Job summary
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain a BSc (Hons) degree in Therapeutic Radiography and join our Radiotherapy department (Berkshire Cancer Centre)!
Applications are welcome from recent college or sixth form leavers, current health and social care or NHS staff, existing degree holders, or those wishing to seek a career change in order to start their professional journey within the NHS!
This apprenticeship will be delivered as a 3 year BSc degree programme in Therapeutic Radiography, with on the job training at our Radiotherapy departments in Reading and Bracknell. The period of employment will start from Feb/Mar 2024, with specific academic support and teaching led by Sheffield Hallam University (course details/entry requirements: https://bit.ly/3SYAgTt).
Upon completion of the 3 year training and successful attainment of the degree, the Trainee Apprentice will automatically progress to a guaranteed post as a qualified Band 5 Therapeutic Radiographer (subject to registration with the Health and Care Professions Council).
Upon successful completion of your 3 year training programme you will be classified as an autonomous practitioner, and will have responsibility for the patient from the time of referral for radiotherapy by a cancer specialist, through to aftercare and ongoing support after radiotherapy. The training and experience will allow you to work towards being accountable professionally and legally for your actions and those who you may be supervising.
Main duties of the job
The broad purpose of the role is to train on the job and learn how to provide excellent care to patients diagnosed with cancer. You will work with Radiographers and train in the supervised delivery of high quality and accurate radiotherapy, taking into consideration patients' emotional, psychological, and physical needs through the stages of their cancer treatment when at times they may be extremely vulnerable.
You will observe and interact with patients from the time of referral for radiotherapy, to the pre-treatment preparation such as scanning and planning the patients' radiotherapy, and final treatment delivery under the supervision of qualified Radiographers. All staff at the Berkshire Cancer Centre provide the highest standard of technical practice and patient care in order to treat and support patients receiving radiotherapy (predominately for cancer) using a variety of forms such as:
- External beam radiotherapy; a method for delivering a beam or several beams of high energy X-rays to a patient's cancer.
- Brachytherapy; a form of radiotherapy where a sealed radiation source (e.g. in a needle or tube) is placed inside or next to the patient's cancer.
- Stereotactic radiotherapy/radiosurgery which delivers multiple beams of focused radiation.
- Superficial skin radiotherapy, which uses X-rays or electrons to deliver a radiation dose to a patient's cancer.
Interviews will be conducted jointly by Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Hallam University.
About us
The Berkshire Cancer Centre at the RBFT provides fully CHKS accredited Radiotherapy treatment facilities across both its Reading and Bracknell health spaces, and is currently equipped with two GE CT scanners, four Elekta Linear Accelerators, a superficial X-ray unit, and a high dose Brachytherapy unit.
All treatment choices for patients are underpinned by the latest national guidance for radiotherapy services, including advanced treatments such as SABR, DIBH, VMAT and Adaptive radiotherapy.
Since 2020 the department has also been recognized as a 'Centre of excellence' for its innovative provision of Surface Guided Radiotherapy, in alliance with Vision RT. Our diverse workforce of staff and learners all benefit from working with high quality equipment and optimum treatment techniques, whilst experiencing positive levels of clinical support and professional development in all aspects of their training and competence.
Upon successful completion of your 3 years training programme you will be classified as an autonomous practitioner, and will have responsibility for the patient from the time of referral for radiotherapy by a cancer specialist, through to aftercare and ongoing support after radiotherapy. The training and experience will allow you to work towards being accountable professionally and legally for your actions and those who you may be supervising.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Trainee Therapeutic Radiographer, you will gain knowledge and experience in all aspects of radiotherapy service delivery, including patient care, pre-treatment and planning, treatment calculations and provision of precise radiation regimes, and quality assurance of treatment plans and equipment. Additionally, there will also be a minimum of 20% protected time available for academic University attendance, distance learning, seminars or other educational activities. The department will fully commit to support the trainees education and professional development throughout the period of the apprenticeship and post qualification.
What we require from you:
- A compassionate, caring, friendly individual who is passionate about helping patients and has a genuine desire to work in the NHS.
- Someone who can learn and train on an innovative new apprenticeship programme, whilst engaging actively with the clinical learning environment, theoretical concepts, and practical training in a variety of clinical areas.
- A positive independent learner willing to adapt to using different technology and systems in the workplace.
- Able to demonstrate awareness of own learning needs and is proactive in seeking opportunities to develop core skills and competencies required of a Registered Therapeutic Radiographer.
