CDC Clinical Lead Radiographer CT/ MRI

Job overview

Are you an experienced radiographer looking to be part of an impactful and innovative service and wanting to work within a friendly team? Look no further!

We are looking for dynamic, committed and motivated Clinical Lead Radiographers who are proficient and skilled in CT and/or MRI to work across our Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) opening early 2025 (Eltham Community Hospital and Queen Marys Sidcup).

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a new community service, developed and managed by the NHS which will aim to improve healthcare outcomes and make our NHS more resilient than ever.

The post holder will work alongside Superintendents to deliver an efficient, effective and high-quality service, whilst offering guidance and support to junior colleagues and managing the day-to-day service to patients.

At LGT we promise to provide you with the tools to develop yourself professionally and work at the top of your job role within a very supportive directorate.

We strongly believe that a happy workforce is essential to delivering excellent patient care. We aim to invest our resources in improving the health and well-being of our team and provide a rotation that enables a great work life balance.

If this is what you are looking for then you would fit perfectly into our radiographic team here at LGT

Main duties of the job

To deputise for the CT and MRI Superintendent.

Responsible for the clinical leadership of CT and MRI across the Sidcup and Eltham Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC), ensuring quality is maintained in line with Radiology vision.

Act as a clinical lead for CT and MRI; discuss, implement and oversee clinical service developments to improve patient outcomes.

To carry out all responsibilities with regard to relevant and appropriate policies

To communicate effectively with clinical, managerial, administrative and ancillary staff in order to ensure a professional and timely service

The post is based at ECH/QMS. The post holder will be required to rotate across any CDC site, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich or University Hospital Lewisham as and when required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsible for the day-to-day clinical management of the CT/MR service across CDC sites

• Ensure the effective and efficient daily running of the CT/MR service with due regard to available resources ensuring maximised use of capacity.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement and modernisation of CT/MR services ensuring implementation of improvements to provide a Radiology whole system approach
• Plan and organise all aspects of CT/MR service delivery with regard to waiting times, ensuring that waiting times are kept to a minimum and in Compliance with National Constitutional Access Targets

• Monitor and evaluate capacity and demand data.
• Demonstrate effective leadership qualities and promote teamwork
• Undertake initial investigation of patient and user complaints and exercising judgement and initiative take appropriate actions to resolve the problem/complaint and escalate to the CT or MRI Superintendent where appropriate.
• Promote a working culture that improves quality and promote quality initiatives.
• Perform diagnostic imaging examinations in accordance with departmental protocols
• Justify examinations as appropriate.
• Responsible for clinical and professional standards across the CDC CT and MRI Departments
• Develop highly specialised programmes with CT and MRI Superintendent to ensure optimum image quality for diagnoses and treatment planning
• To provide highly specialised advice to all service users concerning the care and imaging plans for patients
• Identify and contribute to service development within the CDC CT and MR Department and link to wider Radiology Department improvement
• Responsible for ensuring all staff adhere to policies and procedures within CT and MRI
• Responsible for appropriate risk assessments
• Coordinating the maintenance and servicing of all equipment, liaise and communicate with manufacturers
• Responsible for optimum use of resources and maintain adequate stock levels
• Participate in the procurement (specification, evaluation and selection) of CT and MRI equipment
• Promote quality initiatives, ensuring the quality of patient care and compliance of quality standards
• To participate in Quality Assurance and Audit, ensuring guidelines are adhered to and monitored accordingly. Responsible for the Quality Assurance programme
• Responsible for the maintenance of electronic diaries for appointments and therefore the daily workload
• Responsible for data collection and analysis of information
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, professional and organisational requirements. Liaising with outside agencies to ensure compliance with statutory regulations when required. Ensure all documentation associated with regulations are kept and stored appropriately
• Ensure staff compliant with relevant registration and asses competencies.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients on complex, contentious and sensitive issues.
• Communicate service-related information to CT and MRI superintendent
• Maintain a patient, courteous manner in all aspects of communication with patients and staff especially in distressing situations
• Monitor incidents within CT and MRI. Ensure that incidents are reported via Ulysses as per Trust policy

