Job summary
We are seeking a highly experienced PET radiographer/imaging technologist for maternity leave cover, to support our imaging teams in developing new ways of working to fully exploit the opportunities that Total Body PET will bring.
To be successful in this post, we require a dynamic and ambitious qualified Radiographer/Technologist with good interpersonal skills and at least 3 years experience of working in PET imaging or nuclear medicine. Candidates who have experience in a practice development role and/or in delivering research studies and/or working with Total Body PET will be preferred.
An important criterion for selecting the successful post holder will be their commitment to drive and implement change when recommended. They will support teams to deliver excellent clinical care to all patients and research subjects, working within all relevant local and National regulatory and clinical governance guidelines.
The role will be based at Guys and St Thomas Hospitals, but there will also be some requirement to engage with collaborators across the UK Total Body PET infrastructure, and to promote and disseminate practice development information to the wider PET professional community.
This is a full time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for maternity leave cover (up to 12 months).
Main duties of the job
With support and in collaboration with the PET Centre Superintendent Radiographers, the post holder will be responsible for identifying, developing and co-ordinating training and development initiatives for the Imaging teams. With input from the Medical Physics Leads, they will ensure staff are supported in adopting new practices to optimise clinical imaging protocols for Total Body PET, whilst maintaining skills in conventional PET-CT.
They will ensure staff are trained to the highest possible standards to deliver a growing portfolio of PET research studies in adherence with Good Clinical Practice. In doing so, they will be expected to lead by example, able to deliver excellent quality imaging and patient/participant care themselves. They will provide leadership and motivation to establish research and clinical practices which are evidence-based and lead to standard setting. With the Superintendent team, they will monitor and review professional standards of care, reporting on performance, and instituting remedial action where necessary.
The post holder will assist the Radiation Protection Supervisor, Superintendent Radiographers and clinical and academic leads in all aspects of service provision, including working with new staff, trainees, students and visitors. They will need to be able to work independently, make decisions, and organise and prioritise their workload in a busy work environment and time critical situations.
About us
The PET Centre is part of Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College London within the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences.
We run a clinical PET service in parallel with an extensive programme of clinical research. Facilities currently include two cyclotrons, radiochemistry labs, three PET-CT scanners and a PET-MR scanner. We have recently installed two state-of-the-art Siemens Quadra Total Body PET-CT scanners. This is a very exciting time to join our team with ample opportunity to contribute to an ambitious programme developing the clinical and research capabilities of the department.
Our work includes providing a clinical PET service for >8,000 patients per year from across South East London as well as national referrals from other UK centres. We also support clinical and technical research programs with collaborators from the Hospital, the Medical School and other institutions. Clinical and research imaging capabilities are greatly enhanced by our on-site cyclotrons and radiochemistry laboratories, with tracers produced to GMP standards. We are one of two initial sites selected by the Medical Research Council (MRC) for the UK Total Body PET infrastructure.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
To promote high
quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the Total Body PET
research services, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical
standards.
-
To perform
excellent quality imaging studies in Total body PET and PET-CT in accordance with departmental protocols in an
efficient, safe and timely manner
-
To collaborate
with multi-disciplinary research staff to deliver training on research
appropriate topics as agreed with PET management team
-
To develop
virtual and face-to-face training material for PET teaching sessions
-
To lead on
innovative methods of facilitating training and Continuing Professional
Development CPD, including collaboration with other the UK Total Body PET
Network and partner Institutions
-
To maintain
accurate documentation electronic and paper of staff training in accordance
with PET Centre SOPs and Good Clinical practice - GCP
-
With the
Superintendent Radiographers, to ensure all training files are maintained to a
high standard and are kept up to date both on paper and on the PET Centres
Sharepoint pages and other electronic systems
-
To actively
participate in Departmental and UK Total Body PET Network research meetings,
training and induction programmes and events as agreed with the PET management
team
-
To lead audits of
the TB PET service on operational, performance and quality issues, and in
patient and staff satisfaction
-
To encourage and
facilitate abstract submissions from the radiographer and technologist team at
relevant conferences, leading to conference attendance according to agreed
Departmental criteria.