- Able to ensure that effective communication is maintained between manager, academic tutors at the University and self at all times during the apprenticeship programme.
- Able to recognise situations where additional support or guidance is required and is proactive in seeking this.
- Able to demonstrate effective time management skills to successfully complete and pass all components of the apprenticeship programme prior to the completion date.
- Able to complete all programme hours as specified by the HCPC in relation to both theory and practice.
- Able to successfully complete the End Point Assessment for the Therapeutic Radiography Apprenticeship programme.
- Able to work under the supervision and guidance of qualified Therapeutic Radiographers who form part of a multidisciplinary team providing crucial cancer and Radiotherapy services.
- An individual who can commit to study the academic parts of the programme using virtual learning environments, or attend face to face lectures/ seminars when these are scheduled.
- Expected to adhere to best practice and patient safety policies, whilst delivering excellent patient care as per the following guidelines and professional standards: Trust CARE values, HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Therapeutic Radiographers, Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, Society and College of Radiographers Codes of Professional Conduct.
- Expected to work within the Radiotherapy departments at the Trusts Reading and Bracknell locations as a Trainee Therapeutic Radiographer under a 3 year BSc Therapeutic Radiographer Apprenticeship programme from an approved higher education institution, whilst remaining under the employment of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As a Trainee Therapeutic Radiographer, you will gain knowledge and experience in all aspects of radiotherapy service delivery, including patient care, pre-treatment and planning, treatment calculations and provision of precise radiation regimes, and quality assurance of treatment plans and equipment. Additionally, there will also be a minimum of 20% protected time available for academic University attendance, distance learning, seminars or other educational activities. The department will fully commit to support the trainees education and professional development throughout the period of the apprenticeship and post qualification.
What we require from you:
- A compassionate, caring, friendly individual who is passionate about helping patients and has a genuine desire to work in the NHS.
- Someone who can learn and train on an innovative new apprenticeship programme, whilst engaging actively with the clinical learning environment, theoretical concepts, and practical training in a variety of clinical areas.
- A positive independent learner willing to adapt to using different technology and systems in the workplace.
- Able to demonstrate awareness of own learning needs and is proactive in seeking opportunities to develop core skills and competencies required of a Registered Therapeutic Radiographer.
- Able to ensure that effective communication is maintained between manager, academic tutors at the University and self at all times during the apprenticeship programme.
- Able to recognise situations where additional support or guidance is required and is proactive in seeking this.
- Able to demonstrate effective time management skills to successfully complete and pass all components of the apprenticeship programme prior to the completion date.
- Able to complete all programme hours as specified by the HCPC in relation to both theory and practice.
- Able to successfully complete the End Point Assessment for the Therapeutic Radiography Apprenticeship programme.
- Able to work under the supervision and guidance of qualified Therapeutic Radiographers who form part of a multidisciplinary team providing crucial cancer and Radiotherapy services.
- An individual who can commit to study the academic parts of the programme using virtual learning environments, or attend face to face lectures/ seminars when these are scheduled.
- Expected to adhere to best practice and patient safety policies, whilst delivering excellent patient care as per the following guidelines and professional standards: Trust CARE values, HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Therapeutic Radiographers, Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017, Society and College of Radiographers Codes of Professional Conduct.
- Expected to work within the Radiotherapy departments at the Trusts Reading and Bracknell locations as a Trainee Therapeutic Radiographer under a 3 year BSc Therapeutic Radiographer Apprenticeship programme from an approved higher education institution, whilst remaining under the employment of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE Grade C or 4 or equivalent for Maths, Science and English (with certification) / UCAS points: 112: From any of the qualifications as listed in the Person Specification (located at the end of the attached Job Description).
Desirable
- Prior learning and experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care. It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in a health care setting.
Knowledge
Essential
- Basic understanding of what Radiotherapy is and how this impacts cancer patients and their diagnosis and prognosis.
- NHS Care Values.
Desirable
- Knowledge of HCPC, IRMER.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE Grade C or 4 or equivalent for Maths, Science and English (with certification) / UCAS points: 112: From any of the qualifications as listed in the Person Specification (located at the end of the attached Job Description).
Desirable
- Prior learning and experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care. It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in a health care setting.
Knowledge
Essential
- Basic understanding of what Radiotherapy is and how this impacts cancer patients and their diagnosis and prognosis.
- NHS Care Values.
Desirable
- Knowledge of HCPC, IRMER.
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.
