Band 8a - Nuclear Medicine PET/CT Service Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibility for Patients

1. To manage and carry out PET/CT studies.
2. To train all technical staff to be able to carry out PET/CT studies so they can be rotated through the PET Suite on a regular basis.
3. Giving various PET radiopharmaceutical i.v. injections including 18F and 68Ga to patients referred to the Nuclear Medicine/Hybrid imaging service - a key point here is that two staff members must be involved in all radionuclide administration procedures to check and to double-check the correctness of the calculation and drawing up each administration; ensuring also that all administrations of radioactive material are in accord with an "ARSAC" licence.
4. Making use of injection devices to minimise staff radiation doses.
5. Carrying out imaging investigations over the full range of patients referred for PET/CT imaging, taking personal responsibility for technical aspects and for patient care.
6. Operating frequently at high concentration levels on patient information and assessment, calculating, drawing up and measuring patient doses, and modifying patient scheduling.
7. As this post involves direct contact with patients; clear and precise communication for patients in the booking, planning and carrying out of procedures in a manner that will reassure the patient and family members where necessary. It is important to make people aware of the requirements of radiation protection without alarming the patient.
8. Frequently required to discuss condition related information to patients. Working with and occasionally discussing issues for patients with a variety of severities of illness, including cancer and/or other terminal or painful illnesses. This also includes communicating with family members and visitors accompanying patients.
9. Responsibility for safely operating expensive and complex equipment, including, among others, the PET/CT scanners, PET injector device, dose calibrators and Geiger counters.
10. Carrying out relevant daily quality control tests for areas that the post holder is responsible for. The Head Nuclear Medicine Physics will provide procedures for these tests.
11. Frequently dealing with patient body fluids and body odours.
12. Planning and prioritising own patient workload continually throughout the day as well as that of the combined PET/CT service.

1. Perform acquisition, transfer, display, analysis and storage of data from the PET/CT camera, together with the care of patients attending for these investigations.
2. Regularly drawing up radioactive doses (from injector device and heavy lead pots) and carrying out intravenous injections through heavy and bulky lead protected syringes.
3. Occasionally assisting and positioning patients for procedures to be carried out. These patients will be of varying degrees of mobility and illness.
4. Moving heavy objects such as QC sources, lead screens and patients in a safe manner.
5. Constantly working in a radiation area. The staff member must therefore be continually aware of and exercise radiation safety practices, including being personally responsible for handing in/collecting personal dose meters on a monthly basis as well as record daily dose data where required.
6. Monitoring of radioactive contamination and waste on a regular basis and cleaning and disposing of waste under the overall guidance of the radiation protection supervisor.
7. To operate the computer systems within the section. This will include responsibility for ensuring that all clinical investigations, which the post holder has performed or supervised, are properly analysed and that appropriate image summaries are sent to PACS.
8. Reporting of incidents involving patients and staff and attend the monthly Clinical Governance meeting.
9. To carry out, when required, other duties appropriate to the grade that have been discussed with the post holder.

Responsibility for Research and Development

1. Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of radiation safety legislation and guidance derived from it.
2. Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of the Trust procedures for dealing with sharps and needle stick injuries.
3. Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of the Trust procedures for infection control and clinical waste disposal.
4. Knowledge of radiation contamination containment procedures as laid down in the RFL Foundation Trust Local Rules. Assisting the Radiation Protection team to carry out such procedures when necessary.
5. Contributing to ongoing work on procedure and protocol documents relating to technical staff work in Nuclear Medicine.
6. Assisting and participating in research in Nuclear Medicine. Where appropriate, and subject to the requirements of the clinical service, this may include preparing work for presentation and, when appropriate, actually presenting it at conferences or meetings and ensuring relevant information is brought back to the department.
7. To actively participate in the Trusts appraisal process as an appraisee and appraiser.
8. Keep an up to date understanding of developments in Nuclear Medicine. In particular to ensure your own CPD requirements are met.
9. Training personnel and supporting their induction in the technical aspects of PET/CT. These will include Technologists, Radiographers, Trainee Physicists, new and junior staff members and others. Also, to supervise visitors observing technical work.
10. Co-ordinate international visitor programmes for on-site training in PET/CT.
11. To carry out, when required, other duties appropriate to the grade that have been discussed with the post holder.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

