Senior Radiographer

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Senior Radiographer will be required to support the clinical team, and where required the administrative team, in ensuring the clinical services of the department are optimise and patients are treated within a timely manner. Once sufficient specialist knowledge and skills are acquired, the post-holder will be expected to act as clinical lead for the department when required.

In addition to supporting the NHS pathway, the post-holder will be expected to help facilitate the treatment of Private and Self-Paying patients, collating referral data, imaging, and patient information prior to treatment.

The post-holder will assist in the day-to-day organisation and running of the centre and support the clinical staff in their delivery of stereotactic based treatments.

The Senior Radiographer will assist in the day-to-day organisation, Quality Assurance, and operation of the treatment unit. They will deputise for the Lead Radiographer during their absence and supervise Radiographer grade staff and support staff in the delivery of stereotactic based treatments.

It is expected that the post-holder be flexible with their working time to enable the clinical service to operate without disruption. The Thornbury Radiosurgery Centre provides a Gamma Knife radiosurgery service for NHS and private patients, treating brain tumours and other intracranial indications. We work in close partnership with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Foundation Trust and together are one of two NHS England National Centres of Excellence.

The Gamma Knife is not a knife at all, but a highly sophisticated, non-invasive device that focuses high-energy gamma radiation on the affected area inside the brain. Gamma Knife Radiosurgery is an effective, non-invasive alternative to traditional surgery.

The centre treats a range of benign and malignant lesions, including:

- Meningiomas

- Pituitary Adenomas

- Acoustic Neuromas/Vestibular Schwannomas

- Trigeminal Neuralgia

- Brain metastases

- Other functional lesions

Job specification

1. Deliver accurate and efficient radiation treatment and provide of a high standard of patient care.

o Maintain accurate patient records by input of accurate information to reflect the service provided and meet professional standards.

2. Use acquired specialist knowledge of site-specific imaging protocols to analyse verification images and recommend any adjustments, if required, to ensure treatments are within tolerance.

3. Perform daily/weekly/monthly QA procedures to ensure equipment runs within acceptable tolerance parameters. Use expertise and acquired knowledge of the equipment to identify, record and report faults and manage the consequences of faults effectively. This can include:

o Escalation of faults to equipment provider

o Rescheduling of treatments in the event of a breakdown

4. Assess patient condition, including treatment concerns, and prioritise work depending on the severity of a patient condition and the direct impact on their management.

5. Participate in the auditing of policies and procedure and propose changes to these within own scope of practice.

6. To assist with the day-to-day organisation of the treatment unit including the maintenance of appointment systems and working methods to ensure an efficient service is delivered and workload targets are met.

7. Participate in shift sessions when necessary. e.g., during exceptional periods of increased patient activity.

8. Supervise support staff, junior radiographers, bank staff and Health Care Assistants working in the treatment unit and deputise for the Senior Radiographers when required.

9. The post-holder will be required to participate in the training/induction of new staff. Act as a preceptor for new graduates/junior members of staff within the therapeutic radiography training and development programme.

10. Undertake personal and professional self-development opportunities as determined by performance review and self-direction.

11. To participate in Research and Development activities as appropriate and participate in Clinical Governance and Clinical Audit programmes as required.

12. Administrative support to the departments clinical work, including:

o Scheduling, patient swabbing and hotel bookings and using acquired clinical knowledge to recognise a balanced treatment day.

o Follow-up appointments and treatment rescheduling.

13. Support point of clinical contact for patient liaison, identifying and managing enquiries.

14. Working with the team coordinating treatment availability, liaising with consultants to identify clinical usable days, and disseminating information appropriately.

15. Collating treatment information relating to activity and contacting appropriate parties in a timely manner.

16. Contribute to the Risk and Incident Register and to actively manage those elements relevant to the treatment delivery/clinical operation of the department.

17. Maintain Mandatory Training record, professional registration, and DBS records.

18. Undertake Radiation Protection Supervisor (RPS) course to support and uphold the departments IRMER commitment.

19. Control and auditing of clinical stockkeeping.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Proven professional qualifications (Radiotherapy degree)

Desirable

• Gamma Knife experience

Knowledge & skills

Essential

• Be highly organised, detail oriented, dedicated, and self-directed, with the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Desirable

• To have knowledge and experience of using MS Office.

Experience

Essential

• HSPC Registration Certificate

Desirable

• 2 to 3 years general radiotherapy experience

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

Amethyst Radiotherapy

Address

Gamma Knife Dept - National HNN

Queen Square

London

WC1N 3BG

Employer's website

https://amethyst-radiotherapy.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)