Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Service Delivery

• Participate in multiple site rotations as and when necessary.
• Act as an Operator under the IR(ME)R Radiation Regulations and assess the clinical justification of referrals to ensure that the benefit to the patient outweighs the radiation risk associated with the examination.
• Act as patient and staff advocate minimising their exposure to radiation.
• Provide timely, efficient and courteous provision of radiographic services to the agreed standards of the department taking account of the patient/clients clinical, physical and cultural needs. 
• Monitor and adjust work priorities in conjunction with other professionals to take into account changing demands on the diagnostic services due to emergencies, ensuring that the Trust targets are met.
• Accountable for own professional actions and work within codes of Practice and professional guidelines 
• Apply in-depth knowledge of anatomy, pathology and equipment to determine appropriate imaging techniques for the individual patient condition.
• Responsible for the safe use and maintenance of complex, high capital cost specialist imaging equipment
• Be responsible for ensuring the legal documentation on the Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) associated with each completed patient episode. 

 Communication

• Receive and welcome patients and staff in a kind and courteous manner.
• Communicate with the referrer any changes to referrals after assessing the clinical justification for an x-ray examination against IR(ME)R and local protocols.
• Deal sensitively with patients or carers under emotional stress, including the terminally ill and bereaved.
• Deal with potentially aggressive patients
• Communicate complex information relating to conditions and procedures to staff, patients and carers and ensure informed consent for examinations.
• Communicates effectively on a daily basis with patients with communication difficulties and cognitive impairment
• Communicate effectively with staff within and outside of the department to ensure the smooth operation of the service
• Work with other Radiographers, Consultant Radiologists, Health Care Professionals to assist them with breast imaging examinations and other procedures.
• Ensure the safety and well being of patients, staff and visitors within the department

•  Ensure patients receive timely and accurate information about their examination, and ensure urgent findings are communicated in the appropriate way to referrers.

   Knowledge, training and Experience

  • Position patients accurately for each examination, adapting techniques in accordance with the patient’s needs
  • Be competent in the utilisation of complex and specialised imaging equipment
  • Operate advanced software on specialised radiological equipment requiring in-depth anatomical, pathological and technical knowledge
  • Be able to decide on additional views when required in line with professional knowledge

  ·         Demonstrate problem-solving approach to issues arising at a local level, evaluating the need to refer problems to the line manager

  • Be accountable for own professional actions and working within codes of practice and professional guidelines, consulting senior staff as and when necessary
  • Act as a source of knowledge to be consulted by other professionals
  • Safely administer contrast media and other drugs in accordance with protocols as required

   

   Physical Skills and Effort

  ·         Ensure the safe transferring of patients and equipment, following manual handling guidelines and using risk assessment

  ·         Assist with changing and personal care of patients as necessary including immobile and disabled

  ·         Operate a wide range of radiological equipment requiring excellent hand-eye co-ordination. e.g. post processing of images

  ·         Operate Modality and PACS equipment within a VDU environment

  ·         Physically position patients accurately for each examination, adapting techniques in accordance with the patient’s needs

  ·         Ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary.  

   Management Responsibility

  ·         Organise and manage an agreed workload with support from other health care professionals and senior staff as appropriate

• Ensure that all Trust and local policies, protocols and procedures are adhered to by colleagues as appropriate

  • Work within and support the multi-disciplinary team
  • Maintain effective communication and professional relationships with all areas within Radiology and with associated clinical areas within the Trust

  ·         Share knowledge and skills developed with other members of the multi-disciplinary team

  ·         Supervise the work of training radiographers and assistant practitioners within the local area, training staff in the imaging required for Breast Radiology as appropriate

  • Observe personal responsibility for resource management
  • Responsible for daily resource management of the local area
  • Observe a general duty of care for the health, safety and well–being of self, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management associated with this post

  ·         Demonstrate a level of competency in line with King’s Radiography Competency Framework and is responsible for maintaining their own personal development with support

  • As part of individual professional responsibility actively lead and participate in the departmental Quality Assurance Programme including the completion of Equipment Competencies and reject analysis
  • Deal with complaints in accordance with Trust complaints procedure
  • Report any Adverse incidents and be familiar with the AI trigger list
  • Ensure Clinical Governance protocols are complied with and corrective actions taken where required
  •  liaise with equipment companies in case of equipment failure
  • Ensure compliance with Trust Health and Safety policies and procedures within the area, including ionising radiation and infection control to provide a safe and secure environment
  • Support new staff in induction

   

  Professional & Practice Development, Training & Education

  ·         Act both as role model and clinical expert to facilitate development of others through example and education

  ·         Demonstrate, maintain and update skills and knowledge of evolving practice and legislative requirements

  ·         Provide professional support to other radiographers

  ·         Actively lead in the training and development of Radiographers, Assistant Practitioners and Student Radiographers, assuming professional responsibility for their work

  ·         Train Staff Grade Radiographers and Assistant Practitioners where appropriate, in how to  position patients accurately for each examination, adapting techniques in accordance with the patient’s needs

  • Demonstrate, maintain and update skills and knowledge of evolving practice and legislative requirements
  • Responsible for individual CPD and support others. Also participate in the department’s CPD program. In accordance with an assessment of own professional needs, participating in both internal and external events as well as private study
  •  

  General

  ·         The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

  • To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
  • We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
  • At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

  Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

  Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

  Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

  • To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
  • This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
  • All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

   

  Safe Guarding 

  The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;​

  • attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
  • familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns 
  • reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

   

  Infection Control Statement 

  The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas. 

  The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.

   These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training.  These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.