Radiography Assistant/Helper (XR02) Otley, East of England, England
Job description
1. Job Title: Radiology Assistant Reports to: Team Manager Band: 2 Department: Radiology Location Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust AfC Job No: 3325 2. JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY The Radiology Service delivers a diagnostic and treatment service for approximately 600,000 patients a year on 6 sites. The Service comprises several imaging modalities, each with up to 100 staff, providing a high quality clinical radiology service for patients.
The job holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a high-quality radiology service, carrying out policies and procedures as specified by the Trust and Radiology Management Team. They will undertake a wide range of duties to clinically support the Sonographers/Radiographers/MTOs and Radiologists and be primarily responsible for the care of patients requiring imaging. Duties may include assisting staff with interventional procedures such as biopsies and injections and adhering to aseptic techniques. Other duties include general cleaning, maintenance and care of equipment (including basic fault finding), trouble shooting and reporting of faults, stock control, clerical duties and data input onto the Radiology Information System (RIS).
The post holder will work to departmental protocols and schemes of work. Patients are received from multiple sources and presentation ranges from the unconscious to the fully mobile with uncooperative, incapacitated, anaesthetised, partially resuscitated, disorientated patients and those with special needs, physical and mental disabilities. Some patients exhibit antisocial or threatening behaviour. The job holder may occasionally be required to work at any site within Leeds Teaching Hospital Trusts Radiology departments.
4. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Clinical Responsibilities: Escorting patients in and out of the examination rooms. Helping patients on and off the examination table. Assess communication needs of patients.
Communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their carers. Assisting with moving and handling of those patients who are immobile in a manner that is safe for all concerned and following manual handling guidelines. Reassuring and staying in attendance with difficult patients. When necessary, attending to the patients personal hygiene requirements.
Explaining the undressing/dressing requirements to patients and where necessary assisting the patient. Understand the role of a chaperone and chaperone patients when required. Providing after care information following invasive procedures. Assisting patients with after care following interventional procedures.
General help and assistance to the Radiographer/Sonographer/Clinical Technologists/ Radiologist throughout the patients examination, either in the department or on the wards. To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary, paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linens contaminated by bodily fluids. Initiate emergency procedures and assist with basic life support. Ensure safe handling of medicines at all times.
Assist patients in completing any safety forms required as part of their examination. Removing patient cannulas as and when required. Administrative duties: To include registering the patient, updating patient records, bookings, extraction of work lists and all other associated RIS activities. To enter accurate patient and examination data into Radiology Information System.
Maintain accurate records at all times. Understand the contingencies required when electronic systems fail. Liaise with other departments/wards within and outside LTHT to ensure a quality service for patients and clinicians. Monitor stock, operate stock control and order medical equipment, accessories, consumables, linen and pharmacy and order as required.
Dealing with telephone messages in an efficient manner. Report any adverse incidents to the appropriate line manager in line with the Trust and radiology risk management system. Equipment duties: Ba procedures. To assist in the training of other members of staff.
To assist qualified staff in the evaluation of resources to develop high standards of patient care and achieve value for money initiatives. Participate in the individual performance review system. Undertake hand hygiene audits. To be responsible for own mandatory training and ensure it is up to date.
To attend departmental meetings when required. To be aware of and comply with all standards of conduct and care related to the Trust in general and the Department of Radiology in particular. Develop and maintain an appropriate level of knowledge and understanding in the methods of image production. To be aware of the current Ionising Radiation Regulations if working in areas involved with radiation, Employers procedures and local rules.
To be aware of the potential hazards of strong magnetic fields if working in MRI. Additional duties as requested by the management team, commensurate with the grade 5. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as 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 All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values Additionally the following are core values which relate specifically to this post are a commitment to providing a quality service that meets the needs of patients, staff and other health professionals in line with radiology and Trust values. Pleasant, caring and friendly in nature and able to communicate at all levels with a professional manner showing politeness and empathy towards patients and their families. 6. WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.
By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change. WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition.
7. 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. 8.
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. 9. 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. 10. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Patients Patient carers Patient relatives Medical staff (all grades) - internal and external to Radiology Senior Radiographers Radiographers Medical Technical Officer (MTO) Sonographers Senior Radiology assistants Students Nurses and other AHPs Ward staff Facilities staff 11. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS i) PHYSICAL EFFORT: Frequent assisting in the moving and handling of patients and equipment in the department and on the ward several times per shift.
Ability to wear protective lead aprons (approx. 8kg) when necessary. Lifting and carrying of heavy objects e.g. imaging detectors 35cm x 43cm (5kg), equipment phantoms (10Kg) and MRI coils (10Kg).
ii) MENTAL EFFORT: Frequent use of VDUs and keyboard skills requiring high level of concentration. The work pattern is unpredictable with frequent interruptions in busy departments. iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT: Frequent exposure to working with terminally ill patients or those involved in serious incidents, this may include adults or children. Risk factors involved in dealing with verbally or physically abusive patients.
iv) WORKING CONDITIONS: Working in an environment where ionising radiation is used continuously. Frequent exposure to body fluids, blood, urinary and faecal incontinence and exposure to open wounds. Frequent exposure to noxious and harmful, biological chemical odours and allergens from cleaning products. Working in low light conditions in some areas, often without windows.
The post holder is expected to travel to other sites if required.
