Radiotherapy Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Take personal responsibility for ensuring that patients are treated with courtesy at all times, their individual needs are respected, and confidentiality is maintained at all times.

Welcome patients and visitors to the ward or department, directing specific enquiries to the radiotherapy team.

Ensure that the radiotherapy environment is neat, tidy and welcoming for patients and visitors.

Be familiar with the record and verification system bookings module in order to print daily location lists and patients individual lists.

Ensure that all treatment sheets and individual patient related equipment are in the appropriate location for treatment on a daily basis.

Prepare and place end of treatment patient information in the treatment sheets at the appropriate time.

Prepare pre-treatment documentation

Monitor levels of routinely used proforma and photocopy in a timely manner.

Use spatial awareness and manual dexterity in the precise and safe manipulation of manual handling equipment in line with manual handling directives.

To be able to safely off load a patient from a CT couch at the end of their intervention, to assist the patient off the bed and offer assistance where necessary without direct supervision

Be able to cannulate patients or be willing to undergo training in order to perform this duty.

To assist the brachytherapy team with the movement of patients and/or equipment around the hospital site if necessary.

Arranging for the transport of in-patients to and from the ward and treatment units.

Where required ensure patients are correctly identified in accordance with trust and department policy.

To receive and respond to telephone calls from patient / carers in a timely and appropriate manner

To assist in locating notes / treatment sheets for the radiotherapy units, ensuring all case note movement are recorded on the case note tracking system and check that no case notes are left on the treatment unit at the end of the day.

Assist with patients in their personal preparation for pre-treatment and radiotherapy treatment.

Participate in the late shift rota being responsible for the security of the department by locking up and arranging patients transfer home via hospital transport.

To ensure all patients who attend for radiotherapy have been swabbed for MRSA, in line with the trust policy and for those who havent, complete the swabbing process and complete department documentation as appropriate

To act on any positive MRSA results as required

Arrange for patients blood / urine samples to be obtained, ensure they reach the appropriate department in a timely fashion for analysis and ensure results are made available to the Radiographers

To be able to look up results and information using the appropriate electronic hospital system

To learn and identify, through training provided by the department, the importance of certain results and the actions that are required to be taken, such as the professional to be informed.

Co-ordinate the collection of prescriptions for patients from the pharmacy

To be able to care for patients requiring help to go to the toilet.

Ensuring care is documented accurately and in a timely manner under supervision according to Trust policy

To help serve tea and coffee to patients during those times of machine breakdowns and late running and help those patients who require refreshments in the department but have limited mobility

Escort patients to other wards and departments as required.

To have a full understanding of the patients optimum level of mobility and to assist with the movement of patients through different care settings within the hospital.

Act as patients chaperone for medical examinations in clinics where necessary.

Assist patients with dressing and undressing, maintaining the dignity and privacy of the patient at all times and with respect for culture and religious needs.

To ensure the gowns used by the patients to maintain dignity are laundered and accounted for.

To undertake housekeeping tasks such as cleaning, tidying and disposal of waste and dirty linen in accordance with Trust policy and to actively promote cleanliness and safety in the clinical area.

Monitor stock levels for routine supplies and consumables for the RT department and re-order as necessary, communicating this information to the Senior Radiographer.

Be actively involved in delivering a high standard of individualised holistic patient care to promote and maintain all aspects of his or her physical, social, cultural and psychological wellbeing.

Ensure that security in the work environment is maintained by locking doors, challenging unknown persons who enter the work area and by wearing the trust identity badge at all times whilst at work.

Attend the monthly radiographer staff meetings

Take and document minutes of meetings as requested by senior radiographers.

Collect data for department audits and reports.

Input data into the assessment module of the record and verify system as required by the review radiographers, for preparation of and post clinic sessions. Under the supervision of the review radiographers.

To help with the administrative tasks associated with the up keep of the quality system in use in the department under the supervision of the QA manager.

The post holder will also assist the Governance and Risk team for the management of all data and information required for both internal and external reviews

To help with RT research administrative tasks as required by the senior research radiographer.

Work potential shifts, between 8am - 8pm and occasionally Saturdays and Bank Holidays as required.

To work in all areas of the radiotherapy service including any satellite centres

Person Specification

Qualifications / Experience

Essential

• Working in a care setting with direct patient care experience
• Computer literate with general IT skills
• GCSE or equivalent grade A-C in Maths and English

Desirable

• Experience of work in NHS
• Experience of work in Radiotherapy
• GCSE or equivalent grade A-C in a science-based subject
• A-level or equivalent
• Be able to cannulate patients or be willing to undergo training to perform this duty
• At least 1 year of previous experience of working within a healthcare setting.
• Previous experience of taking minutes at meetings
• To have a basic understanding of radiotherapy
• Previous experience of working in a team and ability to prioritise own work

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Brighton

BN2 5BE

Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)