D experience in the field of GI Physiology

Aptitudes
Essential

• Excellent communication skills for dealing with patients and staff, providing complex information which can be highly sensitive and distressing, motivational skills, and likely barriers to understanding, especially dealing with very anxious patients undergoing invasive investigations of the GI tract (E)

Desirable

• Display an aptitude for troubleshooting and general problem-solving (D)

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• A high standard of keyboard skills to produce a clinical report, with use of Excel, Word, PDFs
• Knowledge of clinical measurement programs and equipment
• High degree of precision and hand-eye co-ordination for intubation of a patient with catheters for clinical measurement,
• Excellent organisational skills to plan workload for the service, schedules, workforce and long term planning for the service

Aptitudes
Essential

• Excellent organisational and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication skills for dealing with patients and staff, providing complex information which can be highly sensitive and distressing, motivational skills, and likely barriers to understanding, especially dealing with very anxious patients undergoing invasive investigations of the GI tract
• Able to take charge in difficult challenging or distressing clinical situations
• Able to show empathy with patients and treat them with respect, and maintenance of dignity

Desirable

• Display an aptitude for troubleshooting and general problem-solving