Diagnostic Radiographer

Job overview

We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic radiographers with a keen desire to learn and develop their skills in our busy and exciting department.

There are two roles available;

• Rotational Radiographer: This is a rotational Radiographer post providing cover for clinical shifts on a 24/7 basis including weekends and bank holidays. Radiographer training is provided across multiple imaging modalities including X-ray, Theatres, Fluoroscopy, Endoscopy and Dental imaging.
• Dental and Main Radiology Radiographer: This is a limited Dental and Main Radiology rotational role providing cover for clinical shifts from Monday to Friday, with no weekend or night shift requirement; shift hours vary between 08:00 and 20:00. To better aid transition between the departments, there is a 50/50 split working across the departments.

Main duties of the job

They will work autonomously, prioritising workload according to clinical need and service requirements. They will be accountable for their own professional practice, working within their scope of competence and seeking advice from senior colleagues when appropriate. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, they will contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient care while considering the needs of referring clinical teams.

They will maintain strict adherence to patient confidentiality, information governance requirements, and relevant legislation at all times. The post holder will be proficient in the use of the Trust's IT systems, ensuring accurate management of patient information throughout each care episode.

The post holder will support the supervision, teaching, and development of students, junior staff, and colleagues as appropriate. They will demonstrate competence in accordance with the King's Radiography Competency Framework and take responsibility for their own continuing professional development, supported by the department.

King's College Hospital is committed to delivering services that are safe, effective, and patient-focused. All staff are expected to provide a high-quality, courteous service, treating patients, carers, and colleagues with respect while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Service Delivery

• Act as Operator under IR(ME)R 2017 Radiation Regulations, assess the clinical justification of referrals to ensure that the benefit to the patient outweighs the radiation risk associated with the examination.
• Act as patient and staff-advocate minimising their exposure to radiation.
• Provide timely, efficient and courteous provision of radiographic services to the agreed standards of the department taking account of the patient/client clinical, physical, emotional and cultural needs.
• Monitor and adjust work priorities in conjunction with other professionals to take into account changing demands on the diagnostic services due to emergencies or increased demand from A&E, particularly during out of hours duties.
• Assess and treat own work load of patients/clients, communicate work priorities, organising work load in conjunction with other team members.
• To work as part of a team within the respective work area.
• Responsible for the safe use and maintenance of imaging equipment, reporting faults to senior staff or directly to the manufacturer.
• To participate in the departmental rota, being flexible in responding to service needs.

Communications

• Receive and welcome patients and staff to the relevant Radiology reception areas and deal with any enquiries in a kind and courteous manner.
• Communicates with the referrer any changes to referrals after assessing the clinical justification for an x-ray examination against IR(ME)R and local protocols.
• Deal sensitively with patients or carers under emotional stress, including the terminally ill and bereaved.
• Deal with potentially aggressive patients.
• Communicate information relating to conditions and procedures to staff, patients and carers and ensure informed consent for examinations.
• Communicate effectively on a daily basis with patients with communication difficulties and cognitive impairment.
• Anticipate and interpret customers’ needs, defining the level of customer care required on an individual basis.
• Communicate effectively with staff within and outside of the department to ensure the smooth operation of the service. Including liaison with ward staff.
• Give factual information to patients, including children, regarding examinations and understand the necessary preparations.
• To work with other radiographers and health care professionals to assist them with diagnostic examinations and other procedures.
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors within the department.
• Ensure patients receive timely and accurate information about their examination, and ensure urgent findings are communicated in the appropriate way to referrers.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Position patients accurately for each examination, adapting techniques in accordance with patient need.
• Be able to decide on additional views when required in line with professional knowledge.
• Comply with the requirements of CNST and clinical governance procedures.
• Demonstrate problem-solving approach to issues arising at a local level, evaluating the need to refer problems to the line manager.
• To be accountable for own professional actions and working within codes of practice and professional guidelines, consulting senior staff as and when necessary.
• Act as a source of knowledge to be consulted by other professionals.
• To be aware of Trust and departmental policies relevant to clinical practice and adhere to them.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.

Physical Skills and Effort

• To ensure the safe transferring of patients and equipment, following manual handling guidelines and using risk assessment.
• Assist with changing and personal care of patients as necessary including immobile and disabled.
• To operate a wide range of radiological equipment requiring excellent hand-eye co-ordination.
• To ensure that all equipment is free from damage and wear and tear by employing appropriate equipment handling.
• To operate imaging modality and PACS system computer hardware appropriately.
• To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary; paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linens contaminated by bodily fluids.
• Professional & Practice Development, Training & Education.
• Supervision and training of assistant practitioners, junior colleagues, non-radiographic staff and student radiographers, assuming professional responsibility for their work.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.