Diagnostic Radiographer

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties

1. Assess a referral or request form and justify it under radiographic regulations and locally agreed protocols.2. Prioritise patients to ensure optimum efficiency and service quality.3. Ensure that the protocol used for an examination is suitably matched to the clinical indications for the procedure.4. Liaise with referring clinicians to clarify or discuss requests for complex radiographic procedures.5. Act as a point of advice for referrers, other clinical staff, patients and their relatives.6. When permitted by information governance, effectively communicate and reassure patients, relatives, and staff about discussions concerning patient procedures.7. Assess the physical, mental and communication abilities and needs of individual patients and respond appropriately.8. Document that patients have consented to procedures and to issue and ensure they understand any instructions they need to follow.9. Enter accurate patient examination data into Imaging Information Systems i.e. RIS and PACS.10. Accurately position patients for examinations, adapting standard techniques as necessary to accommodate their individual abilities, needs, and limitations, ensuring appropriate radiographic procedures are conducted.11. Undertake radiological procedures (i.e. multi-faceted, multiple trauma), utilising skills, knowledge and experience, setting exposure parameters.12. Participate in patient monitoring or administration of oxygen.13. Visually be able to discriminate subtle differences between images to ensure there are no artefacts.14. Assess outcomes following procedures and ensure that any necessary additional procedures are undertaken within a single patient attendance where possible.15. Assess and respond to adverse treatment responses.16. Ensure that unexpected abnormalities seen are brought to the attention of the medical staff of the department, and the referring clinician, and that the patient is managed in an appropriate and supportive manner.17. Work unsupervised, seeking advice from colleagues and senior radiographic or medical staff when required.

Operational Responsibilities

18. Ensure that all the documentation relating to a procedure is appropriately organised to ensure rapid and accurate transit through the administrative and clerical systems of the Directorate.19. Operate departmental equipment with safety and efficiency, consistently complying with manual handling regulations.20. Undertake regular equipment testing, ensuring appropriate recording, documentation and interpretation of results.21. Ensure that any equipment faults are brought to the attention of the appropriate Superintendent or senior member of staff, in a timely fashion.22. Clearly label, or remove from circulation, any faulty equipment to mitigate the risk of its continued use.23. Attend and participate in staff meetings, grade meetings and Department meetings.24. Participate in departmental activities such as Health and Safety, Audit, Clinical Governance, and investigation of Adverse Incidents and complaints.25. To maintain a safe, clean and tidy work environment. To ensure there are adequate supplies of stock in clinical areas.26. To participate in out of hours duties.27. To operate as a Practitioner/Operator under IR(ME)R 2017.28. Monitor the implementation and observance of radiation protection local rules and systems of work and report any problems to a Radiation Protection Supervisor.

Service Improvement

29. Comment on proposed new policies, protocols and procedures for the department aligned with quality, efficiency and productivity (QEP) aims.30. Attend and participate in QA meetings and regularly participates in research and developmental activity.

Training and Governance Responsibilities

31. To support assistants and student radiographers in service delivery and personal development.32. To participate in the induction of new staff.33. Ensure adequate training in the use of any piece of equipment before using it unsupervised.34. Take full advantage of any training opportunities which may present and make known their training needs to the training committee or a Superintendent Radiographer.35. Assist in the training of students and all staff in disciplines of radiography i.e. in the completion of student assessments, portfolios, use of clinical equipment or any other work associated with their clinical training.36. Assist in the training to other radiographers in areas of own experience and expertise.37. Provide short presentations to the department, feeding back from Study Days, Postgraduate courses and audit projects.38. Expand and update professional skills and knowledge for Continuous Professional Development.39. Attend all mandatory training as required by the Department and the Trust.40. Participate in audit projects within the department.41. Ensure a high standard of patient care and participate in the monitoring of standards.42. Perform regular QA checks on equipment, documenting results and recognising trends and proposing action needed to effect change.43. Perform reject analysis, document results, recognise trends and proposing action required to effect change.

Management Responsibilities

44. To ensure that the trust values are upheld at all times and that poor behaviour is challenged as appropriate in the workplace or escalated where a one-to-one conversation is not possible or appropriate.45. To actively contribute to changes in policy/procedure and competency frameworks taking the initiative to do this with support from the management team.

General Responsibilities

46. To understand and abide by the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics (April 2003), the Standards of Proficiency (July 2003) issued by the Health Professions Council, and the Statements for Professional Conduct issued by the College of Radiographers, March 2002.47. Uphold a professional commitment to patient-centred care, aligning with the Trust's core values.48. To comply with the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy and treat staff, patients, colleagues and potential employees with dignity and respect at all times.49. To take personal responsibility for promoting a safe environment and safe patient care by identifying areas of risk and following the Incident, Serious Incidents and Near Misses reporting policy and procedure.50. To take personal responsibility for ensuring that trust resources are used efficiently and with minimum wastage and to comply with the Trust's Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs).51. To comply with Trust policies for personal and patient safety and for prevention of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for rigorous and consistent compliance with Trust policies for hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and safe disposal of sharps.52. To be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures, the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection Act.53. To maintain confidentiality at all times.

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.All staff are expected to actively participate in annual appraisals and set objectives in conjunction with their manager. Performance will be monitored against set objectives.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• BSc or MSc in Diagnostic Radiography or Diploma of the College of Radiographers
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence that knowledge of general radiographic techniques is up to date

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Range of radiographic experience gained as a student or in first post
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence that knowledge of general radiographic techniques is up to date

Desirable

• Experience of working with students

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Willingness to undertake teaching and assessment of students
• Demonstrate awareness of advocacy for patients
• Evidence of ability to assess the needs of the patient
• Demonstrates professional approach, in demeanour, appearance and time keeping
• Ability to critically analyse Radiographs
• Ability to use own initiative
• Previous experience of emergency duties
• Good understanding of Legislation relating to Health & Safety and Radiation Protection.
• Evidence of working as part of a team, including multi-professional teams
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable

• Evidence of understanding or participation in QA Programme

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

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Hospital

Magdala Avenue

London

N19 5NF

Employer's website

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