Job description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, motivated, and dynamic Band 6 (Senior) Radiographer to join our friendly team at our satellite Radiotherapy Centre, The Christie at Salford.
At The Christie at Salford satellite centre we deliver both radical and palliative radiotherapy to approximately 80 patients a day. The department is equipped with a CT simulator and two Varian Novalis Tx linacs operating within an IMPAC MOSAIQ environment, offering IGRT, SGRT, IMRT, VMAT, SRS and SBRT treatments. The linac replacement programme is due to start in May 2023 where we will be transitioning to Elekta linacs.
Excellent communication skills will be required along with the ability to be decisive, organised, approachable and hard working with the ability to work effectively and efficiently with the rest of the friendly and enthusiastic team to provide a seamless, safe and pleasant environment for staff and patients alike. In addition, flexibility is a necessity within the small team at The Christie at Salford.
The senior radiographer is a key member of the treatment team. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring the day to day running of their designated treatment area, taking the lead daily on all aspects of treatment delivery and preparation.
This role will rotate through both the treatment and pre-treatment areas, allowing the post holder to gain knowledge and skills across both areas of the patient pathway.
They will deputise for the superintendent radiographers and ensure daily organisation of the workload, workforce and resources in order to provide safe effective and timely treatment service.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for more information.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
The Christie at Salford opened in 2011 and is one of three Christie satellite centres delivering Radiotherapy to patients closer to their homes. The Christie at Salford is the only Christie Centre currently offering Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatments.
Working hours must be flexible to fit the needs of the service and individuals will be expected to participate in all shift patterns and will be contracted to work between 6am and 11pm.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- To ensure that the highly complex radiotherapy and imaging equipment is safe and accurate to operate, both for staff and patients; undertaking the appropriate machine checks and reporting any variances, faults and malfunctions.
- Undertake and evaluate radiation dose delivery and complex calculations involving a range of radiation types and energies.
- Interpret, monitor and evaluate the treatment prescriptions to ensure that radiotherapy is delivered accurately and reproducibly and in accordance withthe quality system.
- Evaluate delivery of radiotherapy through application and interpretation of treatment verification procedures.
- Ensure the team follows appropriate systems and working methods to achieve the safe, timely achievement of workload targets.
- Be able to accurately position patient and operate highly complex radiotherapy and imaging equipment along the radiotherapy pathway.
- Ensure the team keeps accurate records and comply with necessary policies and procedures.
- Analyse systematically and evaluate all data and information relevant to patients’ diagnosis, ensuring the patient and their relatives are treated with dignity and respect at all times.
- Communicate confidential sensitive information, and provide emotional support, to patients and their carers/relatives including children and the terminally il
- Provide information to patients and their carers with regard to the radiotherapy pathway and expected side effects.
- To communicate accurate and timely information with all other disciplines involved along the patients pathway.
- With the team on the unit, patients and the wider multidisciplinary team manage areas of conflict and escalate as necessary.
- Anticipate and identify common and complex treatment related side effects, offering advice and where necessary refer to other relevant health care professionals.
- To provide, receive and use sensitive information maintaining patient confidentiality at all times in line with information governance legislation.
- Apply safe and effective moving and handling skills in order to protect patients and staff and abide by Health and safety legislation in the work place.
- Minimise risk of cross infection through contamination by bodily fluids/matter. In accordance of the infection control policy.
- To implement the procedures and work instructions described for the department in accredited quality management system and report any variances.
- Contribute to development of the quality management system by reviewing and writing work instructions and operating procedures.
- Ensure all work and actions comply with local rules and current UK Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 and IR(ME)R 2000.
- Be aware of and participate in the audit and research within the department and the implementation of new processes and techniques.
- Undertake training and competency to dispense medication under Patient Group Direction (PGD).
- Participate in the extended shift system, bank holidays, weekend working and on-call.
- Any other duties negotiated with the post holder, to develop their role in the Organisation.
- To achieve all the competencies as outlined by the radiotherapy education team within a time period as outlined by line manager.
- Demonstrates values in accordance with the Professional Code of Conduct and accountable for own attitude and behaviour
- As a band 6 you will be expected to lead, co-ordinate, supervise and manage a team of staff operating radiotherapy equipment and act as lead practitioner, making assessments and key decisions in regard to workload management, patient care and treatment
- As a band 6 you will be expected to provide mentorship and guidance for junior staff and be a good role model.
- Participate in an annual Personal Development Review
- Attend all essential training and clinical updates as required and ensure your team also attend all relevant training.
- Be capable of assimilating new ideas and techniques and have an ability to assess their value.
- Assist in the supervision and training/teaching of pre-registration students and new members of staff
- Highlight to line manager all issues of inadequate performance, including capability and poor professional standards, for students and employees. Provide evidence where necessary and requested.