Therapeutic Radiographer - Team Leader

We are looking to recruit a committed, patient focused Team Leader (Band 7) Therapeutic Radiographer to come and join our friendly team here at the Worcester Oncology Centre (0.8WTE, 4 days per week).

As a team leader you will be responsible for leading a small team of radiographers in a clinical area as well as providing management support for the wider team including rostering duties.

We are based in a new bespoke purpose built building on the Worcestershire Royal Hospital site, with beautiful views of the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds. Worcester is a thriving city on the banks of the River Severn, close to areas of outstanding natural beauty. We have close links to the M5 Birmingham, Cheltenham and Bristol are all within easy reach.

We are a small friendly team of approximately 35 radiographers. We have 3 Elekta Linacs as well as a superficial unit and a Cannon wide bore CT scanner. We are paper light utilizing Mosaiq which is currently shared with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and our own Raystation planning system

We strive to ensure that all patients are treated in a supportive and calming environment. As a result, we offer excellent facilities for patients including Radiographer led clinics as well as site specialist radiographers.

We provide placements for undergraduate students from Birmingham City University and have started to introduce apprenticeships through Sheffield Hallam University.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a widely skilled and experienced practitioner leading a small team of radiographers providing clinical technical services using a range of highly specialist Radiotherapy Treatment and planning equipment.

The post holder will be responsible for managing the caseload, staff and equipment of their designated area, maintaining associated records and delivering evidence based patient centred care.

The department provides clinical placements for student and Radiographers and the post holder will be expected to participate fully in the supervision, training and assessing of students as well as the development of less experienced staff.

About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

• Best services for local people
• Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
• Best use of resources
• Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Duties:

Clinical / Technical:

Take responsibility for the correct interpretation, application and delivery of routine and complex Radiotherapy treatment prescriptions using expert clinical skills

Ensure that highly specialist Radiotherapy equipment is used safely and accurately within the tolerances defined for the technique/ procedure and in accordance with manufacturers guidance and departmental protocols.

Undertake verification processes evaluating the accuracy of treatment using portal imaging or CBCT, ensuring that results are systematically analysed to maintain treatment accuracy.

Approve and clinically justify any deviation from department protocols or predetermined tolerances keeping appropriate records and calling on other members of the multidisciplinary team for further advice / action as necessary.

Take responsibility for ensuring that in-vivo dosimetry measurements are undertaken for patients receiving external beam treatment and acting on measurements that are out of tolerance.

Undertake treatment routine and complex localisation procedures using a CT scanner.

Ensure that the most appropriate technique / modality is selected to meet the needs of the patient and the requirements of their treatment plan.

Identify and undertake appropriate pre-treatment processes for both simple and complex treatments ensuring that they are completed in a safe and timely fashion. This will include:

Production of vsim treatment plans

Input and checking of treatment critical data using the patient management system (Mosaiq)

Electronic checking of complex treatment prescriptions

Collation of all treatment accessories and requirements prior to the patients first visit

Undertake final check of all treatment parameters and processes to ensure that they are correct, complete and compliant with department protocols prior to the initiation of treatment. Take appropriate corrective action in the event of an error or non-conformance ensuring that any process failures or training needs are identified and addressed.

Provide clinical / technical advice on Radiotherapy treatment to members of the multidisciplinary team and other professionals within and external to the Trust

Take individual professional responsibility for the accurate delivery of treatment to radiotherapy patients ensuring that the requirements of all ionising radiation regulations are adhered to.

To undertake Out of Hours and On-Call duties to support full service delivery.

Patient care:

Take responsibility for ensuring patients medical condition and progress is monitored during treatment and any significant changes are reported to the appropriate consultant or Macmillan Review Radiographer.

Plan and implement an appropriate supportive care package for patients liaising with multidisciplinary, team, other departments, professionals and agencies to optimise support before during and after treatment.

Provide written and verbal information to patients and carers on all aspects of Radiotherapy treatment and its associated side effects ensuring that explanations are appropriate to the patients comprehension and level of understanding.

Educate, motivate and reassure patients to ensure consent to and compliance with treatment regimens which may be arduous and poorly tolerated, assessing the patients physical and emotional state on a daily basis to ensure fitness for treatment.