-
With the
Superintendent Radiographers, to oversee the mentoring, supervising and
assessing of PET imaging staff to obtain and maintain skills and work-based
competencies. Lead by example and mentor, supervise and assess a portion of PET
imaging Staff
-
Support staff
exchanges between departments and UK Total Body PET Network sites and
facilitate knowledge exchange visits with other research institutions
-
Maintain and
share up-to-date knowledge of regulatory and governance guidance for the
conduct of clinical research
-
As a member of a
multi-disciplinary team, to ensure that clinical and research imaging is
undertaken in an efficient, safe and timely manner ensuring that a high level
of patient care is provided before, during and after imaging procedures
-
In conjunction
with the Superintendent Radiographers, to prepare, develop and monitor clinical
imaging protocols and to ensure that study design is optimised for individual
patients.
-
To produce and
promote images of the highest technical quality as befits a high profile
department and hospital, adapting and tailoring the examination to the needs of the
patient, whilst keeping the radiation dose as low as reasonably practicable.
-
To be responsible
for handling radioactive tracers in accordance with the local rules.
-
To be able to
establish venous access and be responsible for drawing, measuring and injecting
radiotracers into patients under the guidance of the ARSAC license holder
-
To act as an
operator under the IRMER regulations
-
To use specialist
knowledge to advise patients, carers and other staff members on radiation
protection matters associated with examinations.
-
To recognise and
report abnormal scan findings that may require urgent clinical intervention to
a Radiologist or other suitable member of the clinical team.
-
To deal with
non-routine and complex enquiries from patients concerning issues affecting the
scheduling of scans or the PET scanning procedure which cannot be deal with by
administrative or junior imaging staff.
-
When delegated by
the Superintendent Radiographers, to take clinical lead of an assigned shift in
conjunction with other senior staff.
-
To assist the
Radiation Protection Supervisor in the radiation safety aspects as required,
including radioactive contamination monitoring as per the departmental local
rules
-
To liaise closely
with the administrative staff to ensure efficient and timely patient throughput
is achieved
-
To participate,
as appropriate, in the KCL Appraisal and Development Scheme; this may include
taking responsibility for the development of other staff as well as
responsibility for personal development.
-
To demonstrate
leadership and innovation in the implementation of environmentally sustainable
practices, recording progress through the Kings sustainability audit process
and sharing good practice. To nurture and encourage sustainable practices and
leadership within your team and networks.
-
To facilitate an
inclusive culture and ethos working with academic, research and other
professional services staff and colleagues external to Kings.
-
To undertake
other tasks and responsibilities as necessary, appropriate to the position
including working flexible hours.
Operational hours are presently between 7am and 7pm Monday through
Friday with occasional Saturday work
-
The role will
require the post holder to rotate to both sections of the PET Department at St
Thomas Hospital and Guys Cancer Centre, requiring daily attendance at the
workplace, and with very limited opportunity for remote working.
-
Participation in
a rota that includes extended day and weekend working will be expected
-
Candidates with
an existing NHS Pension may choose to remain in that scheme if they wish to do
so. Further information is available via our HR Department.
The above
list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be
required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be
expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
To promote high
quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the Total Body PET
research services, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical
standards.
-
To perform
excellent quality imaging studies in Total body PET and PET-CT in accordance with departmental protocols in an
efficient, safe and timely manner
-
To collaborate
with multi-disciplinary research staff to deliver training on research
appropriate topics as agreed with PET management team
-
To develop
virtual and face-to-face training material for PET teaching sessions
-
To lead on
innovative methods of facilitating training and Continuing Professional
Development CPD, including collaboration with other the UK Total Body PET
Network and partner Institutions
-
To maintain
accurate documentation electronic and paper of staff training in accordance
with PET Centre SOPs and Good Clinical practice - GCP
-
With the
Superintendent Radiographers, to ensure all training files are maintained to a
high standard and are kept up to date both on paper and on the PET Centres
Sharepoint pages and other electronic systems
-
To actively
participate in Departmental and UK Total Body PET Network research meetings,
training and induction programmes and events as agreed with the PET management
team
-
To lead audits of
the TB PET service on operational, performance and quality issues, and in
patient and staff satisfaction
-
To encourage and
facilitate abstract submissions from the radiographer and technologist team at
relevant conferences, leading to conference attendance according to agreed
Departmental criteria.
