Team Leader - Therapeutic Radiographer

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

Clinical / Technical:

Take responsibility for the correct interpretation, application and delivery of routine and complex Radiotherapy treatment prescriptions using expert clinical skills

Ensure that highly specialist Radiotherapy equipment is used safely and accurately within the tolerances defined for the technique/ procedure and in accordance with manufacturers guidance and departmental protocols.

Undertake verification processes evaluating the accuracy of treatment using portal imaging or CBCT, ensuring that results are systematically analysed to maintain treatment accuracy.

Approve and clinically justify any deviation from department protocols or predetermined tolerances keeping appropriate records and calling on other members of the multidisciplinary team for further advice / action as necessary.

Take responsibility for ensuring that in-vivo dosimetry measurements are undertaken for patients receiving external beam treatment and acting on measurements that are out of tolerance.

Undertake treatment routine and complex localisation procedures using a CT scanner.

Ensure that the most appropriate technique / modality is selected to meet the needs of the patient and the requirements of their treatment plan.

Identify and undertake appropriate pre-treatment processes for both simple and complex treatments ensuring that they are completed in a safe and timely fashion. This will include:

o Production of vsim treatment plans

o Input and checking of treatment critical data using the patient management system (Mosaiq)

o Electronic checking of complex treatment prescriptions

o Collation of all treatment accessories and requirements prior to the patients first visit

Undertake final check of all treatment parameters and processes to ensure that they are correct, complete and compliant with department protocols prior to the initiation of treatment. Take appropriate corrective action in the event of an error or non-conformance ensuring that any process failures or training needs are identified and addressed.

Provide clinical / technical advice on Radiotherapy treatment to members of the multidisciplinary team and other professionals within and external to the Trust

Take individual professional responsibility for the accurate delivery of treatment to radiotherapy patients ensuring that the requirements of all ionising radiation regulations are adhered to.

To undertake Out of Hours and On-Call duties to support full service delivery.

Patient care:

Take responsibility for ensuring patients medical condition and progress is monitored during treatment and any significant changes are reported to the appropriate consultant or Macmillan Review Radiographer.

Plan and implement an appropriate supportive care package for patients liaising with multidisciplinary, team, other departments, professionals and agencies to optimise support before during and after treatment.

Provide written and verbal information to patients and carers on all aspects of Radiotherapy treatment and its associated side effects ensuring that explanations are appropriate to the patients comprehension and level of understanding.

Educate, motivate and reassure patients to ensure consent to and compliance with treatment regimens which may be arduous and poorly tolerated, assessing the patients physical and emotional state on a daily basis to ensure fitness for treatment.

Management:

Line manage, train and assess less experienced staff and students in the workplace, setting high standards and helping them to develop their skills in a professional manner.

Be responsible for the day to day organisation of staff and workload on designated unit ensuring there is adequate cover and skill mix to treat patients safely.

Plan and prioritise tasks for self and team delegating as appropriate.

Monitor the performance and competence of assigned staff assessing the level of supervision required and identifying any individual or team training needs or remedial action required.

Take effective decisions / action in response to unexpected or emergency clinical situations

Professional Development:

Undertake training / updates required to operate all equipment safely, effectively and to maximise its therapeutic/diagnostic potential.

Take responsibility for personal Continuing Professional Development activities including Trust mandatory training, sharing knowledge and cascade training where appropriate

Regularly undertake research, development and audit within the department as required facilitating the implementation of evidence based practice.

Management of Resources:

Promote a culture where staff are valued, supported and deliver high quality care.

Understand, manage and be accountable for the use of resources in a cost effective way.

Participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff.

Actively support the Improving Working Lives initiatives within the Department and across the Trust.

Use department computerised patient management systems to schedule, record and monitor patient activity

Quality Management/Clinical Governance:

Be responsible and accountable for own actions in accordance with the HCPC Radiographers Professional Code of Conduct

To understand and comply with professional, statutory and trust policies and procedures (e.g. SCOR Code of Professional conduct)

Facilitate the development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and audit of Radiotherapy policies, protocols, guidelines and standards ensuring that they meet current practice and professional regulations.

Act as a resource for staff to access and raise awareness of national and local policies that will impact upon them and affect the delivery of patient care.

Ensure that quality standards are set and monitored and that clinical risk management and clinical audit are an integral part of practice developments.

Facilitate the implementation of national and local quality initiatives to improve service delivery.

Report and be part of the investigation team for Clinical incidents in line with departmental policy.

Undertake the development, implementation and audit of radiotherapy quality procedures and work instructions proposing changes as appropriate to ensure that they represent best practice.

Communication

Establish effective communication and good working relationships with multiprofessional colleagues within the Trust to support effective service delivery.

Ensure that any records relating to the planning, treatment and care of patient are accurately recorded and maintained as per departmental / trust policy

Seek appropriate support and guidance regarding any concerns related to the accuracy of a treatment.

Take responsibility for ensuring any malfunctions / breakdown of equipment are reported and acted upon appropriately and in a timely manner.

Communicate and receive sensitive information, which may be distressing or unwelcome, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times

Communicate with Cancer patients and their carers in a sensitive and reassuring manner in order to ensure that each patient understands the treatment of procedure for which they are undergoing

General Duties:

Undertake training / updates as required to operate equipment safely effectively and to maximise its therapeutic / diagnostic potential

Move patients and heavy equipment using safe and approved techniques and aids, updating Manual Handling training annually in line with Trust policy.

To ensure professional appearance and a high standard of hygiene is maintained at all times in compliance with the trusts uniform policy.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Extensive knowledge of routine and highly specialist radiotherapy techniques and associated requirements for patient care.
• Awareness of IR(ME)R regulations and their implications for radiotherapy practice
• Evidence of using learning to improve practice
• Ability to teach clinical skills to others
• Able to communicate complex or sensitive information in a manner that aids understanding and compliance
• Good organiser able to prioritise tasks for self and others
• Able to motivate and enable junior staff to work to their full potential

Desirable

• Mentor / assessor training
• Knowledge of new developments in radiotherapy treatment

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Good leadership skills
• Caring and empathetic
• Inspires confidence in patients and colleagues

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Radiotherapy or Equivalent

Desirable

• Post graduate education in radiotherapy
• Coaching qualification / training
• Leadership Training (such as ILM or Edward Jenner)

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post qualification experience on a wide range of techniques and equipment
• Some experience working in a senior capacity
• Supervision of junior staff

Desirable

• Experience using Mosaiq / Elekta equipment
• Acting up at a band 6 level
• Participation in projects / working parties

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

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