Job responsibilities
Job
responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE
To
work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing Radiotherapy Treatment
& Patient Support, in line with Trust and departmental policies and
procedures.
The
post holder is responsible for performing with the highest standard of
patient care and technical practice in their clinical area while treating
patients
JOB
DIMENSIONS
The
radiotherapy department delivers treatment care packages to approximately
6,500 patients with cancer per year. As qualified professionals,
practitioners are expected to contribute to the efficient, effective and safe
flow of workload in their clinical area.
Radiotherapy
practitioners are required to rotate through all areas within the
radiotherapy service. After a period of induction they will be expected to
fully undertake treatment procedures. Practitioners must only operate within
defined departmental protocols & procedures, acting within professional
codes of practice until they have passed a 12-month preceptorship period
during which they will be assessed and upon completion will have limited
scope to operate outside protocol. Until they pass this preceptorship period
they must work alongside a specialist/team leader practitioner at all times,
referring issues outside their scope of practice to more senior colleagues.
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
BSc
in Therapy Radiography or equivalent
Current
State Registration (HCPC)
Awareness
of current trends in R/T
Basic
IT Skills
Experience
of similar radiotherapy equipment
Awareness
of wider cancer issues
Evidence
of personal development, course based team/people management
CORE
BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
The
post holder will be honest, reliable & professional and demonstrate the
behaviours outlined by the Trust and the College of Radiographers
Professional Code of Conduct. They must ensure that professional attitudes
and standards are maintained
They
will have a commitment to team working, creating good interpersonal
relationships and working atmosphere so that 2-way discussion, learning and
development of the whole team can occur.
CORE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
A
basic understanding of the cancer pathway must be developed for the role. A more
thorough understanding of the radiotherapy pathway and support functions
involved in service delivery is also required. Both of these can be acquired
through training in post over a few weeks induction. As a qualified
professional, the post holder will be expected to demonstrate a professional
level of understanding of radiotherapy practice and an awareness of current
issues.
They
must be acutely aware of the potential for harm of the high energy, variable
and complex beams of x-rays that they must deliver accurately on a daily
basis.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Technical
/ Clinical
Responsible
for maintaining the highest standards of technical practice and patient care
while treating and supporting patients.
Responsible
for the checking / calculation of doses and prescriptions in accordance with
departmental procedures.
Ensure
that own clinical decision making falls within departmental protocols,
referring any decisions falling outside of protocol to a more senior
colleague.
Responsible
for keeping up to date with technical practice and offering support, guidance
and encouragement to others, to do the same.
Responsible
for ensuring all equipment is used appropriately and safely, including
administrative and management systems, monitoring equipment performance and
reporting faults.
To
take an active role in audit, development and research (on an occasional
basis).
Responsible
for the review of verification images and clinical decisions resulting
thereof.
Management
Responsible
for assisting with quality assurance procedures & assisting in
organisation on the unit.
Responsible
for ensuring that clinical and technical information, and all information
relating to each treatment course undertaken on the unit, is accurately and
fully recorded and reported.
Participate
in clinical training and supervision of students, returners, assistants and
any other learners on the unit.
Assist
in managing the allotted workload ensuring efficient, effective and safe
working practices are maintained, prioritizing as appropriate.
Representing
the views of team members and peers at meetings and workgroups and reporting
information back to the team
Patient
care
Responsible
for the care of the patient whilst undergoing treatment. Monitor patient care
needs and organise care including referral to practitioners.
Assist
with developing specific care plans / pathways (with other disciplines) by
providing clinical advice for routine treatments.
Provide
appropriate advice and information to patients and carers at all stages of
radiotherapy, referring complex/unusual issues to senior staff as
appropriate.
Health
and Safety/Risk Management
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals
NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by
following agreed safe working procedures.
Additionally
for Radiotherapy
Complying
with statutory Ionizing Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations IR(ME)R
and Local Rules (Ionising Radiations Regulations - IRR) and departmental
radiotherapy incident reporting procedures,.
Responsible
for prompt reporting of radiation incidents, equipment, patient and safety
related incidents in accordance with departmental / Trust procedures. Also
identifying and reporting any areas of perceived risk
Infection
Control
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection
Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact
with patients and their environment.
Training
and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development
The
jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for
his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional
Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory
training required for the role.
Respect
for Patient Confidentiality
The
jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge
patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.
COMMUNICATION
& WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
An
ability to provide and receive complex and sensitive information to / from
cancer patients in an empathetic, reassuring and professional manner.
Assess
potential communication barriers and demonstrate where necessary persuasive,
motivational and negotiating skills, referring to senior staff where
appropriate.
To
recognize the potential for conflict in relationships and seek to minimize
this, and contribute to effective communication and team working.
To
promote and maintain effective communication and relationships with immediate
colleagues, the multi-disciplinary team, patients and visitors.
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
i)
PHYSICAL EFFORT:
This
post requires dexterity and highly developed co-ordination and sensory skills
in order to speedily and accurately manipulate equipment with a high degree
of precision, as well as finely manipulating the patients body to align the
relevant anatomy with the radiation beam to accuracy within 1 mm.
They
should also be able to accurately apply permanent patient skin marks (tattoo)
with needles and ink.
This
is a physically demanding post with constant manoeuvring of patients and
equipment, which can often be heavy and / or awkward.
The
postholder will need to exert intense physical effort by reaching over and
twisting heavy patients at height (approx 5 feet from the ground) for short
periods of time (5 minutes), several times a day (15-20), every day. The
postholder will also need to lift accessory equipment (some weighing 6-10Kg)
and position these at head / shoulder height onto other equipment. There are
postural constraints involved in this due to limitations in work design.
These
risks have been assessed by the Trust Back Care Lead and physio. Postholder
works in pairs so lifting of accessories is recommended as a two person lift.
ii)
MENTAL EFFORT:
A
high level of concentration is required when treating each patient constantly
in order to undergo patient assessment and maintain a high level of care
(10-30 mins per patient / up to 50 patients per day.
Ability
to view patient set-ups in both 2D and 3D. Excellent psychomotor and spatial
awareness to accurately position patients (to within 1mm).
When
not treating patients, periods of prolonged concentration (1-2 hrs) are
required when viewing images, calculating prescriptions and checking datasets
for accuracy.
iii)
EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
To
recognize and appropriately act upon the emotional and psychological needs of
patients, colleagues, team and ones self due to the frequent exposure to
distressing and emotional circumstances, e.g. continually working with
patients with cancer.
Dealing
empathetically with cancer patients, families and carers with challenging
behaviour, caused by either the physical and/or emotional effects of
diagnosis or the disease, impacts on the emotional effort required for this
post.
Dealing
with the large age range of patients and carers / dependents of varying
physical states including anaesthetized and unconscious.
To
act in an influencing role in areas that may cause significant conflict due
to changes in traditional working practice