Clinical

• Provide clinical leadership to all staff in the CDC CT and MRI Department and maintaining a high quality of clinical and professional standards within the CT and MRI service
• Promote best practice
• Participate in practice development and maintain evidence based practice
• Evaluate self and others to improve professional practice.
• Act autonomously, making decisions in complex and unpredictable situations. Escalating to CT and MRI Superintendent as necessary
• Act as a CT and MRI clinical expert in this relevant specialised field
• To be competent in manipulation of highly complex and expensive equipment; where a high degree of precision or speed is required and the highest level of hand, eye and sensory co-ordination – for e.g. CT / MRI angiography, where manipulation of parameters is critical for the acquisition of dynamic contrast studies. To be accurate when using advanced software, in order to analyse small vessels for stenosis, calcification and other pathologies i.e. Cardiac, Cranial studies etc. These studies form a large part of the daily workload.
• To perform post processing of complex image datasets with accuracy using fine tools to produce high quality images for diagnosis and treatment planning
• To lead in a high pressure environment with multiple emergencies and interruptions on a daily basis whilst co-ordinating staff/ service and performing patient imaging procedures
• To have a full understanding of infection control due to frequent exposure to body odours, body fluids wounds, infections and tumours.
• To be fully conversant in all aspects of Magnetic Resonance Imaging safety, including full understanding of the MRI Local Rules and emergency procedures (e.g., Fire, Cardiac Arrest, Quench.)
• To monitor and ensure compliance of staff to Ionising Radiation Regulations 99 and IR(ME)R 2000 and ensure patients procedures are performed with due consideration of these regulations
• Abide by, promote and ensure compliance CT/MR protocols, procedures and guidelines
• Exercise clinical judgement in the utilisation of resources and initiate liaison with relevant clinical teams if clinical findings necessitate
• Perform all aspects of clinical and technical procedures as per departmental policy
• Vet and prioritise CT/MR examinations in line with clinical protocols
• Liaise with lead clinicians to ensure effective running of the service
• Maintain a good working relationship with other departments and staff to ensure the provision of and efficient and effective service to all users and patients
• Provide clinical support and advice to staff within the Trust and external agencies
• Ensure compliance with COR code of conduct and HCPC regulations to ensure registration is maintained.

Training

• To lead in the induction and training of new staff, assistant practitioners and student radiographers within CT/MRI
• To formulate competency-based education and training of staff within this highly specialised service, in collaboration with CT/MRI superintendent
• To undertake formalised assessments of staff training in the specialised area and formally assessing the trainee’s performance and development.
• To oversee and be responsible for timely submission of CT/MRI projects and audits, as agreed with the CT and MRI Superintendent
• To be actively involved in departmental quality groups and pro-active in the sharing of good practice.
• To give lectures and presentations within the Trust and to outside organisations on areas of special interest.
• Contribute to the continuing education programme by attending courses and keeping abreast of current professional developments.
• Provide highly specialist knowledge and support to the wards, departments and clinical staff within the field of CT/MR
• To attend other training courses relevant to the post

Human Resources and Administration

• Responsible for accurate data entry on the Radiology Information System and PACS
• To ensure the accuracy of data quality in line with departmental policies and procedures (i.e. name, date of birth, address, postcode, GP and telephone number) are all current and correct
• Responsible for sending accurate image data to the Picture Archiving communication System for storage, transmission and archive
• Responsible for the day-to-day management of the CDC CT/MR Department.
• Responsible for daily staff rotas and day to day deployment of staff.
• Contribute to the recruitment, selection and appointment of professional, technical and support staff in accordance with policy and procedures
• Undertake staff appraisals
• Monitor staff performance and formulate personal development plans in accordance with Trust development review process (IPR).
• Undertake appropriate level of HR processes

Financial

• Sign off staff overtime sheets- checking for accuracy
• To procure non stock specialist equipment on SBS
• To review budgets with CT/MR Superintendent
• To monitor service and minimise waste
• To oversee and take responsibility for the application of HEE funding of specialist training courses
• To be actively involved and support Research projects that provide opportunities for income generation within the Trust.