Senior Radiographer

Job summary

Manage and co-ordinate radiographic activities and staff within the designated area ofresponsibility in order to provide an accurate, efficient and high quality radiation treatment service, ensuring the safe and competent use of radiation and the highest standard of patient care, in compliance with the accredited Radiotherapy Department Quality System and in accordance with the Professional Code of Conduct.

To be actively involved with the development of Radiotherapy Services.

Maintain close communication and involvement with all Christie radiotherapy sites and host sites.

The post holder must contribute to the efficient running of the service, and work within The Christie NHS Foundation Trust policies and Health & Safety legislation.

Main duties of the job

SeeDetailed job description and main responsibilities

SeeDetailed job description and main responsibilities

About us

The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Job description

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure that the highly complex radiotherapy and imaging equipment is safe and accurate to operate, both for staff and patients; undertaking the appropriate machine checks and reporting any variances, faults and malfunctions.

Undertake and evaluate radiation dose delivery and complex calculations involving a range of radiation types and energies.

Interpret, monitor and evaluate the treatment prescriptions to ensure that radiotherapy is delivered accurately and reproducibly and in accordance with the quality system.

Evaluate delivery of radiotherapy through application and interpretation of treatment verification procedures.

Ensure the team follows appropriate systems and working methods to achieve the safe, timely achievement of workload targets.

Be able to accurately position patient and operate highly complex radiotherapy and imaging equipment along the radiotherapy pathway.

Ensure the team keeps accurate records and comply with necessary policies and procedures

Analyse systematically and evaluate all data and information relevant to patients diagnosis, ensuring the patient and their relatives are treated with dignity and respect at all times.

Communicate confidential sensitive information, and provide emotional support, to patients and their carers/relatives including children and the terminally ill. Provide information to patients and their carers with regard to the radiotherapy pathway and expected side effects.

To communicate accurate and timely information with all other disciplines involved along the patients pathway.

With the team on the unit, patients and the wider multidisciplinary team manage areas of conflict and escalate as necessary.

Anticipate and identify common and complex treatment related side effects, offering advice and where necessary refer to other relevant health care professionals.

To provide, receive and use sensitive information maintaining patient confidentiality at all times in line with information governance legislation

Apply safe and effective moving and handling skills in order to protect patients and staff and abide by Health and safety legislation in the work place.

Minimise risk of cross infection through contamination by bodily fluids/matter. In accordance of the infection control policy

To implement the procedures and work instructions described for the department in accredited quality management system and report any variances

Contribute to development of the quality management system by reviewing and writing work instructions and operating procedures.

Ensure all work and actions comply with local rules and current UK Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 and IR(ME)R 2000.

Be aware of and participate in the audit and research within the department and the implementation of new processes and techniques.

Undertake training and competency to dispense medication under Patient Group Direction (PGD)

Participate in the extended shift system, bank holidays, weekend working and on-call.

Any other duties negotiated with the post holder, to develop their role in the organisation

To achieve all the competencies as outlined by the radiotherapy education team within a time period as outlined by line manager.

Supervisory & managerial

As a band 6 you will be expected to lead, co-ordinate, supervise and manage a team of staff operating radiotherapy equipment and act as lead practitioner, making assessments and key decisions in regard to workload management, patient care and treatment

Teaching and training

As a band 6 you will be expected to provide mentorship and guidance for junior staff and be a good role model.

Participate in an annual Personal Development Review.

Attend all essential training and clinical updates as required and ensure your team also attend all relevant training.

Be capable of assimilating new ideas and techniques and have an ability to assess their value.

Assist in the supervision and training/teaching of pre-registration students and new members of staff.

Highlight to line manager all issues of inadequate performance, including capability and poor professional standards, for students and employees. Provide evidence where necessary and requested.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

DCR(T) or BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiographer State Registered Therapeutic Radiographer. HPC Registration.

Desirable

Further post-graduate qualification/intention for further study or evidence of continued educational development Management/leadership training. ECDL/equivalent

Experience

Essential

Wide experience with equipment and techniques Working with ISO 9001/2008 or equivalent.

Skills

Essential

Ability to communicate well; individual, team, multidisciplinary team. Ability to supervise and motivate junior staff, support workers and Student Radiographers, lead by example Ability to deal effectively with predictable and routine problems using defined and familiar procedures and guidelines. Able to adapt skills to all areas of department. Reliability to work well under pressure. Organised but flexible and adaptable approach to work.

Desirable

Demonstrate ambition in personal development and in service development

Knowledge

Essential

Demonstrate experience and Knowledge of advanced radiotherapy techniques and technology including VMAT, IMRT,FFF, IGRT, Stereotactic and protons Demonstrate experience and Knowledge of advanced radiotherapy techniques and technology including VMAT, IMRT,FFF, IGRT, Stereotactic and protons Demonstrable detailed knowledge of anatomy, oncology, radiobiology and physics. Evidence of competency in calculation of treatment doses. Knowledge of Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations (IRMER) and other relevant policies and regulations

Desirable

Knowledge of current Health Service and Oncology specific legislation and DoH plans Cancer Plan, NICE guidelines and how these impact on services.

Other

Essential

Flexibility in working hours, given appropriate notice. Patient focused. Demonstrate tolerance, sensitivity & empathy with staff and clients. Enthusiastic and well-motivated with a commitment to providing a high standard of service. Ability to lead the co-ordination of work to meet the demands of the established and developing service. Attention to detail and accuracy.

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