Pre-treatment Senior Radiographer - Manchester, United Kingdom - The Christie NHS FT

Description

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a Therapy Radiographer to join the pre-treatment team at the Christie Proton Beam Therapy Centre. This role is working within a unique, combined therapy and diagnostic workforce required to delivered cutting edge pre-treatment services in one of the UK's NHS PBT centres. The pre-treatment area and team operates a mould room for the production of relevant immobilisation equipment as well as a CT and MR scanners, which are used almost exclusively to deliver pre-treatment imaging as well as research in the novel use of MRI for radiotherapy. The team is looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals with a good team work ethic and the ability to lead a team contributing to the continuous development of the PBT service and profession.

This position is a fixed term 12 month post working hours per week and requires HCPC registration. We welcome informal enquiries from interested candidates who would like to know more about the role.

Main duties of the job

The senior radiographer is a key member of the pre-treatment team. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the day to day running of the pre-treatment areas, taking the lead daily on the scanners supporting a team of permanent and rotational radiographers, deputising for the superintendent radiographers and daily organisation of the workload, workforce and resources in order to provide safe effective and timely pre-treatment service. The post holder will be required to be competent in immobilisation production, CT and MR scanning as well as other skills such as cannulation, acting as a subject matter expert, training new and rotational team members. The pre-treatment service is a key stakeholder in the delivery of several important imaging trials within MRRT and all members of the team are expected to contribute to research as well as taking the lead on behalf of the pre-treat service in managing current trials and audits.

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.

The centre contains its own dedicated pre-treatment imaging department including a Siemens Dual energy CT scanner and dedicated Philips MRI scanner as well as specialist mould room facilities. The Proton centre serves a mix of complex clinical cases including adult, teenage young adult and paediatric patients.

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure that the highly complex pre-treatment radiotherapy imaging

equipment is safe and accurate to operate, both for staff and patient, undertaking

the appropriate machine checks and reporting any variances, faults and

malfunctions.

Using highly complex equipment such as CT simulators and MR scanners,

including the administration of contrast, to provide accurate radiotherapy

planning scans, in order to plan radiotherapy treatment for a diverse range of

patients

Providing accurate written instructions of treatment set-up to ensure accurate

treatment reproducibility ensuring that radiotherapy may be delivered accurately

and reproducibly and in accordance with the quality system.

Using highly complex equipment and software for virtual simulation of

radiotherapy treatments in order to produce accurate treatment plans in

accordance with the quality system.

Electronic dispatch of pre-treatment images to relevant sections of the

radiotherapy and treatment planning departments

Cannulation of patients for IV contrast and competence for relevant PGD for

contrast media and emergency drugs for the management of side effects in

accordance with trust policies

Monitor and assess patients condition and liaise with the multidisciplinary team

to ensure appropriate care, referral, information and support is offered to all

patients. Administer appropriate drug prescriptions as prescribed by clinicians.

Produce highly complex immobilisation devices for use in radiotherapy treatment

to ensure accurate treatment and reproducibility so that radiotherapy may be

delivered accurately and reproducibly and in accordance with the quality system.

Ensure the team follows appropriate systems and working methods to achieve

the safe, timely achievement of workload targets.

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 in the assigned area, patients and the wider multidisciplinary team

manage areas of conflict and escalate as necessary.

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, 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 ISO9001/2008 and report any variances.

Maintenance of treatment skills and knowledge and understanding of advanced

radiotherapy techniques and technology including VMAT, IMRT, FFF,

Stereotactic and protons

Contribute to development of the quality 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 IRMER Regulations 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

by pay 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 in radiotherapy pre-treatment 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

rotational staff, irrespective of grade and be a good role model.

Act as a mentor cannulation of patients for IV contrast and a link worker for

relevant PGD for contrast media and emergency drugs for the management

of side effects in accordance with trust policies

Participate in an annual Personal Development Review.

Attend all essential training and clinical updates as required.

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.

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Experience

Essential

Desirable

Skills

Essential

Desirable

Knowledge

Essential

Desirable

Values

Essential

Other

Essential