1. In the absence of the Chief Technologist and Deputy Chief Technologist, to cover for some of the duties normally performed by the Chief and Deputy Chief Technologists. These may include scheduling work and supervising the deployment of technical staff.
2. Planning and prioritising own patient workload continually throughout the day.
3. Support the Chief technologist in timetabling staff and matching resources to workload of department.
4. Ensuring that records in the Radiology Information System are properly maintained.
5. Ensuring a safe and secure environment for staff and patients. In particular support safeguards against theft of radioactive material and ensure staff fully comply with these safeguards
6. Supporting the Chief Technologist in maintaining a suitable and sufficient stock of consumables necessary for operation of the PET/CT Service.
7. Contributing when requested to decision-making about major equipment items for the PET/CT.
8. Contributing to documentation maintenance for all PET/CT procedures and ensuring that procedures and protocols comply with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.
9. Be aware of and support Chief technologist in ensuring compliance with general health and safety legislation.
10. Helping to supervise practical procedures carried out by visiting medical staff to ensure compliance with Local Rules, protocols, and procedures.
11. Contribute, when asked, to providing information and advice on department workload and services, to enhance the PET/CT service for both clinicians, patients and external queries.
12. To carry out, when required, other duties appropriate to the grade that have been discussed with the post holder.

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

1. To be designated as an IR(ME)R operator by the Trust in respect PET/CT and Nuclear Medicine technical duties and know the legal implications involved.
2. Supporting the Chief Technologist in maintaining a suitable and sufficient stock of consumables necessary for operation of the PET/CT Service.
3. Contributing when requested to decision-making about major equipment items for the PET/CT.
4. To work in accordance with Local Rules, relevant legislation, codes of practice and Regulations relating to the use of radioactive material and, in general, to observe safe procedures and good practice in all aspects of patient investigations and radiation work.
5. To carry out, when required, other duties appropriate to the grade that have been discussed with the post holder.

Responsibility for Leading and Managing

• Ensure appropriate training for technologists rotating through the PET/CT.
• Arrange staff rotation in conjunction with the Chief Technologist or Deputy Chief Technologist.
• In the absence of the Chief Technologist and Deputy Chief Technologist, to cover for some of the duties normally performed by the Chief and Deputy Chief Technologists. These may include scheduling work and supervising the deployment of technical staff.
• Planning and prioritising own patient workload continually throughout the day.
• Support the Chief technologist in timetabling staff and matching resources to workload of department.
• Ensuring that records in the Radiology Information System CRIS are properly maintained.
• Ensuring a safe and secure environment for staff and patients. Support safeguards against theft of radioactive material and ensure staff fully comply with these safeguards
• Supporting the Chief Technologist in maintaining a suitable and sufficient stock of consumables necessary for operation of the PET/CT Service.
• Contributing when requested to decision-making about major equipment items for the PET/CT Service.
• Contributing to documentation maintenance for all procedures and ensuring that procedures and protocols comply with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.
• Be aware of and support the Chief Technologist in ensuring compliance with general health and safety legislation
• Helping to supervise practical procedures carried out by visiting medical staff to ensure compliance with Local Rules, protocols and procedures.
• Contribute, when asked, to providing information and advice on department workload and services, to enhance the nuclear medicine service for both clinicians, patients and other departments.
• To carry out, when required, other duties appropriate to the grade that have been discussed with the post holder.

For other Responsibilities - see full JD

Person Specification

Values

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

• BTEC/SCOTVEC/HNC or degree or equivalent in an appropriate scientific subject

Experience

Essential

• Proven track record of experience of scientific/technical work in a clinical environment
• Demonstrated experience of technical work in clinical Nuclear Medicine
• Experience in Nuclear Medicine image analysis
• Experience with managing and/or leading a team

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

• Practical efficacy with expensive, manually operated and computer-controlled clinical equipment to perform PET/CT imaging investigations on the full range of patients referred to the Nuclear Medicine PET/CT service
• Understanding of the technical details necessary to perform PET/CT scans with computer interface, including computer analysis, quality control and computer based booking system
• Proven track record of competence in work involving patient care
• Able to work in accordance with Local Rules, relevant legislation, codes of practice and regulations relating to the use of radioactive material, including the Ionising Radiations Regulations of 2017 and the Medicines Act and the Radioactive Substances Act

Desirable

• Proven track record of competence drawing up and administering i.v. injections and in the use of unsealed radioactive sources particularly with heavy shielding.
• Ability to carry out radiation monitoring and decontamination if necessary

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

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

Pond Street

Hampstead

NW3 2QG

Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)