Job responsibilities
Clinical
Responsibilities:
To assess clinical authorisation of
radiology referrals in line with the National Regulations, Ionising Radiation
(Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R), 2000, Nuclear medicines and MRI
safety and local protocols as appropriate to the imaging speciality.
Act in the role of an Operator and
Practitioner*, within own scope of practice, by clinically justifying imaging
requests from the clinical information provided referring to the work areas
Protocols & Technique Guidelines as a reference if necessary.
*as defined in IRMER 2000
To work without with and without
supervision, taking legal responsibility and accountability for all aspects
of your own work.
To liaise with referral source
where clarification is required regarding selection of the most clinically
appropriate imaging examination.
To act as a point of advice for
colleagues.
To act as a point of reference for
patient enquiries regarding their referral, for all issues relating to
hospital attendance for example; radiation protection, Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS), Interpretation services and freedom of information
services.
To act as a patient advocate in
radiation protection.
To ensure patients have given
informed consent prior to radiographic examinations and have the knowledge to
work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to
treatment.
Applying a high level of manual
dexterity in acquiring accurate, high quality diagnostic images, whilst
accommodating a full range of patient presentations and adapting standard
technique when necessary.
To undertake the comprehensive
assessment and appropriate examination of patients including those who
present with multiple pathologies/conditions. These patients require the use
of advanced investigative and analytical skills to select and utilise the most
appropriate approach to their imaging.
Risk assess potential patient
safety issues on a case by case basis.
The ability to work in a stressful
environment imparting contentious/difficult information on a daily basis.
The ability to deal effectively
with emotional and/or aggressive patients and/or carers on a daily basis.
This will necessitate the use of effective communication skills e.g. to
motivate and reassure
To use a range of verbal and
nonverbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients about
their treatment and examination. This will include patients who have
difficulties in understanding or communicating
Liaise with relevant teams on
aspects 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.
Demonstrate reflective practice
based on knowledge and skills so as to formulate and deliver diagnostic
imaging based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and imaging
options using clinical assessment, reasoning and skills and knowledge of
other techniques.
To ensure that images are presented
for reporting purposes in a timely and accurate manner.
Identify and act upon any
abnormalities detected and those brought to you for advice, using the
appropriate system of work.
To participate in the delivery of
an out of hours on call service.
To ensure appropriate infection
control measures are implemented and utilised where necessary. Paying
particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of
equipment and linens contaminated by bodily fluids and where necessary seek
professional advice.
To represent the radiography
service at multi-disciplinary team meetings to ensure the delivery of a
co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service
To be responsible for a high
standard of care, comfort and clinical wellbeing of the patient, during their
examination in the any of the Radiology departments. This will involve on
occasion delivering some elements normally undertaken by nursing colleagues.
Operational
Responsibilities:
To liaise with other clinical and
non-clinical departments within the hospital and various external sources in
order to provide a quality service to patients and clinicians.
To effectively liaise with all
disciplines of staff within and outside any of the Radiology departments,
giving support when necessary.
To show initiative in being able to
provide solutions to service delivery problems, in unforeseen circumstances,
using the available resources effectively to promote smooth delivery of
service/patient care.
To provide guidance to external
users regarding the deployment of radiographic resources e.g. Theatre usage.
To participate in the safe transfer
of patients and equipment within the department and hospital, using manual
handling guidelines and risk assessments.
To communicate negotiated changes
to staff rosters to appropriate staff.
To organise personal and
departmental workload in line with clinical priorities.
To show initiative, adapt and
quickly respond to changes in service, patient or departmental need.
To report deficits in the data
integrity of the IT systems in use in Radiology & the Trust
To contribute to regular
departmental meetings.
Dissemination of information to
others.
To reflect on areas of work and
communicate areas of deficit or potential advancement.
To report clinical, non-clinical
and radiation incidents in line with Trust and departmental risk management
policies.
To assist in the training and
promotion of accurate patient and examination data into a the appropriate IT
software systems such as PACS, RIS, NBSS etc and implement back up measures
in times of system failure.
Liaise with external sources to
manage workflow effectively; for example, portering, domestic services and
Team Managers, when necessary.
Managerial
and Professional Responsibilities:
To maintain and develop current
knowledge of evidence based practice in specialist areas developing and
complying with increasing range of technical applications available on
Imaging Equipment to image a variety of conditions and patient types.
To assist in the production of
staff rosters for effective and efficient deployment of staff, if required.
To communicate effectively and work
collaboratively with medical, nursing and other professional colleagues to
ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service
To be aware of and assist with the
implementation of a MAJAX procedure.
To assist in the record keeping and
organisation of mandatory training, as required.
To be familiar with the trust
complaints procedure and are aware of how to advise and appropriately direct
complaints.
To undertake initial assessments of
equipment faults, report and document appropriately.
Assist in regular Quality Assurance
(QA), including equipment testing.
Personal
& Professional Training and Development:
To participate in personal
development needs that are identified by the individual and the
superintendent through the appraisal process and development review process
in an agreed timeframe, during normal working hours in allocated time.
Be responsible for maintaining
individual competency practice through Continued Professional development
activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects your own personal
development, with allocated study time
Be an active member of the in
service training programme by attendance at and participation in tutorials,
individual training sessions, external courses, peer review and reflective
practice.
To contribute to the supervision
and clinical instruction of junior radiographic staff to graduate level and
other trainees in line with departmental operating systems
To undertake formalised assessments
of under-graduate students and document findings in accordance with each
academic institutions requirements, for example undergraduate vivas and
reports.
Provide a mentorship and/or
preceptorship support and duties.
Information
and Record Keeping:
To keep accurate and timely records
of own work and that of others such as radiographers, students radiographers
and radiographer assistant practitioners, as appropriate, using computerised
information systems.
To be fully competent in the
operation and utilisation of the Radiology Information System, PACS and other
associated computerised systems necessary for the allocated area of work.
To use all equipment according to
manufacturers instructions, undertake basic fault-finding and follow
appropriate lines of reporting and documentation of such faults in accordance
with local rules.
To participate in audit projects,
including gathering evidence for best practice assessment, in order to
improve the delivery of the radiology service.
The job holder should respect
patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information
unless sanctioned by requirements of the role.
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.
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.