Management:

Line manage, train and assess less experienced staff and students in the workplace, setting high standards and helping them to develop their skills in a professional manner.

Be responsible for the day to day organisation of staff and workload on designated unit ensuring there is adequate cover and skill mix to treat patients safely.

Plan and prioritise tasks for self and team delegating as appropriate.

Monitor the performance and competence of assigned staff assessing the level of supervision required and identifying any individual or team training needs or remedial action required.

Take effective decisions / action in response to unexpected or emergency clinical situations

Professional Development:

Undertake training / updates required to operate all equipment safely, effectively and to maximise its therapeutic/diagnostic potential.

Take responsibility for personal Continuing Professional Development activities including Trust mandatory training, sharing knowledge and cascade training where appropriate

Regularly undertake research, development and audit within the department as required facilitating the implementation of evidence based practice.

Management of Resources:

Promote a culture where staff are valued, supported and deliver high quality care.

Understand, manage and be accountable for the use of resources in a cost effective way.

Participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff.

Actively support the Improving Working Lives initiatives within the Department and across the Trust.

Use department computerised patient management systems to schedule, record and monitor patient activity

Quality Management/Clinical Governance:

Be responsible and accountable for own actions in accordance with the HCPC Radiographers Professional Code of Conduct

To understand and comply with professional, statutory and trust policies and procedures (e.g. SCOR Code of Professional conduct)

Facilitate the development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and audit of Radiotherapy policies, protocols, guidelines and standards ensuring that they meet current practice and professional regulations.

Act as a resource for staff to access and raise awareness of national and local policies that will impact upon them and affect the delivery of patient care.

Ensure that quality standards are set and monitored and that clinical risk management and clinical audit are an integral part of practice developments.

Facilitate the implementation of national and local quality initiatives to improve service delivery.

Report and be part of the investigation team for Clinical incidents in line with departmental policy.

Undertake the development, implementation and audit of radiotherapy quality procedures and work instructions proposing changes as appropriate to ensure that they represent best practice.

Communication

Establish effective communication and good working relationships with multiprofessional colleagues within the Trust to support effective service delivery.

Ensure that any records relating to the planning, treatment and care of patient are accurately recorded and maintained as per departmental / trust policy

Seek appropriate support and guidance regarding any concerns related to the accuracy of a treatment.

Take responsibility for ensuring any malfunctions / breakdown of equipment are reported and acted upon appropriately and in a timely manner.

Communicate and receive sensitive information, which may be distressing or unwelcome, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times

Communicate with Cancer patients and their carers in a sensitive and reassuring manner in order to ensure that each patient understands the treatment of procedure for which they are undergoing

General Duties:

Undertake training / updates as required to operate equipment safely effectively and to maximise its therapeutic / diagnostic potential

Move patients and heavy equipment using safe and approved techniques and aids, updating Manual Handling training annually in line with Trust policy.

To ensure professional appearance and a high standard of hygiene is maintained at all times in compliance with the trusts uniform policy.

Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Extensive knowledge of routine and highly specialist Radiotherapy techniques and associated requirements for patient care
• Awareness of IR(ME)R regulations and their implications for Radiotherapy practice
• Able to teach clinical skills to others
• Able to communicate complex or sensitive information in a manner which aids understanding and compliance
• Good organiser able to prioritise tasks for self and others
• Able to motivate and enable junior staff to work to their full potential

Desirable

• Knowledge of new developments in Radiotherapy treatment and the National Cancer Agenda
• Mentor / assessor training

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Leadership skills
• Able to make effective decisions under pressure
• Caring and empathetic
• Inspires confidence in patients and colleagues

Qualifications
Essential

• BSc Therapeutic Radiography or equivalent

Desirable

• Post graduate education / qualification in radiotherapy
• Coaching qualification
• Leadership training (such as ILM or Edward Jenner)

Experience
Essential

• Extensive post qualification experience with some experience in a senior capacity using a wide range of techniques and equipment
• Experience of developing and implementing new techniques / protocols
• Supervising junior staff

Desirable

• Elekta or Mosaiq experience
• Acting up experience at band 7 level
• Participation in project groups or working parties

Employer details
Employer name
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9365-24-1202