Job summary

The team is like an extended family, with a real sense of community where everyone looks out for each other - Portsmouth Radiographer

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join our fantastic radiographer led review service . We are looking for an experienced review radiographer ready to take on a new challenge and support our current service to ensure consistent access to support and advice for our patients both during and beyond treatment.

You will find a motivated, enthusiastic and forward thinking department, keen to support you in your own development and working hard to improve the quality of treatment and care for our patients. You will be part of a small patient review team that includes a Band 7 Macmillan information and support Radiographer, and Band 6 Radiographers with a specialist interest in patient review. You will also be a part of a larger Advanced practitioner team within our department will report to and be supported by our Technical Lead Radiographer.

We have 4 Truebeam linear accelerators, a Siemens CT wide-bore scanner and also run Brachytherapy and Orthovoltage services. All aspects of our patient pathway are linked utilising ARIA V15.5 as we became a paperless department in March 2023.

**For more detailed information and pictures of our department, please see the supporting document PHU Radiotherapy Information Brochure**

Main duties of the job

• To lead and develop the Radiographer led on-treatment review clinic. You will be a source of advice within the department, influencing changes to clinical practice and service development through research and audit.
• With at least 2 years of treatment review experience you will specialise in patients with more complex needs, such as those with head & neck cancers and gynaecological cancers.
• To provide both practical and emotional support to patients and their carers.
• To be an expert in side effects management for patients undergoing a course of radiotherapy treatment.
• To act as a liaison and point of expert knowledge for all service users including other health professionals such as GPs, CNSs.
• You will have independent prescribing rights registered with the HCPC or be willing to undertake this as a priority on appointment. You will also have experience of working with PGDs and their administration.
• You will be able to demonstrate your knowledge in all modern radiotherapy techniques, understanding the impact these may have on patient experience and side effects.

For more information or to arrange an informal visit, please get in touch.

About us

The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for our patients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commission report published 2020 and became a University Hospital. We are ranked as the third in the country for research; embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuously strive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. The Trusts main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, starting life as a military hospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the south coast and you may have seen us on the TV series Nurses on the Ward. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist services to a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire. The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, colleagues and our community you will find a home at PHU. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Advanced practitioners must align their practice and subsequent continuing professional development (CPD) with four pillars of practice: clinical practice; facilitation of learning; leadership and evidence; and research and development.
• To lead and develop the Radiographer led on-treatment review clinic.
• To provide both practical and emotional support to patients and their carers.
• To be an expert in side effects management for patients undergoing a course of radiotherapy treatment.
• To act as a liaison and point of expert knowledge for all service users including other health professionals such as GPs, CNSs.

Key Dimensions

• Budgets Influences the Radiotherapy Oncology budget for procurement of specialist equipment.
• Staff Numbers Direct line management of 2 band 6 staff member and works collaboratively with other Band 7 radiographers.
• Other Statistics The Radiotherapy department sees approximately 2,500 new patients per annum, with approx 120 patient episodes per day.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Practice

• Lead the on-treatment review clinic service by developing and maintaining evidence-based guidelines for patient care, throughout their period of radiotherapy treatment; to include the assessment of psycho-social needs as well as the management of treatment side effects.
• Promote, develop and maintain own skills and knowledge and those of all radiographic staff, with specific reference to radiotherapy side effect management.
• Provide confidential support to patients and their carers, utilising a range of counselling (interpersonal) skills, and using advanced communication skills to empathetically impart information at all levels.
• Review patients with complex needs, for example, head and neck cancer patients and those with less common cancers.
• Maintain a high profile in all clinical areas of cancer, supporting the work of other cancer health professionals.
• Maintain communication with Cancer Nurse Specialists to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Diagnose and pre-empt treatment reactions, and administer specified drugs under patient group directives, following compulsory training or prescribing as an independent prescriber, after achieving the relevant qualifications.
• Communicate information regarding changes in practice to Radiographers, Clinicians, and the wider MDT.
• Respond to difficult, intimate or questions that may be embarrassing to the patient, in a sensitive and empathetic way, ensuring patient dignity and considering the age, sex, culture and gender of the patient.
• Maintain and update knowledge of current radiotherapy planning and treatment techniques and best practice including 4DCT, SABR and IGRT.
• Maintain and update knowledge on the accurate positioning of patients for radiotherapy treatment, such as immobilisation and preparation procedures, including those specific to trial patients.

Facilitation of Learning

• The post holder will have expert knowledge of all treatment modalities and their side effects and will be expected to act as a resource for other health care professionals within specialist area engaging with external agencies and the wider clinical network.
• Ensure that other relevant members of staff are trained in this area of practice to the required competence and that patient care initiatives are embedded into the patient pathway.
• Provide training and education to staff by formal/informal means on subjects within area of expertise.
• Educate Health Care professionals about cancer, radiotherapy, and related issues.
• Establish and maintain links with Clinical Nurse Specialists and medical staff to share and/or learn from examples of best practice.
• Promote patient/carer independence through the provision of relevant teaching and support.

Leadership and Evidence

• Supervise the work of more junior staff, including the provision of clinical supervision.
• Ensure patients are seen in a safe, confidential, and acceptable environment.
• Act as the patient advocate through the application of professional knowledge and skills.
• Regularly audit the service utilising the views of users and other Health Professionals.
• Maintain accurate patient records.
• Critically evaluate research and audit findings and disseminate these findings as appropriate to develop best practice.
• Establish professional links with other health professionals involved in cancer care both within the Trust and primary care.
• Contribute to the achievement of national, network and Trust quality standards and targets for radiotherapy in line with national documents and guidance, including the radiotherapy service specification.

Research and Development

• To support multi-disciplinary research/audit programmes related to patient care and the management of side effects, including the development, design, and implementation of projects. This will include working with Radiographers, Oncologists, and others in the implementation of new or changing practice.
• Participate in research and development activities as appropriate; establish and/or participate in uni-professional or multi-professional working groups to ensure the safe implementation of agreed projects, trials, and studies.
• To be proactive and innovative in the development of new initiatives and working practices.
• Develop and update protocols and work instructions and implement working procedures, within area of expertise, to ensure high quality of patient care. Take responsibility for ensuring that, by effective communication and the provision of training, all staff adhere to such procedures and work instructions.
• Maintain own personal development through the pursuit of relevant professional and academic study and maintain own level of competence.
• Devise and provide training in side effect management and general patient care for radiography staff; with responsibility for assessing competency of staff and maintain training records.
• Ensure that no patient consultation, first day chat or other advice is undertaken by staff without the appropriate knowledge, training and supervision.
• Devise and provide training in the management of radiotherapy side effects for Clinical Oncologists, junior doctors and CNSs as appropriate.
• Participate in mandatory training; develop knowledge and understanding within an evidence-based framework; actively pursue CPD opportunities and maintain an up to date personal portfolio, as evidence.
• Responsible for keeping up to date with appropriate clinical practice and offering support, guidance, and encouragement to others to do the same.
• Ensure that the clinical decision making of junior staff is appropriate and supported by relevant theoretical knowledge / experience.
• Participate in the clinical training of students, returners and any other learners in the department in accordance with departmental protocols.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• DCR(T) or BSc in Therapy Radiography, or equivalent.
• Post graduate education to Masters level within area of expertise or equivalent level of experience.
• HCPC registration as a Therapeutic Radiographer.

Experience

Essential

• Significant previous experience of leading and managing clinical team.
• Significant experience in patient review clinics.
• Evidence of CPD in clinical practice.
• Experience in dealing with clinical problem.
• Experience within both pre-treatment and treatment area.
• Successful track record of working within a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C8192-ND-23-0539