County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Governance Team lead

The closing date is 20 October 2025

Job summary

Are you a radiographer with a keen attention to detail? Are you innovative and committed to continual improvement? We are looking for an experienced radiographer to lead and develop our clinical governance activities at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The post holder will continue to implement and develop and expand our existing program, and be innovative in ways to lead best practice, safe working and delivering excellent care. The successful applicant will be based at Darlington Memorial with rotation through Bishop Auckland and Sedgefield.

As part of the team you will be required to partake in a 24/7 shift rota which consists of days, long days and nights and as one of our senior radiographers, you will be expected to help lead and manage the department.

You will be joining a department where teamwork is paramount; a strong team culture where radiographers support one another.

Suitable candidates should have a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience and be able to evidence involvement in clinical governance activities.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an integral part of the Radiology Department team, undertaking diagnostic radiography using highly complex equipment. The post holder will work closely with all associated Radiology staff and will be expected to liaise with service users to promote an efficient service.

Undertaking and coordinating clinical governance activities and quality assurance processes within the department. The post holder will be responsible for planning and initiating more efficient work practices to meet the changing needs of the organisation.

Maintain high professional and technical standard of work, adhering to good practices of Radiographic technique and abide by the acknowledged safe practices of radiation protection standards.

Utilise complex/ expensive equipment to produce high quality radiographic images to assist in patient diagnosis and/ or management of care. Be responsible for day to day monitoring of complex equipment within own specialist area, setting up and maintaining quality assurance protocols.

Ensure oversight of IRMER related tasks within the department, maintaining organisation, consistency and forward planning of audit activity.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-0676

Job locations

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Job description

Job responsibilities

Working within codes of practice and professional guidelines, the post holder will set and maintain the highest possible technical standard of work. The post holder will have significant discretion to alter policy and work practices in Radiology within a defined set of parameters and in conjunction with the radiology manager & clinical director.

Liaise with clinical staff, both within and outside of imaging department to ensure delivery of high quality service. Accountable for delivery of that service within own section and will manage that section on day to day basis.

Communicate complex instructions to patients and/or carers, assessing patient abilities and adapting technique where required. Occasionally dealing with terminally ill/seriously injured patients/distressing conditions. Manipulating patients and equipment with small margins for error. Alter exposure parameters to produce diagnostic images of highest possible quality.

Participate in development and maintenance of departmental protocols. Be responsible for quality control of work going through section. Initiate action to raise and maintain set standards.

Supervision of junior staff, assistant practitioners, radiography assistants and students within own section. Responsible as line manager for staff working within section. The post holder will assist in the continuing development of other Radiology personnel and students by organising talks and practical sessions. Clinical supervision of qualified staff within own section. Participate in training of other staff within own section. Will be responsible for performing appraisals on small group of qualified staff.

Lead the IRMER agenda, including attendance at all radiation safety working groups

Carry out clinical duties to a high professional standard and maintain high standards of imaging and patient care at all times, the post holder will be responsible for the day to day management of one section of imaging department. Ensuring an efficient service that meets the needs of the organisation. The post holder will be expected to have at least 80% of their time spent on clinical duties.

To adhere to good practices of Radiation protection standards (IRMER).

Promote a service that is responsive to the patients needs, making changes to working practises as required by service needs. Proposing, developing and implementing new policies within own section.

Promote teamwork to provide a high quality service.

To ascertain the validity of requests and prioritise workload in own area, within own scope of practice

To monitor with the quality assurance programme. To ensure equipment malfunctions are dealt with safely and efficiently to have least possible impact on service provision.

Maintain awareness of current trends & developments in all aspects of Radiology & actively participate in a CPD programme.

Ensure that all incidents and complaints are recorded. Ensuring that complaints that cannot be dealt with locally are managed and passed to the appropriate person.

To lead and engage staff in Clinical governance activities within the Radiology Directorate.

Participate in the out of hours service provision.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working within codes of practice and professional guidelines, the post holder will set and maintain the highest possible technical standard of work. The post holder will have significant discretion to alter policy and work practices in Radiology within a defined set of parameters and in conjunction with the radiology manager & clinical director.

Liaise with clinical staff, both within and outside of imaging department to ensure delivery of high quality service. Accountable for delivery of that service within own section and will manage that section on day to day basis.

Communicate complex instructions to patients and/or carers, assessing patient abilities and adapting technique where required. Occasionally dealing with terminally ill/seriously injured patients/distressing conditions. Manipulating patients and equipment with small margins for error. Alter exposure parameters to produce diagnostic images of highest possible quality.

Participate in development and maintenance of departmental protocols. Be responsible for quality control of work going through section. Initiate action to raise and maintain set standards.

Supervision of junior staff, assistant practitioners, radiography assistants and students within own section. Responsible as line manager for staff working within section. The post holder will assist in the continuing development of other Radiology personnel and students by organising talks and practical sessions. Clinical supervision of qualified staff within own section. Participate in training of other staff within own section. Will be responsible for performing appraisals on small group of qualified staff.

Lead the IRMER agenda, including attendance at all radiation safety working groups

Carry out clinical duties to a high professional standard and maintain high standards of imaging and patient care at all times, the post holder will be responsible for the day to day management of one section of imaging department. Ensuring an efficient service that meets the needs of the organisation. The post holder will be expected to have at least 80% of their time spent on clinical duties.

To adhere to good practices of Radiation protection standards (IRMER).

Promote a service that is responsive to the patients needs, making changes to working practises as required by service needs. Proposing, developing and implementing new policies within own section.

Promote teamwork to provide a high quality service.

To ascertain the validity of requests and prioritise workload in own area, within own scope of practice

To monitor with the quality assurance programme. To ensure equipment malfunctions are dealt with safely and efficiently to have least possible impact on service provision.

Maintain awareness of current trends & developments in all aspects of Radiology & actively participate in a CPD programme.

Ensure that all incidents and complaints are recorded. Ensuring that complaints that cannot be dealt with locally are managed and passed to the appropriate person.

To lead and engage staff in Clinical governance activities within the Radiology Directorate.

Participate in the out of hours service provision.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MSc, BSc or DCR Radiography
  • 2 years post registration experience

Desirable

  • Post graduate experience

Experience

Essential

  • High level of competence & experience in managing people
  • Excellent knowledge of Clinical Governance
  • Excellent knowledge of QA programme

Desirable

  • Audit and benchmarking experience
  • RPS Trained
  • Student Mentor certificate

Statutory Registration

Essential

  • HCPC registration

Special Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Competence & experience in managing people
  • Leading and implementing change experience
  • Protocol and policy development experience

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Team building skills
  • High Quality Radiographic skills
  • Participation in out of hours duties
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • MSc, BSc or DCR Radiography
  • 2 years post registration experience

Desirable

  • Post graduate experience

Experience

Essential

  • High level of competence & experience in managing people
  • Excellent knowledge of Clinical Governance
  • Excellent knowledge of QA programme

Desirable

  • Audit and benchmarking experience
  • RPS Trained
  • Student Mentor certificate

Statutory Registration

Essential

  • HCPC registration

Special Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Competence & experience in managing people
  • Leading and implementing change experience
  • Protocol and policy development experience

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Team building skills
  • High Quality Radiographic skills
  • Participation in out of hours duties

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).

UK Registration

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

Additional information

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).

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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Radiographer

Nichola Coates

Nichola.coates@nhs.net

01325743107

Details

Date posted

06 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-0676

Job locations

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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