Job summary
The primary purpose of this exciting new role is to support the delivery of high-quality clinical and research CT imaging services that will include a new state-of-the-art Photon Counting CT scanner being installed at the Royal Brompton Hospital. This newest element of the Bromptons extensive diagnostic facilities will be part of an important strategic collaboration between Kings School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences (BMEIS) and the Heart, Lung & Critical Care (HLCC) Clinical Group of Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Clinical research will be the core mission for the collaboration, with all eligible clinical patients planned to be approached for consent to research participation. Clinical academics hosted by Kings and HLCC will work together to establish a new world-class research program in Photon Counting CT.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will be responsible for providing a high-quality radiographic service for the purposes of diagnosis and research. They will be expected to promote and maintain the highest standards of patient care and will perform their duties in accordance with local and national regulations and guidelines concerning ionising radiation and health and safety. They will be part of a team committed to continually improving services to patients and research participants and for referrers and research team and will need to have the ability to cope effectively in a rapidly changing environment. They will be required to demonstrate excellent communication and inter-personal skills, as well as a professional attitude at all times. They will be responsible to the Royal Brompton Lead Research Radiographer for CT scanning and will be responsible for supervising the work of any other junior radiographers, undergraduate radiographers, visiting radiographers, and clerical or portering staff while working with them in the unit. They will be required to work across all the CT scanners at the Royal Bromptons imaging facilities. They will not be required to participate in the full on-call rota but will be expected to support CT late duties when required.
About us
This post is jointly hosted by the Research Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, within Kings College Londons School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences and the Royal Brompton Hospitals Imaging Department in Chelsea.
The School of BMEIS (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/bmeis) is committed to improving the way we deliver healthcare through the use of advanced engineering and has worked in partnership with Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust to deliver specialist clinical services for many years. When the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals joined Guys and St Thomas in February 2021, we became the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. Together, we provide treatment for people with heart and lung disease, including rare and complex conditions, offering some of the most sophisticated treatment that is available anywhere in the world. Our integrated approach to caring for patients from before birth, through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood and old age has been replicated around the world and has gained Royal Brompton and Harefield an international reputation as a leader in heart and lung diagnosis, treatment and research.
- The Royal Brompton Imaging Department provides services across 3 sites:
- CT: Sydney Street, Fulham Road, and Diagnostic centre
- Interventional radiology and Fluoroscopy: Diagnostic centre
- Ultrasound: Diagnostic centre and bedside
- X-ray: Sydney Street, Fulham Road, Diagnostic centre, and bedside
Job description
Job responsibilities
Imaging & Research Responsibilities
- To provide high-quality patient care and radiographic services in CT scanning at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
- To position and manipulate patients in the correct positions for radiographic examinations and adapt radiographic technique in accordance with a patients capabilities.
- To assess CT images for quality, clinical significance and adherence to research protocol and to take appropriate action when necessary.
- To carry out IV cannulation for the purpose of administering radiographic contrast agents.
- To assess whether the patient is fit enough to undergo a particular procedure, decide the best means of transferring a patient, and of carrying out a procedure and to initiate and assist in patient resuscitation in an emergency.
- To undertake procedures, including obtaining informed consent from patients and completing case report forms, as part of research projects.
- To support other CT radiography staff to actively participate in research projects in accordance with their skills and experience.
- To input and work closely with others into the development of research protocols, documentation and related procedures.
- To accurately complete research scans including scheduling, completing relevant documentation and collecting relevant data for invoicing for individual scans as per departmental practice.
- To liaise with Clinical Scientists and researchers to ensure relevant resources are available for complex scans.
- To collaborate with imaging teams and other professional groups and contribute to scientific abstracts for National and International Conferences.
- To use all equipment and medical devices in accordance with their conditions of use, clinical SOPs and the Trusts moving and handling policy.
- To observe and enforce the Trusts infection control policies, including handwashing and dealing with biological or other spills, and to attend training on infection control issues as required.
- To work single handed when covering duties outside of normal working hours.
- To use initiative and judgement in the prioritising of workload.
People management
- To supervise the work of any other junior radiographers, undergraduate radiographers, visiting radiographers, clerical or portering staff while working with them in the unit.
- To formally teach and assist in the practical training of all radiographers, undergraduate radiographers and other staff working in a unit with them.
- To be responsible for ensuring that undergraduate radiographers or visiting radiographers working practice complies with all statutory and local safety and radiation regulations.
