Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Radiography Assistant (XR03)

This job is now closed

Job summary

Cardiac MRI has an exciting opportunity for a supportive, enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to join our dynamic service driven multi-disciplinary team.

This post is a full time Band 3 Radiographer Assistant position on a 12months fixed term contract that is annually reviewed contract, with the possibility of extension and is predominantly based within the Advanced Imaging Centre. The Cardiac MRI, University of Leeds and NHS services are closely linked and use the same MRI imaging services based at Leeds General Infirmary. Combined, the service has around 4,000 patient attendances per year performed at state of the art facilities and is a leading national and international centre of cardiac MRI excellence that through its high impact research publications, clinical scanning expertise and educational training is at the forefront of the modality. The service is provided over an extended day, typically 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8 am until 5pm Saturdays and Sundays.

Main duties of the job

Key responsibilities will include the day-to-day aspects of patient care, for example screening and examination preparation, therefore good communication skills with a sympathetic patient centred approach is essential. This is particularly evident when dealing with the more vulnerable and complex patients that may require our care pathway such as CCU or post-surgical inpatients. General administrative tasks are a main responsibility as well as familiarity with Trust local MR safety rules to ensure the safety of patients, research participants and colleagues. Basic computer skills are essential and a working knowledge of current Trust systems desirable. The post holder will undertake a clinical support role, supporting the current small team of 7 cardiac MRI radiographers, 2 cardiac MRI radiographer assistants, cardiologist consultants and research fellows within the department. Opportunities for self-development and career progression are actively encouraged and supported.

For further information or to arrange an informal site visit please contact David Shelley Cardiac MRI Team Leader on 0113 3928206 or davidshelley@nhs.net.

About us

Come and join our team in Leeds and become part of The Leeds Way sharing our vision and values. Our Trust is recognised for our staff engagement, great care and rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest acute health providers in the UK and based in one of the fastest growing and vibrant cities in the north.

At Cardio-Respiratory CSU, we aim to be a fair and supportive CSU with positive, caring teams who are champions of the Leeds Way values. Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Date posted

13 March 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£22,816 to £24,336 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9298-CRS-181

Job locations

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Job description

Job responsibilities

Principal Duties & Areas of Responsibility

1. To be fully aware of the potential hazards of working in an area of strong magnetic field and to be familiar with Trust local rules for Cardiac MR safety pertaining to the assistant role.

2. To ensure that all persons entering the scanner examination room have completed an Cardiac MRI safety checklist and have removed all personal belongings, which might either be hazardous in the area of strong magnetic field or might be damaged by it.

3. To assess the patient safety checklist and identify potential hazards according to departmental protocol.

4. To ensure that patients valuables are safely locked away.

5. To be familiar with safety procedures (quench, fire, cardiac arrest) which are specific to the Cardiac MR environment.

6. To implement and supervise safe work practices of NHS staff and students in a hazardous environment.

7. To assess specific communication needs of individual patients.

8. To anticipate where communication difficulties might make completion of the safety checklist impossible and to implement alternative methods to ensure that patient safety is maintained.

9. To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their escorts prior to, during and after an examination. In particular, to be sensitive to patient anxiety regarding the claustrophobic nature of the Cardiac MR scanner and to be able to help patients overcome their anxiety so that the examination can be performed. To reassure and stay in attendance with difficult

10. To assess routine requests for imaging so that patient position and selection of appropriate surface coil is used to optimise image quality of the body part under examination. To defer to the radiographer for complex examinations.

11. To prepare drugs/contrast media for intravenous and oral administration and to load automatic drug injection pump - following appropriate training

12. To undertake all aspects of patient care related to Cardiac MRI .

13. To physically position the patient for a range of routine examinations, to ensure that image quality, patient comfort and patient safety are maintained at all times whilst taking into account patient limitations. To defer to the radiographer for complex examinations requiring adaptation of standard technique.

14. To maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness for patient needs, Cardiac MRI equipment and working environment.

15. To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary. Paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linen.

16. To be familiar with the requirements of clinical research trials .To assist the radiographer in the positioning of patients for such trials. To undertake administrative work relating to the trials.

17. To participate in the safe transfer of patients and equipment within the department and Hospital, using manual handling guidelines and risk assessment.

Technical

1. Maintenance and care of the processing equipment. Quality control, basic fault finding, trouble shooting and reporting of faults.

Administrative

1. To liaise with other departments/wards within the hospital and various external sources in order to provide a quality service to patients and clinicians.

2. To work closely with the anaesthetic team and with intensive care staff to ensure that they operate in a safe manner in the Cardiac MRI environment.

3. To liase with patients to arrange urgent investigations addressing individual patient needs, according to department protocol.

4. To arrange recall examinations according to departmental protocol, where discretion is required regarding what information should be presented to the patient

5. To work closely with radiographic staff in the organisation of workload in line with clinical priorities.

6. To book appointments evaluating patient needs, degree of urgency and length of time required deferring to radiographic staff as necessary.

7. To monitor the appointment diaries and take action to maximise efficiency when booking patient appointments.

8. To adapt and respond to patient needs.

9. To attend Departmental meetings where needed.

10. To report clinical, non-clinical and incidents to the appropriate manager/supervisor in line with Trust and Departmental Risk Management policies.

11. To enter accurate patient and examination data into Radiology Information System.

12. To operate stock control and stock ordering of medical equipment, X-ray Film and accessories, linen and pharmacy supplies.

13. Under instruction from the radiographer, to re-arrange the work list in event of equipment failure, being responsive to the inconvenience to patients by short notice cancellation of appointments.

14. To collate referrals for clinical trials and input data onto CRIS

Training and Education

1. To assist in the training of new members of staff.

Personal/Professional Development

1. To undertake vocational training, education and appraisal.

2. To participate in personal development needs that may be identified by the superintendent or in the appraisal process in an agreed timeframe.

Information & Record Keeping

1. To keep accurate and timely records of own work and that of other members of MRI team.

2. To undertake basic fault finding of equipment and follow appropriate lines of reporting and documentation of such faults.

3. To participate in audit projects, either of their own work, that of the department or others, as required.

Multi-disciplinary Team Working & Communication

To maintain effective verbal and/or written communication and working relationships with patients, colleagues, other hospital staff, relatives and visitors.