-
With the
Superintendent Radiographers, to oversee the mentoring, supervising and
assessing of PET imaging staff to obtain and maintain skills and work-based
competencies. Lead by example and mentor, supervise and assess a portion of PET
imaging Staff
-
Support staff
exchanges between departments and UK Total Body PET Network sites and
facilitate knowledge exchange visits with other research institutions
-
Maintain and
share up-to-date knowledge of regulatory and governance guidance for the
conduct of clinical research
-
As a member of a
multi-disciplinary team, to ensure that clinical and research imaging is
undertaken in an efficient, safe and timely manner ensuring that a high level
of patient care is provided before, during and after imaging procedures
-
In conjunction
with the Superintendent Radiographers, to prepare, develop and monitor clinical
imaging protocols and to ensure that study design is optimised for individual
patients.
-
To produce and
promote images of the highest technical quality as befits a high profile
department and hospital, adapting and tailoring the examination to the needs of the
patient, whilst keeping the radiation dose as low as reasonably practicable.
-
To be responsible
for handling radioactive tracers in accordance with the local rules.
-
To be able to
establish venous access and be responsible for drawing, measuring and injecting
radiotracers into patients under the guidance of the ARSAC license holder
-
To act as an
operator under the IRMER regulations
-
To use specialist
knowledge to advise patients, carers and other staff members on radiation
protection matters associated with examinations.
-
To recognise and
report abnormal scan findings that may require urgent clinical intervention to
a Radiologist or other suitable member of the clinical team.
-
To deal with
non-routine and complex enquiries from patients concerning issues affecting the
scheduling of scans or the PET scanning procedure which cannot be deal with by
administrative or junior imaging staff.
-
When delegated by
the Superintendent Radiographers, to take clinical lead of an assigned shift in
conjunction with other senior staff.
-
To assist the
Radiation Protection Supervisor in the radiation safety aspects as required,
including radioactive contamination monitoring as per the departmental local
rules
-
To liaise closely
with the administrative staff to ensure efficient and timely patient throughput
is achieved
-
To participate,
as appropriate, in the KCL Appraisal and Development Scheme; this may include
taking responsibility for the development of other staff as well as
responsibility for personal development.
-
To demonstrate
leadership and innovation in the implementation of environmentally sustainable
practices, recording progress through the Kings sustainability audit process
and sharing good practice. To nurture and encourage sustainable practices and
leadership within your team and networks.
-
To facilitate an
inclusive culture and ethos working with academic, research and other
professional services staff and colleagues external to Kings.
-
To undertake
other tasks and responsibilities as necessary, appropriate to the position
including working flexible hours.
Operational hours are presently between 7am and 7pm Monday through
Friday with occasional Saturday work
-
The role will
require the post holder to rotate to both sections of the PET Department at St
Thomas Hospital and Guys Cancer Centre, requiring daily attendance at the
workplace, and with very limited opportunity for remote working.
-
Participation in
a rota that includes extended day and weekend working will be expected
-
Candidates with
an existing NHS Pension may choose to remain in that scheme if they wish to do
so. Further information is available via our HR Department.
The above
list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be
required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be
expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full BSc / Diploma in Radiography or recognised Nuclear Medicine qualification
Desirable
- Registration with IPEM or HCPC
- Postgraduate qualification in relevant imaging or research topic
Experience
Essential
- Hands-on prior experience of working in PET or Nuclear Medicine, including handling blood products and unsealed radiation sources
- Experience of delivering teaching/training
Desirable
- Experience of developing new clinical and research imaging protocols in line with local rules and Good Clinical Practice
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of imaging techniques and principles used in PET, CT and NM
- Strong correspondence, presentation and report writing skills
- Excellent computer literacy and IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint)
- Good interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate highly complex information effectively at all levels and overcome barriers to understanding
- Proven ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise own work in a busy work environment and time critical situations
Desirable
- Good understanding of the principles of Total Body PET
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full BSc / Diploma in Radiography or recognised Nuclear Medicine qualification
Desirable
- Registration with IPEM or HCPC
- Postgraduate qualification in relevant imaging or research topic
Experience
Essential
- Hands-on prior experience of working in PET or Nuclear Medicine, including handling blood products and unsealed radiation sources
- Experience of delivering teaching/training
Desirable
- Experience of developing new clinical and research imaging protocols in line with local rules and Good Clinical Practice
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of imaging techniques and principles used in PET, CT and NM
- Strong correspondence, presentation and report writing skills
- Excellent computer literacy and IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint)
- Good interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate highly complex information effectively at all levels and overcome barriers to understanding
- Proven ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise own work in a busy work environment and time critical situations
Desirable
- Good understanding of the principles of Total Body PET
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).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).