Job responsibilities
Principal duties to include:
1. To undertake Diagnostic radiographic examinations at all CSH sites including Woking and Walton hospitals, working unsupervised and single-handedly using DR X-ray equipment whilst maintaining a high standard of radiographic technique and patient care.
2. To independently assess and justify examinations under the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IRMER).
3. Act as the Radiation Supervisor for the department in the absence of the Service Manager or Deputy Radiography Services Manager and report accordingly.
4. To manage and prioritise patients reporting for imaging from Walk-in-Centres, Outpatients, Inpatients, GPs, Diagnostic and Treatment Centres.
5. Promote excellent working relations with staff across the departments and settings including local GPs and other health care trusts.
6. To effectively contribute towards the delivery of a patient focused community X-ray facility.
7. Liaise with the Service Manager to ensure that standards, protocols and operational matters are developed and maintained whilst delivering a high quality and efficient diagnostic imaging service
8. Ensure examinations are reported and relayed accurately and rapidly to the referring source. Transferring images to other Trusts when required
9. Maintain accurate patient records to reflect the examination and dose provided and meet professional standards.
10. Ensure optimal use of specialist, highly complex equipment associated in the production of diagnostic radiographic procedures and be responsible for determining any training requirements from within the community team.
11. Actively participate in the X-ray departments audit program, including undertaking audits as directed by the Service Manager.
12. Reflect on clinical practice, knowledge and skills and to maintain a CPD portfolio.
13. To have a flexible approach to your work patterns including working extended days and weekends as well as rotating between all sites operated by this service.
14. Undertake any duties assigned by management commensurate with the post.
Core skills to include:
1. Communication / Relationship Skills
To undertake effective communication with patients, carers, colleagues, visitors and staff using verbal and/or written information to ensure full understanding. This is particularly important where there may be barriers to understanding.
To be able to relate to and communicate with other staff and patients in a courteous, empathetic and helpful manner at all times utilising the appropriate levels of understanding, consideration, tact and diplomacy.
Promote good working relationships with all staff and departments both within the hospital and the local area including GPs and Acute Trusts.
To be a clinical reference point for colleagues e.g. nurses, receptionists and doctors.
Analytical / Judgmental Skills
- To liaise with GPs, Emergency Nurse Practitioners and other health professionals who refer patients for X-rays regarding the suitability of their request and best practice
- To highlight patients having urgent findings on their X-rays and require immediate medical attention. At times this may require you to refer patients to A&E.
- To ensure efficient workflow, attaining organisational objectives and improving patient experience
- To be familiar with the Radiology Systems (CRIS), Cerner, Radiology ICE and Patient Archiving and Communication System (PACS).
- To be able to make informed decisions regarding their imaging practices and use their own initiative to ensure the patient receives a high quality and complete X-ray exam that is justified and answers the clinical questions from the referrer.
- To be able to work confidently on computer producing documents as required using Microsoft packages e.g. Word, Excel, etc.
2. Responsibilities for human resources including personal and people development
To be able to work within the Code of Professional Conduct of the College of Radiographers (SoR) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and maintain professional registration.
- Be responsible for your own CPD and to ensure your skills are up-to-date and relevant to the role, including attending all statutory and mandatory training as per Organisational policy.
Keep informed of relevant development in imaging techniques.
- Participate in Personal Development Reviews and undertake Peer reviews both as a peer and as a reviewer.
Participate in extended days and weekend duties where you will be working autonomously. At times this may mean that you are working on your own in the department.
Undertake practical, theoretical and clinical teaching of new staff.
Be able to work under their own direction, planning their work flow and ensuring that all required tasks are undertaken including audit, infection control and quality assurance testing (QA).
3. Health, safety and security
- Adhere to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, (IRMER) 2017 regulations and the departmental protocols and Local Rules.
Adhere to Health and Safety Regulations and be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of oneself, patients and staff whilst in the X-ray department.
Ensure all equipment is used in a safe manner and to report any faults to the X-ray Manager.
Ensure radiation doses are as low as reasonably achievable and recording all patients doses on the CRIS system and Radiology Request Forms.
Be responsible for checking the clinical information, previous examinations and patients history are accurate and relevant to the examination requested.
Report all clinical, non-clinical and radiation incidents promptly and co-operate with any investigation.
Attend all statutory and mandatory training.
Make sure that infection control measures are utilised effectively and ensure a high standard of cleanliness of the environment and equipment is maintained
Infection Control:
All staff have a duty to comply with all relevant Organisational policies and guidelines in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and Antibiotic Stewardship. You have a duty to ensure that within your field of work or practice you minimize the risk of infection, infectious diseases and particularly healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) to patients, yourself and other staff. This responsibility includes highlighting any concerns you may have to the appropriate person as identified in the policies and guidelines or your line management.
4. Responsibility for Policy and Service Improvement/ Development
- Play an active part in improving the service by sharing, and after consulting senior staff, implementing ideas to improve the patient experience and departmental functioning.
- Ensure an up to date knowledge of radiology techniques and local policies and procedures.
- Ensure accurate data entry on the computer, including patient demographics and exposure factors.
- Maintain your registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
As our radiographers work single-handedly, you will need to be able to work autonomously, consulting senior staff as and when necessary and will be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your professional and clinical work.
Attend monthly staff meetings
Responsibility for Audit/Research & Development
To take an active role in clinical audit
Share their knowledge and skills
Respond to changes in a positive way
5. Quality
To ensure that all image documentation is accurate.
To undertake the most appropriate radiographic examinations that will provide the diagnosis, by checking the patient history and clinical indications on the imaging request form
To review images and make sure that supplementary views or procedures are considered before the patient leaves the department.
To participate in department QA programme with the emphasis on image quality and ensuring written records are kept and maintained.
To work within, and adhere to, standards and operational policies relating to provision of a quality imaging service.
Personally aspire to maintain high ethical and professional standards.
To ensure punctuality and a smart appearance.
To maintain a high standard of patient safety and experience.
