Job responsibilities
Responsible
for all aspects of Education within the radiotherapy service delivery,
including workforce expansion and staff development, through the setting and
coordination of departmental education strategy and standards. The postholder will be
responsible for ensuring the highest standards for technical practice is
achieved through high quality education within the radiotherapy staff group.
The post holder is responsible for performing with the highest standard of
patient care and technical practice at all times,
Postholders
at this level are expected to have a vast and detailed knowledge of
Radiotherapy issues and be experts and lead specialist in their field within
the department who provides advice and can be consulted on a wide range of
educational issues/ scenarios.
To
work closely with medical, medical physics, senior management staff and
representatives, from both within radiotherapy service and externally related
(including other healthcare disciplines & Higher Educational Institutions
(HEI)) locally, within the Trust and nationally, to set and achieve strategic
educational service development goals.
The
radiotherapy department delivers highly specialised treatment care packages
to approximately 6,500 patients with cancer per year. In this role, the
postholder will be expected to promote, monitor and appropriately address
educational issues affecting the efficient, effective and safe running of the
service. The post-holder is responsible for establishing and developing the
Educational standards for the department including adherence to relevant
national regulations and legislation. The postholder will be expected to act
as an expert resource regarding this role and any associated service review.
The
post holder will be honest, reliable & professional and demonstrate the
behaviours outlined by the Trust and the College of Radiographers
Professional Code of Conduct. They must ensure that professional attitudes
and standards are maintained
They
will have a commitment to team working, creating good interpersonal
relationships and working atmosphere so that 2-way discussion, learning and
development of the whole team can occur.
CORE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
A
detailed and extensive (expert level) understanding of all aspects of the
radiotherapy service are essential for this role. The postholder will be
expected to formulate strategies regarding the operational issues required to
address relevant national policy.
The
postholder will need to have extensive expert knowledge in operational
management of a radiotherapy department gained through extensive experience
and further personal development / higher level study. The ability to relate
and develop radiotherapy practice to relevant guidance and research is
expected. They must be acutely aware of the
potential
for harm of high energy, variable and complex beams of X-rays that must be
delivered accurately on a daily basis.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Act
as the lead practitioner for all Clinical and Educational aspects within the
department.
Advise
Head and Deputy Head of service as an expert resource regarding Clinical
& Educational strategic development and management.
Strategic
development and introduction of the radiotherapy educational strategy
Responsible
for the maintenance of safe, high quality technical operating standards
across the radiotherapy service through the delivery of a high quality
education programme.
Responsible
for the day to day oversight and management of the provision of pre and post
registration educational and staff development activities in the radiotherapy
department.
Responsible
for the review and development of those standards, working closely with all
relevant disciplines.
Set
strategic direction for Education and staff developments, which will involve
interpreting national guidance to formulate departmental policy/standards.
Act
as the lead for all staff education and development. Ensuring the advanced
practitioners are trained to a high level and that all systems are operating
efficiently / effectively and to the standards expected by the dept. Ensure developments in this area are
managed correctly.
Develop,
manage and monitor all staff training and competency logs.
To
develop a culture and to ensure all staff maintain an accurate CPD record in
accordance with HCPC guidelines to maintain there professional registration.
Responsible
for identifying and undertaking educational project work in conjunction with
the MDT team to future proof the technical standards of the department.
Planning
the delivery of training and education on new complex equipment/software
ensuring safe implementation into practice
Propose
and implement changes which may impact on areas outside the radiotherapy
department (e.g. on physics staff, clinicians, external suppliers).
Act
as expert resource on local/national radiotherapy groups.
Key
involvement in national working groups relating to radiotherapy
Contribute
to workstreams and collaborate with teams across the radiotherapy operational
network (ODN) and cancer alliances.
Present
at local, national and international meetings.
Responsible
for acting as the first formal line in the management of discipline /
attendance / standards issues across the department, including management of
complex disciplinary cases.
Planning
the implementation of the educational strategy across radiotherapy this will
involve coordinating the MDT group
Regularly
audit of educational standards with the department.
Assist
Head and Deputy Head of Radiotherapy with equipment procurement decisions,
based upon extensive technical knowledge. Devise business cases and agree
financial constraints with Head of service.
Ensure
that clinical systems and standards for safe patient treatment delivery are
in place and regularly reviewed and updated in line with relevant guidance,
standards and documentation needs
Work
with HoD to produce yearly educational objectives for the department.
Line
manager for designated advanced practitioners
Facilitate
the development of new practice models and systems of work. Ensure any pilot
work and resulting service developments are clearly and consistently
communicated in a timely manner to the relevant staff group.
Ensure
that own development / training needs are met, including maintaining awareness of current
radiotherapy practice both within and beyond the current service.
Production
of electronic reports for the Department/CSU (e.g. MOSAIQ reports)
Authorised
signatory for patient taxis.
Promote
consistent involvement of patients and carers at all levels of service
development.
Management/Resolution
of patient complaints
Ensure
that the clinical decision making of junior staff is appropriate and
supported by relevant theoretical knowledge / experience
Participate
in recruitment process for senior roles within the dept.
To
participate in trust / departmental appraisal training in order to equip the
post holder as reviewer and reviewee.
Ensure
own clinical decisions (including non-standard / outside protocol) are
underpinned and evaluated by theoretical knowledge and relevant practical
experience.
To
undertake appropriate management, mentoring and support of allocated staff.
This will include appraisal and subsequent monitoring / development of these
staff.
Carry
out additional duties as requested by the Head and Deputy Head of
Radiotherapy, commensurate with the grade.
Health
and Safety/Risk Management
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working
procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting
system.
Additionally
for radiotherapy
Complying
with statutory Ionizing Radiations (Medical Exposures)
Regulations
IR(ME)R and Local Rules (Ionising Radiations Regulations
IRR)
and departmental radiotherapy incident reporting procedures,.
Responsible
for prompt reporting of radiation incidents, equipment, patient and safety
related incidents in accordance with departmental / Trust procedures. Also
identifying and reporting any areas of perceived risk
Infection
Control
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
Equality
and Diversity
The
jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure
equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the
individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient
or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender,
ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
Patient
and Public Involvement
The
Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and
planning services. All staff have a
responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to
service improvements based on patient feedback.
Training
and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The
jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