- To organise the workload, and to co-ordinate with porters to bring patients to the department at the correct times.
Communication
- To assist and train other disciplines in the use of the Picture Archive and Communication System and EPIC electronic patient record where appropriate.
- To advise others concerning radiation protection issues
- To identify any stock shortfalls, and re-stock, or liaise with superintendent to ensure replacements are ordered.
- To liaise with other departments and wards in the hospital
- To communicate appropriately with patients, relatives and other members of staff.
- To explain procedures and reassure patients in order to gain their co-operation and consent. There can often be barriers to understanding to overcome, and patients may be very anxious and require persuasion before and during a procedure.
- To use tact and sensitivity when asking personal questions, for example checking pregnancy status before examinations.
- To reassure and explain to patients and research participants, who may have concerns regarding radiation doses in order to gain their co-operation
- To assist the lead radiographers in liaising with engineers, and medical physics, and reorganising of workload when equipment malfunctions.
Policy & Service development
- To maintain and recommend improved standards of radiographic technique and patient care.
- To maintain high professional standards as described in the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, and to comply with the Standards of Proficiency for Radiographers as set out by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- To undertake training to the required standards and to maintain those standards.
- To be responsible for radiation protection within the local working environment.
- Together with the lead radiographers to be responsible for your own continued professional development.
- To participate in the departmental audit programme.
Resource management
- To use complex and expensive CT equipment, safely and responsibly.
- To report all equipment malfunctions to the appropriate superintendent radiographer and if necessary, undertake any further action to ensure the safe operation of the faulty unit.
- To undertake equipment testing as part of the departmental Quality Assurance program, and to take appropriate action if the results are outside of pre-set tolerances.
Information management
- To use the Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) and EPIC electronic patient record systems and to assist and instruct other members of staff both within and outside of the CT scanning department in their use.
- To accurately input and retrieve data from EPIC, PACS and associated software systems.
- To assist and instruct other members of staff in the use of hospital software systems. This includes the safe importation and exportation of confidential image data.
Core Values
- To abide by the Trusts and Universitys core values for staff, as well as all other policies, codes and practices including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety.
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
The nature of the post is such that onsite working is expected with no opportunity for home working. Whilst employed by Kings College London, the post-holder will have an honorary contract with Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and will mainly be based at the 3 main Royal Brompton Hospital sites. There may be a requirement for the post-holder to work at the Trusts private patient CT facility within the Wimpole Street Diagnostic Centre from time to time. Any potential applicants currently contributing to the NHS Pension scheme may continue to do so if they take up this post, rather than joining the Universitys pension scheme. Further information on this aspect can be provided by the hiring administrators if required.
The Imaging Lead is assisted by a Deputy Lead, Superintendents and Band 7 radiographers providing managerial support. Radiographers are allocated to General x-ray, CT, fluoroscopy, the cardiac catheter labs for cardiology procedures and the Image Guided Therapy room in the Diagnostic Centre.
This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Imaging & Research Responsibilities
- To provide high-quality patient care and radiographic services in CT scanning at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
- To position and manipulate patients in the correct positions for radiographic examinations and adapt radiographic technique in accordance with a patients capabilities.
- To assess CT images for quality, clinical significance and adherence to research protocol and to take appropriate action when necessary.
- To carry out IV cannulation for the purpose of administering radiographic contrast agents.
- To assess whether the patient is fit enough to undergo a particular procedure, decide the best means of transferring a patient, and of carrying out a procedure and to initiate and assist in patient resuscitation in an emergency.
- To undertake procedures, including obtaining informed consent from patients and completing case report forms, as part of research projects.
- To support other CT radiography staff to actively participate in research projects in accordance with their skills and experience.
- To input and work closely with others into the development of research protocols, documentation and related procedures.
- To accurately complete research scans including scheduling, completing relevant documentation and collecting relevant data for invoicing for individual scans as per departmental practice.
- To liaise with Clinical Scientists and researchers to ensure relevant resources are available for complex scans.
- To collaborate with imaging teams and other professional groups and contribute to scientific abstracts for National and International Conferences.
- To use all equipment and medical devices in accordance with their conditions of use, clinical SOPs and the Trusts moving and handling policy.
- To observe and enforce the Trusts infection control policies, including handwashing and dealing with biological or other spills, and to attend training on infection control issues as required.
- To work single handed when covering duties outside of normal working hours.
- To use initiative and judgement in the prioritising of workload.
