Pre-treatment Senior Radiographer | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 13 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £35,392 - £42,618 per annum, pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 June 2024 |
| Location: | Manchester, M20 4BX |
| Company: | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 6306183/413-83034-CNS-LS |
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 37.5 hours per week and requires HCPC registration. We welcome informal enquiries from interested candidates who would like to know more about the role.
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.
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 3.2 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 aSiemens Dual energy CT scanner and dedicated Philips MRI scanneras well as specialist mould room facilities. The Proton centre serves a mix of complex clinical cases including adult, teenage young adult and paediatric patients.
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 patient’s 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 point…….within 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.
This advert closes on Monday 27 May 2024
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