Senior Therapeutic Radiographer

Job overview

We have an excellent new starter induction package and great opportunities for training and development across the service. These include encouragement for personal development alongside our specialist education team and opportunities to attend local and national courses and conferences. There are many more! The Band 6 position is a key member of the treatment team and is encouraged to contribute towards the development of the treatment delivery service.  The Withington site comprises of 8 Elekta LinAcs, an XStrahl Superficial machine and 2 Phillips Big Bore CT Scanners, providing opportunity to gain skills in all these areas.

We are looking for experienced radiographers in treatment delivery, who are enthusiastic and motivated to take responsibility for running our treatment machines and managing a diverse workload of patients in the Radiotherapy service. They will be expected to lead and supervise staff operating the equipment under the direct supervision of the Superintendent Radiographers.

Successful applicants will have wide experience with radiotherapy equipment and treatment techniques, be highly motivated and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  We are looking for applicants with a commitment to developing themselves, the team, and the Radiotherapy Service.

HCPC registration required.

We welcome informal enquiries from interested candidates who would like to know more about the role.

Shift patterns between 06:00am and 23:00pm

Main duties of the job

To lead, co-ordinate, supervise and manage a team of staff operating radiotherapy equipment and act as lead practitioner, making assessments and key decisions regarding workload management, patient care, and treatment.

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, reporting any variances, faults, and malfunctions as necessary.

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

Follow 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. Keep 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 regarding the radiotherapy pathway and expected side effects.

To implement the procedures and work instructions described for the department in the accredited Quality Management System and report any variances.

Detailed job description and main 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.
• 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.
• Communicate accurate and timely information with all other disciplines involved along the patient’s 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.
• 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 workplace.
• Minimise risk of cross infection through contamination by bodily fluids/matter. In accordance with the infection control policy.
• 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 2017.
• 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.
• Achieve all the competencies as outlined by the radiotherapy education team, within a time period as outlined by line manager.

Supervisory & managerial

• 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

• 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.
• Assimilate 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.