People management
- To supervise the work of any other junior radiographers, undergraduate radiographers, visiting radiographers, clerical or portering staff while working with them in the unit.
- To formally teach and assist in the practical training of all radiographers, undergraduate radiographers and other staff working in a unit with them.
- To be responsible for ensuring that undergraduate radiographers or visiting radiographers working practice complies with all statutory and local safety and radiation regulations.
- To organise the workload, and to co-ordinate with porters to bring patients to the department at the correct times.
Communication
- To assist and train other disciplines in the use of the Picture Archive and Communication System and EPIC electronic patient record where appropriate.
- To advise others concerning radiation protection issues
- To identify any stock shortfalls, and re-stock, or liaise with superintendent to ensure replacements are ordered.
- To liaise with other departments and wards in the hospital
- To communicate appropriately with patients, relatives and other members of staff.
- To explain procedures and reassure patients in order to gain their co-operation and consent. There can often be barriers to understanding to overcome, and patients may be very anxious and require persuasion before and during a procedure.
- To use tact and sensitivity when asking personal questions, for example checking pregnancy status before examinations.
- To reassure and explain to patients and research participants, who may have concerns regarding radiation doses in order to gain their co-operation
- To assist the lead radiographers in liaising with engineers, and medical physics, and reorganising of workload when equipment malfunctions.
Policy & Service development
- To maintain and recommend improved standards of radiographic technique and patient care.
- To maintain high professional standards as described in the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, and to comply with the Standards of Proficiency for Radiographers as set out by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- To undertake training to the required standards and to maintain those standards.
- To be responsible for radiation protection within the local working environment.
- Together with the lead radiographers to be responsible for your own continued professional development.
- To participate in the departmental audit programme.
Resource management
- To use complex and expensive CT equipment, safely and responsibly.
- To report all equipment malfunctions to the appropriate superintendent radiographer and if necessary, undertake any further action to ensure the safe operation of the faulty unit.
- To undertake equipment testing as part of the departmental Quality Assurance program, and to take appropriate action if the results are outside of pre-set tolerances.
Information management
- To use the Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) and EPIC electronic patient record systems and to assist and instruct other members of staff both within and outside of the CT scanning department in their use.
- To accurately input and retrieve data from EPIC, PACS and associated software systems.
- To assist and instruct other members of staff in the use of hospital software systems. This includes the safe importation and exportation of confidential image data.
Core Values
- To abide by the Trusts and Universitys core values for staff, as well as all other policies, codes and practices including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety.
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
The nature of the post is such that onsite working is expected with no opportunity for home working. Whilst employed by Kings College London, the post-holder will have an honorary contract with Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and will mainly be based at the 3 main Royal Brompton Hospital sites. There may be a requirement for the post-holder to work at the Trusts private patient CT facility within the Wimpole Street Diagnostic Centre from time to time. Any potential applicants currently contributing to the NHS Pension scheme may continue to do so if they take up this post, rather than joining the Universitys pension scheme. Further information on this aspect can be provided by the hiring administrators if required.
The Imaging Lead is assisted by a Deputy Lead, Superintendents and Band 7 radiographers providing managerial support. Radiographers are allocated to General x-ray, CT, fluoroscopy, the cardiac catheter labs for cardiology procedures and the Image Guided Therapy room in the Diagnostic Centre.
This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Radiography or Diploma of the College of Radiographers
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience in a range of specialist radiographic procedures, including in CT
- Knowledge and experience of working within guidelines relating to ionising radiation and health and safety
- Knowledge of common clinical disorders and imaging techniques
Desirable
- Cardiac CT Experience
- Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice
- IV cannulation competence and experience
Other
Essential
- HCPC Registration
- Effective communicator, in person, in writing and by telephone, who works well in a multidisciplinary team
- Reliable and conscientious team member
- An organised and methodical approach to work with the ability to use initiative
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Radiography or Diploma of the College of Radiographers
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification
Experience
Essential
- Post qualification experience in a range of specialist radiographic procedures, including in CT
- Knowledge and experience of working within guidelines relating to ionising radiation and health and safety
- Knowledge of common clinical disorders and imaging techniques
Desirable
- Cardiac CT Experience
- Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice
- IV cannulation competence and experience
Other
Essential
- HCPC Registration
- Effective communicator, in person, in writing and by telephone, who works well in a multidisciplinary team
- Reliable and conscientious team member
- An organised and methodical approach to work with the ability to use initiative
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.
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.
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).