Research Radiographer - Manchester, United Kingdom - The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Description

Are you a highly skilled cross-sectional diagnostic radiographer, with an interest in research, seeking an opportunity to make a difference in cancer care? Radiology is looking to appoint a joint Clinical Trials and Senior Cross-sectional Radiographer to join our experienced team of Clinical Trial Radiographers in supporting over 400+ research studies over a wide breadth of cancer research.

Collaborating with a team of experienced radiologists, oncologists and healthcare professionals, you will perform a range of radiographic procedures using state of the art equipment and techniques.

Such procedures include, but are not limited to complex CT guided biopsies and drainages and brachytherapy and SABRE planning scans in MR.

The Radiology department provides diagnostics, staging, re-staging and interventional procedures in support of patient oncology treatments and clinical trials.

The clinical trials radiographers liaise with staff across R& I, as well as the Senior Research Project Manager, the MRI Clinical Specialist Research Radiographer, Consultant Radiologists and Superintendent Radiographers to enable an effective radiology clinical trials service.

Clinical supervision of radiography students.

Your expertise will contribute directly to the development of tailored treatment plans for patients, helping to optimise their outcomes and overall experience.

As part of your role as a senior cross-sectional radiographer you will be provided with training to extend your scope of practice by participating in radiographer led screening for Pulmonary Embolisms in CT and brain metastases in MRI, as well as vetting and protocolling CT & MR requests.

You will be supported to access professional development and educational opportunities through The Christie School of Oncology.

The Christie People & Culture Plan actively supports AHPs to engage in advanced clinical practice and research from postgraduate through to doctorate level education.

5 FTE in clinical trials team and 0.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.

State-of-the-art facilities : you will have access to the latest technology and work with the most advanced tools available, enhancing your skills and knowledge in the field and allowing you to contribute to cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Collaborative Multidisciplinary environment :
opportunities for teamwork, knowledge sharing and professional development.

To assist in ensuring there is effective communication between the various teams who have input into the radiology services such as diagnostic radiology staff, students, medical physics staff, clinicians, nursing staff, engineers and others.

Accurate input of patient data into any Trust computer system
Planning and organisational duties

Review research protocols, imaging protocols, patient information sheets, amendments and other related trial documents making judgements regarding imaging investigation requirements and regulatory compliance e.g.

Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R), Health Research Authority (HRA) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and other appropriate regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with national standards.

Ensure compliance within the radiology service of the agreed clinical trials protocols, confirming staff knowledge/skills, specialised equipment compatibility, availability and frequency of imaging.

Translate complex clinical trial imaging and scheduling requirements into work practices.

Act as the main liaison between radiology and R& I for a multitude of projects including organising meetings regarding trial specific requirements, attending site initiation visits, site specific questionnaires, and trial specific training with relevant stakeholders.

Vet each imaging and biopsy request which is part of a research trial to assess compliance with the protocol, IRMER regulations, to enable justification of the radiation exposure by radiographic staff prior to patients undergoing any clinical trial related imaging investigation.

Liaise with Trust medical physics experts regarding estimated radiation dose for clinical trials and investigate and record breaches of ethical radiation dose constraints.

Liaise with speciality leads to ensure maintenance records and calibration of equipment utilised for the purposes of research are maintained in accordance with clinical trial requirements.

Undertake and update technical evaluations and risk assessments on equipment utilised for trial scanning and inform R& I of any changes.

Ensuring pregnancy is excluded in female patients of childbearing years.

Ensuring that any faults in equipment, fixtures, fittings or fabric of any of the departments are recorded and notified to the appropriate persons, complying with and enforcing current Health and Safety and Moving and Handling regulations.

MR local rules, ionising radiation regulations, IR(ME)R, departmental dose reduction strategies etc.
Maintaining practices in keeping with departmental and Trust Board policies, e.g. fire regulations, patient confidentiality etc.

Assess patients clinical condition regarding the level of risk of giving intravenous and oral contrast medium when relevant.

Possesses advanced IT skills e.g. manipulating databases, working with the full MS suite of software including MS Excel and be competent at report writing.

Maintain the radiology clinical trials database, including accurate patient data entry, dose limitations, imaging costs for individual patient examinations, and resolution of discrepancies between Trust information systems (CRIS, Medway).

Support and oversee the Clinical Trial Assistants in radiology to produce anonymised copy images for trial sponsors.

Support the Clinical Trial Assistants to record evidence and maintaining an audit trial for all team activities including copy scans, vetting, study reviews, appointments, biopsies etc.

Archive all trial related documentation and information (paper and electronic) as per legal and national guidelines.
Ensures patient confidentiality, privacy, data protection, safety and security.

Responsibility for financial resources

Review Research protocols to provide financial costings advice to R& I.
Produce radiology trials activity reports, including financial, as required by R& I to support remuneration for the service

Research and Training

Take an active role in the training of qualified radiographers, radiography students and students/staff from other disciplines including visiting engineers and clinical trainee staff
To participate in the departmental continuing professional development programme, including participating in appraisal and personal development planning.
To participate in the Trusts essential training.
Supervision of junior radiographic staff and radiographic aides as required. Including clinical supervision of radiography students.

Supervise the Clinical Trial Assistants in Radiology including the training of new staff members and assisting with complex queries.

To work with the radiologists, clinical specialist radiographers and other senior staff in the department to review working practices, identify new ways of working and find solutions to problems.

Develop and run specific Radiology research training sessions for Christie Radiology Staff and R& I based staff including RECIST reporting, image transfer, induction training to understand the imaging modalities, protocols and procedures within radiology for clinical trials and any other training as needs arise.

Support departmental audits involving Radiology research, with the ability to lead independent audits and present results to the department.

Facilitate external audit and inspection visits conducted in relation to research on behalf of the radiology department. Escalating any issues or concerns to the radiology services manager and clinical director, Head of Quality for research.

Produce, review and adhere to required standard operating procedures (SOPs) and relevant policies to support the work practice of the post holder to ensure a robust quality assurance (QA) process is in place.

Maintain and update own practice/expertise and CPD portfolio as per Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration requirements and adhere to the Society and College of Radiographers Professional Code of Conduct.

Continued learning across the mix of modality scanning methods in an oncology setting.
Contribute to future development and improvement of the radiology clinical trials service.

If an unplanned incident or event occurs that causes a disruption to normal service, you may be required to support radiology scanning clinically.

Supervision of junior radiographic staff, students and radiographic aides as required.
Ensuring pregnancy is excluded in female patients of childbearing years.

Ensuring that any faults in equipment, fixtures, fittings or fabric of any of the departments are recorded and notified to the appropriate persons, complying with and enforcing current Health and Safety and Moving and Handling regulations.

MR local rules, ionising radiation regulations, IR(ME)R, departmental dose reduction strategies etc.
Maintaining practices in keeping with departmental and Trust Board policies, e.g. fire regulations, patient confidentiality etc.

To work with the radiologists, clinical specialist radiographers and other senior staff in the department to review working practices, identify new ways of working and find solutions to problems.

Clinical supervision of radiography students.

Occasional travel for off-site visits.

DCR (R) or BSc Radiography
Previous relevant course or post graduate study
Interested in post graduate study
A range of experience across radiology modalities with specific expertise in CT or MR