Job responsibilities
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical
Responsibilities:
To act as Operator Practitioner
and where necessary, Referrer within their own scope of practice by
clinically justifying examinations as defined in the IR(ME)R 2000 and local
departmental protocols. To undertake the comprehensive assessment and appropriate
examination of patients including those with diverse/complex/multi
pathological presentation. This may necessitate the use of advanced
investigative and analytical skills to assess, and evaluate different imaging
options to obtain the best outcome for the patient. To expedite the reporting
of images where an abnormality that would affect patient management has been
detected.To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of
patients within this specialist field and organise this effectively and
efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and allocation of resources.
To work effectively to provide the optimum level of service, with an
unpredictable work load.To liaise with the referrer when clarification
regarding selection of the most clinically appropriate imaging examination is
required.To ensure a high standard of clinical care for patients within the
department including monitoring & ensuring the standard of care delivered
by other staff.To provide clinical guidance, advice and assistance relating
to specialised MRI techniques & procedures, to medical staff, junior
radiographic staff, student radiographers and helpers/assistants, developing
their clinical knowledge and skills. To provide advice to patients regarding
their referral, and their hospital attendance for example; MRI safety issues,
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), Interpretation services and
freedom of information services.To act in the patients best interests in
relation to MRI safety measures.To assess individual patients understanding
of the diagnostic procedure, ensuring valid consent to the procedure is
obtained, working within the legal framework for patients who lack the
capacity to consent to treatment.Applying a high level of manual dexterity in
the acquisition of accurate, high quality diagnostic images, whilst
accommodating a full range of patient presentations and adapting standard
technique when necessary. This may include performing some extremely
specialised and rarely performed techniques.To match the clinical indications
presented by the referrer to the most
appropriate departmental protocol and act as a source of advice to
others in the request & selection of the most appropriate imaging
series.Liaise with appropriate bodies in matters of patient safety for
example, child protection team. To operate advanced software on specialist
Radiological equipment, requiring excellent hand-eye co-ordination and manual
dexterity. To review images (own and others) to ensure that appropriate
additional images are taken prior to the patient leaving the
department.Demonstrates and encourages reflective practice based on knowledge
and skills.To ensure that images are presented for reporting purposes in a
timely and accurate mannero recognise, and act upon radiographic
abnormalities detected and those brought for advice, within the appropriate
system of work.To work, without supervision, taking legal responsibility and
accountability for all aspects of work.To ensure appropriate infection
control measures are implemented and utilised where necessary, using
appropriate personal protection measures; including the safe management of
equipment and linens contaminated by bodily fluids. Where necessary, seeking
professional advice. To ensure that workload is scheduled to minimise the
infection risk to others.To be responsible for the care, comfort and clinical
well being of the patient, during their examination in the x-ray department. This includes the
use of monitoring equipment or the administration of oxygen or suction as
required.To use evidence based practice to enhance the radiographic service.
Operational
Responsibilities:
As delegated by the team
manager/advanced practitioner, be
responsible for the management of workflow, responding to changes in demand
for radiology services, this may include liaising with other clinical and
non-clinical departments within and outside the hospital to provide a
service.
Day to day organisation of staff
and workload to provide an effective and efficient service.
To act as liaison between the team
manager and other staff members
Be able to address and provide
solutions to service delivery problems, in unforeseen circumstances, using
the available resources effectively to maintain smooth delivery of
service/patient care.
To provide guidance to external
users of the service regarding the deployment of radiographic resources e.g.
Theatre and ward usage.
To participate in the safe transfer
of patients and equipment within the department and hospital, using Trust
manual handling guidelines and risk assessments.
Support the team manager, in the
management of change which affects the specialist services.
To supervise and monitor systems of
work, reporting/notifying areas for improvement to the
superintendent/appropriate manager.
To attend, lead and contribute to
regular departmental meetings.
Disseminate information to others
in specialist clinical areas.
To report deficits in the data
integrity of IT systems in use within Radiology and the trust.
Undertake first line fault
investigations within the department for system and equipment faults.
To ensure (including the monitoring
of others) that the input of patient data into Radiology IT systems within
the specialist area is accurate.
To support and assist in the
training of radiology, clerical and medical staff on Radiology IT systems.
To be able to implement back up
measures in times of system failure, ensuring that accurate patient and
examination data is recorded.
Be able to retrieve photographic
and digital images including image manipulation/ recovery from radiology
systems.
Ability to manoeuvre equipment to
within fine tolerances in confined and/or sterile environments
Able to operate, give guidance and
support in the operation of manual handling equipment and Radiology
equipment.
Initiate remedial action to address
equipment faults, malfunction. Notifying and taking appropriate action where
necessary.
In departments with analogue
imaging systems, and using processing chemistry, the appropriate protective
equipment will be utilised. This must be in accordance with the Control of
Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) 1999.
Liaise with teams which are not
part of radiology to manage work flow effectively; for example, portering,
domestic services, A&E floor managers and contractors.
Managerial
Responsibilities:
To support the team manager, and in
their absence, assist in the running of the department.
As delegated by the team manager
under take additional duties as reasonably requested that are commensurate
with the grade of the post.
Participate in the day to day
organisation of staff and workload to provide an effective and efficient
service
To support the team manager in the
maintenance of records and in the organisation of training programmes
To assist in the monitoring and
co-ordination of annual leave and off duty to ensure appropriate staffing
levels are maintained.
To provide cross-cover at certain
times of the day to ensure colleagues have entitled periods of rest.
As delegated by the team manager,
undertake staff performance development reviews, and participate in the
professional development process, including the production of individual
personal development plans, that link to the Knowledge & Skills Framework
(KSF).
To accurately document via DATIX
clinical and non-clinical incidents in line with Trust and departmental risk
management policies, taking appropriate measures to reduce or remove risks in
the future.
To ensure that equipment faults are
reported to the team manager, communicated with the vendor engineer by the
help-desk and documented appropriately.
To recognise damaged or dangerous
equipment and remove it from clinical use as soon as possible
To assist in Quality Assurance
(QA), including equipment testing.
Assist in the recruitment,
selection of junior staff as delegated by the team manager radiographer
Day to day organisation, of
departmental workload reflecting clinical need.
To coordinate the operation of the
MAJAX procedure, when required
To undertake first-line complaint
handling, dealing with problems in the absence of the Lead CMR Radiographer
To be aware of
targets/co-ordination and escalation polices in use within the dept/trust