Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Service Delivery
Act as patient and staff advocate. Provide timely, efficient and courteous provision of MRI services to the agreed standards of the department taking account of the patient/clients clinical, physical and cultural needs. Deal with routine MRI safety issues as they arise, taking advice when necessary. Perform out of hours duties, taking part in the 24/7 MRI service, including evenings, nights and weekends. Perform out of hours duties without supervision. Monitor and adjust work priorities in conjunction with other professionals to take into account changing demands on the diagnostic services due to emergencies or increased demand. Assess and treat own workload of patients/clients, also communicates work priorities, organising workload and encouraging collaboration in the respective work area. Responsible for the safe use and maintenance of imaging equipment, reporting faults to senior staff or directly to the manufacturer. Participate in the departmental rota, being flexible in responding to service needs. Be responsive to change management issues and understand the implications for the Radiology service. Ensure all adverse incidents are reported in line with trust policies. Participate in clinical audit to improve quality of service. Participate in multiple site rotation as and when necessary. To undertake any other duties which may arise at the discretion of the Lead Superintendent Radiographer.
Communication
Receive and welcome patients and staff to the MRI department and deal with any enquiries in a kind and courteous manner. Deal sensitively with patients or carers under emotional stress, including the terminally ill and bereaved. Communicate information relating to conditions and procedures to staff, patients and carers and ensure informed consent for examinations. Communicate effectively on a daily basis with patients with communication difficulties and cognitive impairment. Communicates with the referrer any changes to referrals after assessing the clinical justification for an MRI examination under local protocols. Anticipate and interpret patients needs, defining the level of care required on an individual basis. Communicate effectively with staff within and outside of the department to ensure the smooth operation of the service. Give factual information to patients, including children, regarding examinations and understand the necessary preparations. Provide leadership to more junior radiographers and health care professionals, assisting them with diagnostic examinations and other procedures. Ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors within the department. Ensure patients receive timely and accurate information about their examination, and ensure urgent findings are communicated in the appropriate way to referrers or radiologists for reporting.
Knowledge, training and Experience
Adapting techniques for each examination in accordance with the patients needs. Act as an MRI Authorised Supervisor, performing safety screening of other people and taking responsibility for the safety of others within the MR ENVIRONMENT. Act as the MRI Operator being responsible for control of equipment entering the MR ENVIRONMENT for the examination at the time Act as an MRI Operator under MHRA Guidelines, assessing the clinical justification of referrals and being responsible for the health and safety of the patient during the scan. Be aware of the potential bio-effects of MRI and to ensure that the scanner is operated within safe limits at all times. Be familiar with safety procedures (quench, fire, cardiac arrest) which are specific to the MRI environment. Comply with the requirements of Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts. Demonstrate a problem-solving approach to issues arising at a local level, evaluating the need to refer problems. Be accountable for own professional actions and working within codes of Practice and professional guidelines, consulting senior staff as and when necessary. Act as a source of knowledge to be consulted by other professionals. Be responsible for ensuring the legal documentation on the Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) associated with each completed patient episode, ensuring timely provision of images to referrers. Safely administer contrast media and other drugs in accordance with protocols as required. Train in the utilisation of complex and specialised imaging equipment. Train on advanced software on specialised MRI equipment requiring anatomical, pathological and technical knowledge. Be able to decide and offer advice on additional MRI sequences when required in line with professional knowledge and experience.
Physical skills and Effort
Ensure the safe transferring of patients and equipment, following manual handling guidelines and using risk assessments. Assist with changing and personal care of patients as necessary including immobile and disabled. Operate a wide range of radiological equipment requiring excellent hand-eye coordination. Ensure appropriate infection control measures are adhered to in line with trust policies.
Management Responsibility
Manage workload with support from colleagues and senior staff as appropriate. Ensure that all Trust and local policies, protocols and procedures are adhered to by colleagues as appropriate. Work within and support the multi-disciplinary team. Maintain effective communication and professional relationships with all areas within Radiology and with associated clinical areas within the Trust. Share knowledge and skills developed with other members of the multi-disciplinary team. Observe personal responsibility for workflow and consumables management. Observe a general duty of care for the health, safety and wellbeing of self, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management associated with this post. As part of individual professional responsibility actively participate in the departmental Quality Assurance Programme including the completion of Equipment Competencies. Deal with complaints in accordance with the Trust complaints procedure. Report any adverse incidents through the local risk management system.
Professional & Practice Development, Training & Education
Supervision and training of radiographers, Radiographic Department Assistants, Assistant Practitioners and Student Radiographers as appropriate; assuming professional responsibility for their work. Review, develop and write protocols with a view to improving service planning with Clinical Specialists or Lead Superintendent Radiographer. Contribute to service improvements and re-design in line with the NHS plan and local service strategies. Demonstrate, maintain and update skills and knowledge of evolving practice and legislative requirements. Be responsible for individual CPD and participate in the departments CPD program. Demonstrate a level of competency in line with Kings Radiography Competency Framework and be responsible for maintaining their personal development. Support the training of non-radiographic staff.
Research & Audit
Participate in clinical audit. Contribute to practice development as outcomes from the findings of audit and recent evidence. Participate in clinical research within the department and adhere to research standards, protocols and documentation.
General
Maintain a general duty of care for personal health, safety and wellbeing, as well as for that of colleagues, patients, and visitors, in line with the Trusts risk management and clinical governance requirements. Comply with all Trust policies, procedures, and standards, along with relevant statutory and professional obligations. Actively contribute to a culture where every staff member is committed to delivering the highest standard of care and feels their work is both valuable and valued. Demonstrate the Kings values in daily practice:
o Kind Show compassion, understanding, and bring a positive attitude to work.o Respectful Promote equality and inclusion, act with honesty, and speak up when necessary.o Team Support colleagues, communicate openly, and maintain professionalism at all times.
Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all personal information relating to patients and staff. Acknowledge that this job description is a guide to the general scope of duties and may be subject to change following consultation with the post-holder. Hold and regularly check a Trust-issued @nhs.net email account, which is the formal route for internal communication. Take personal responsibility for promoting and upholding inclusion, ensuring that everyone within the organisation feels respected, valued, and welcome.
Safeguarding
Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to safeguarding children, adults, and addressingdomestic abuse. All employees have a responsibility to support the Trust in fulfilling these duties by:
Attending mandatory safeguarding training for both children and adults. Familiarising themselves with the Trusts safeguarding policies and procedures. Reporting any safeguarding concerns regarding children or adults in line with Trust protocols.
