Radiotherapy Specialist Practitioner Radiographer (XR06)
| Posting date: | 17 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,392 to £42,618 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £35392 - £42618 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 08 May 2024 |
| Location: | Leeds, LS9 7TF |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | C9298-ONC-0376 |
Summary
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Technical / Clinical Responsible for maintaining the highest standards of technical practice and patient care while treating and supporting patients. Responsible for the checking / calculation of doses and prescriptions in accordance with departmental procedures. Responsible for the review / subsequent clinical decisions of radiotherapy images. Develop highly specialised skills/knowledge in specific area of practice in order to further the develop the service and in order to train other staff. Work as a specialist practitioner for the practical and associated aspects of radiotherapy practice in the clinical area. Ensure own clinical decisions (including non-standard / outside protocol) are underpinned and evaluated by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience. Responsible for keeping up to date with technical practice and offering support, guidance and encouragement to others, to do the same. Responsible for ensuring all equipment is used appropriately and safely, including administrative and management systems, monitoring equipment performance and reporting faults. Ensure that departmental standards and procedures are followed on the unit, supporting implementation of procedure changes, and suggesting changes required to optimise the quality of radiotherapy practice/service. Take an active role in audit, development and research as required, particularly in own area of specialism Management Deputise for the team leader when appropriate (e.g Annual leave), managing the unit and staff to maintain efficiency whilst promoting best practice. Assist the team leader in managing the workload of the unit, re-organising clinical workloads when machine breakdown occurs, and ensuring that schedules run effectively and safely, prioritizing as appropriate. Participate in the clinical training and assessment of junior staff, students (via SHU assessor training scheme), returners, assistants and any other learners on the unit. Responsible for assisting with quality assurance procedures. Responsible for ensuring that clinical and technical information, and all information relating to each treatment course undertaken on the unit, is accurately and fully recorded and reported. Patient Care Responsible for the care of the patient whilst undergoing treatment. Assess and monitor patient care needs and organise care including both referral to other disciplines and support by other practitioners. Responsible for developing specific care plans / pathways (with other disciplines) by providing specialist clinical advice. Provide appropriate advice and information to patients and carers at all stages of radiotherapy, referring issues to senior staff as appropriate. General Representing the views of team members and peers at meetings and workgroups and reporting information back to the team, and seeking feedback as appropriate. Actively participate in and support activities in promoting and recruiting to the profession. To work flexibly as required by the service / patient need Carrying out additional duties as requested by the Head of Radiotherapy, management team or team leader, commensurate with the grade of the post. Health and Safety/Risk Management All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system. Additionally for radiotherapy Complying with statutory Ionizing Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations IR(ME)R and Local Rules (Ionising Radiations Regulations - IRR) and departmental radiotherapy incident reporting procedures,. Responsible for prompt reporting of radiation incidents, equipment, patient and safety related incidents in accordance with departmental / Trust procedures. Also identifying and reporting any areas of perceived risk. Infection Control The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment. Equality and Diversity The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. Patient and Public Involvement The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback. Training and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role. Respect for Patient Confidentiality The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS An ability to provide and receive complex and sensitive information to / from cancer patients in an empathetic, reassuring and professional manner. Assess potential communication barriers and demonstrate where necessary persuasive, motivational and negotiating skills, referring to senior staff where appropriate. To recognize the potential for conflict in relationships and seek to minimize this, and contribute to effective communication and team working. To promote and maintain effective communication and relationships with immediate colleagues, the multi-disciplinary team, patients and visitors. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS PHYSICAL EFFORT: This post requires dexterity and highly developed co-ordination and sensory skills in order to speedily and accurately manipulate equipment with a high degree of precision, as well as finely manipulating the patients body to align the relevant anatomy with the radiation beam to accuracy within 1 mm. They should also be able to accurately apply permanent patient skin marks (tattoo) with needles and ink. This is a physically demanding post with constant manoeuvring of patients and equipment, which can often be heavy and / or awkward. The postholder will need to exert intense physical effort by reaching over and twisting heavy patients at height (approx 5 feet from the ground) for short periods of time (5 minutes), several times a day (15-20), every day. The postholder will also need to lift accessory equipment (some weighing 6-10Kg) and position these at head / shoulder height onto other equipment. There are postural constraints involved in this due to limitations in work design. These risks have been assessed by the Trust Back Care Lead and physio. Postholder works in pairs so lifting of accessories is recommended as a two person lift. MENTAL EFFORT: A high level of concentration is required when treating each patient constantly in order to undergo patient assessment and maintain a high level of patient care 10-30 mins per patient, up to 50 patients per day. Ability to view patient set-ups in both 2D and 3D. Excellent psychomotor and spatial awareness to accurately position patients (to within 1mm). When not treating patients, periods of prolonged concentration (1-2 hrs) are required when viewing images, calculating prescriptions and checking datasets for accuracy EMOTIONAL EFFORT: To recognize and appropriately act upon the emotional and psychological needs of patients, colleagues, team and ones self due to the frequent exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances, e.g. continually working with patients with cancer. Dealing empathetically with cancer patients, families and carers with challenging behaviour, caused by either the physical and/or emotional effects of diagnosis or the disease, impacts on the emotional effort required for this post. Dealing with the large age range of patients and carers / dependents of varying physical states including anaesthetized and unconscious. To act in an influencing role in areas that may cause significant significant conflict due to changes in traditional working practice. WORKING CONDITIONS: Working in an environment where radiation is used continuously. Approximately 95% of time will be spent in clinical areas, therefore the postholder will require a professional approach to occasional exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions (uncontained body fluids, smells) and have knowledge of how to deal with these appropriately. Postholder will need to lead by example in effectively dealing with any exposure to verbal aggression and threatening behaviour (usually due to patient distress), and be able to support other junior staff to develop strategies regarding the correct de-escalation processes. The remainder of the role is split between staff support and development, teaching, departmental meetings and functions.