The post holder is part of a specialist team rotating through the pre-treatment and treatment areas of Radiotherapy. The post holder will work in a senior capacity, to support the team leader of the highly complex treatment unit, Brachytherapy unit, CT planning unit or pre-treatment liaison area.

The post holder will be required to manage all aspects of the workload in the absence of a Band 7 Team lead and will be directly responsible, under their duty of care, for the planning, treatment and care of patients undergoing Radiotherapy.

Provide daily supervision and training to junior staff, students and visitors

Additionally the post holder works closely with Radiotherapy Physicists, Technicians, Oncologists, Dieticians, Speech Therapists, Nurses, Admin staff ,other Radiographers and other professional groups to provide a thorough, efficient service encompassing all aspects of accurate Radiotherapy treatment delivery and patient care.

Will actively participate in clinical trials and in house research.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

Provide support to Treatment and Pre-Treatment lead radiographers and manage all aspects of the service in their absence to ensure smooth and effective service and will be directly responsible, under their individual duty of care, for CT scanning, simple planning, treatment, time management and care of patients undergoing Radiotherapy procedures.

Provide daily supervision, education and training to junior staff, students and visitors.

Work closely with all MDT parties to provide a thorough, efficient service encompassing all aspects of accurate Radiotherapy planning, treatment delivery and patient care.

Adhere to all National and Local policies and procedures and be fully conversant in the IR(ME)R and IRR requirements for their clinical area and able to act as a point of reference for the department.

Will actively participate in service improvement, national and local clinical trials.

Please see full job description for a full description of duties of the role.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide safe and accurate specialist technical service delivering therapeutic ionising radiation, while maintaining a high duty of care to all patients undergoing Radiotherapy

To demonstrate effective patient management encompassing all patients needs, using specialist knowledge of treatment side effects, skin reactions and their management. Taking responsibility for referring patients for clinical assessment by a consultant or deputy, prior to commencement of treatment when symptoms become acute

Demonstrate ability to resolve complex treatment and planning issues with problem solving skills and effective autonomous decision-making

Compute and check specialised calculations and complex planning data relating to patients treatment delivery

To maintain specialist knowledge of ARIA to enable autonomous registration, review and decision making on patients Electronic Portal Images used to verify the patient position

To maintain a specialist knowledge of ARIA requiring the individual to input, and be a final check for patient data and plan parameters to be used for Radiotherapy treatment

To communicate effectively with Oncology Consultants & Registrars regarding highly complex planning or treatment information to ensure safe and accurate delivery of treatment in accordance with trust and national legislation

To demonstrate effective critical thinking to determine efficacy of treatment prescription, planned and non- planned treatments and departmental procedures

To communicate and participate with the multi-disciplinary team involved in patient care and service delivery

To ensure all new patients receive departmental information and documentation on radiotherapy prior to treatment e.g. consent and pre-treatment review

To maintain specialist knowledge of pre-treatment procedures to provide safe and accurate pre-treatment planning service, ensuring a high quality of care to all patients

Participate in CT planning, determine on position of patient and volume to be imaged, input data into the Planning computer and Prosoma Virtual Simulation Application

May participate in HDR preparation and delivery

To ensure equipment is available for QA and equipment maintenance at agreed times, to comply with local agreements thus ensuring safety and reducing hazards associated with radiation exposure

Provide a supportive and confidential environment for patients, carers and junior staff

Provide daily support for terminally ill and very distressed patients, of all ages, and their relatives

Must maintain a professional manner when frequently exposed to foul odours, due to tissues necrosis, and bodily fluids

Must maintain a high level of concentration at all times to deliver highly complex treatments with minimal tolerances

High level of skill required enabling manipulation and positioning of the patient to achieve accurate set-up

Participate in departmental on-call service

Work flexible hours, participate in Bank holiday working. and work overtime as required

Take personal responsibility for the safe use of highly complex expensive equipment.

For further information please see the attached JD & PS.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Specialist proven knowledge of treatment delivery techniques including IMRT and IGRT.
• Demonstrable experience of CT procedures within Radiotherapy and virtual simulation.
• Proven evidence and understanding of working under IR(ME)R 2017 and IRR 2017
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of Record and Verify systems eg ARIA
• Proven knowledge of Cancer Pathology and disease patterns.

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience with Varian Equipment and ARIA.
• Cannulation and contrast agent delivery (or willingness to undergo training).

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

• Ability to communicate complex information across professional boundaries (i.e. when resolving complex treatment issues concerning patient set-up, patient reactions, patient documentation, patient radiation dose prescription or changes required to achieve accurate patient treatment.)
• Ability to teach and educate other professional staff.
• High level of concentration needed, must be able to concentrate when subject to unpredictable working patterns, whilst delivering highly complex and potentially damaging radiation treatment.
• Ability to respond and manage interruptions by clinical staff or patients with requests or problems whilst treating another patient.

Desirable

• Required to use computer systems and VDU equipment .use excel, word etc. to produce documents and spreadsheets for audit. Be able to extract the information and produce a post audit report.
• Able to enter data into and extract data from specialist databases.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Therapeutic Radiography or equivalent. DCR (T) or BSc (Hons)
• HCPC Registration Radiographer.
• Robust C.P.D. Profile

Desirable

• Masters Level professional development.
• Additional professional qualifications

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Radiotherapy Department, Level 2

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

216-LA-M6547506