Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated, enthusiastic and adaptable Band 6 Senior Therapeutic Radiographer to join our work force and be part of a friendly and patient focused Pre-Treatment/CT Team.

Applicants must have substantial clinical experience in localisation/CT/Radiotherapy planning to fulfil the role of Pre-Treatment team leader. Applicants need to be adaptable to support service needs and able to communicate effectively with all members of the Oncology team.

The department is innovative and has developed the service it delivers to embrace new technology, offering IMRT, VMAT, DIBH, IGRT, SABR, Brachytherapy and 4DCT/4DCBCT. We have also commenced using Elekta Active Breathing Co-ordinator (ABC), to further support our breath hold techniques.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the daily organisation of a CT scanner.

To be responsible for undertaking the CT scan and care of patients undergoing planning procedures.

To supervise and train senior, junior radiographers and students.

To liaise with Medical Physicists, Technicians, other radiographers, consultants, and other Health Professionals to ensure that an efficient, effective and caring service is provided for patients, carers and other service users.

To ensure that patients receive individual site-specific advice and information.

About us

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as \Good by CQC. We have achievednumerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Professional

• To be responsible for the accurate preparation and planning of treatment by self and all members of the scanning team.
• To organise and supervise the work schedules and patient management in the CT Simulator suite on a daily basis.
• To assist the Superintendent Radiographers in the daily management of the professional, efficient and effective provision of high-quality care.
• To actively assist Advanced Practitioners in development of scanning procedures.
• To comply with all Trust and Departmental Policies, procedures, and protocols, commenting and suggesting changes as necessary.
• To ensure accurate preparation of radiotherapy treatments, analysing and approving planning data and images under protocol, via Virtual Simulation and Mosaiq systems.
• To act as a role model for the team of radiographers and students.
• To ensure a patient centred approach to the radiotherapy service.
• To support other staff in Continuous Professional Development programmes.
• To manage and lead the pre-treatment staff in absence of pre-treatment Band 7 staff.
• To support and advise the Oncology Bookings staff and Radiotherapy Aides.
• To demonstrate and utilise specialist knowledge of radiotherapy treatment side effects, skin reactions and their management.
• To ensure that patients have been fully informed by medical staff of the reasons for imaging and treatment and the expected side effects, and that specified treatment site is accurate.
• Following treatment prescribing by the Clinical Oncologist, assess patients prior to imaging to ensure that the patient is suitable for the proposed immobilisation and procedure, referring patients back to medical staff as required.
• To be responsible for CT planning procedures, working under agreed protocols, including decision on optimum patient position, immobilisation equipment, reproducibility, volume to be imaged and accurate transfer of patient information.
• To participate in patient cannulation for the specific purpose of the administration of IV contrast, adhering to local policies and protocols.
• To ensure accurate input of data into Virtual Simulator and Mosaiq (electronic patient/ prescription information system).
• To resolve complex planning issues, analysing and solving problems, affirming the accuracy/ suitability of radiotherapy treatment with reference upwards to the Superintendents or other health professionals as required.
• To be responsible for accurate transfer of simple treatment plans from the Virtual simulator to Mosaiq, including images, beam modification, and beam data.
• To define breast treatment volumes on patients, apply fields on Virtual Simulator and assess the suitability of the fields prior to clinician approval.
• To plan electron Breast boost fields as indicated by the clinician.
• To check manual dose calculations and treatment data on Mosaiq.
• To develop and maintain Verification Image analysis skills.
• To liaise with Oncology consultants and other Health Professionals within the multi-disciplinary team, regarding complex scanning and treatment information, ensuring that local and national legal requirements are met.
• To ensure that radiotherapy planning equipment is available for scheduled maintenance and to affirm its suitability for clinical use following any work/calibrations.
• To ensure that all clinically necessary equipment is used safely.
• To immediately report and record any malfunction of equipment.
• To maintain confidentiality for patients, carers and staff.
• To provide advice and support for terminally ill patients, carers and families.
• To participate in the pre-treatment on-call service, demonstrating an ability to be flexible and adaptable.

EDUCATIONAL

• To assist in the training and development of radiotherapy students, assistant practitioners, and radiographers.
• To act as an assessor and mentor for trainees when appropriate.
• To share knowledge and skills with other radiographers.
• To demonstrate Continuous Professional Development as required by the Health and Care Professions Council, and to assist other staff with CPD when appropriate.
• To participate in presentations when appropriate, promoting knowledge and awareness of radiotherapy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Hons Radiotherapy
• HCPC Registration

Experience

Essential

• Experience as a band 5 qualified radiographer
• Substantive clinical and supervisory experience in area of clinical expertise

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

225-DIV2-5034561