Advanced Practise Therapeutic Radiographer - Pre-Treatment

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a radiographer to join the pre-treatment team across radiotherapy and proton beam therapy services in London. The role involves delivering high-precision pre-treatment procedures using CT, MRI and PET-CT, with leadership in patient care and imaging workflow.

The post requires expert clinical judgement, the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team, and skills in administering imaging-based planning to support cancer

Qualifications

• Qualified radiographer with HCPC registration (required).
• Proven ability to work within MDT and adapt protocols when appropriate.
• Strong commitment to patient-centred care and safety.

Responsibilities

• Deliver pre-treatment radiotherapy procedures to a wide patient cohort.
• Operate and interpret CT, MRI and PET-CT imaging for planning and simulation.
• Lead and participate in pre-treatment workflows with the radiotherapy team.
• Obtain informed consent and ensure accurate documentation of imaging and treatment data.
• Communicate with patients, relatives and carers with sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Collaborate with MDT to optimise the patient pathway and treatment plan.

Skills

Clinical decision making

Patient communication

Intravenous injections

Education

Radiography degree

Tools

CT imaging

MRI imaging

PET-CT

Job description

Deliver complex radiotherapy procedures to a wide range of benign and malignant conditions to a high level of accuracy. Use individual judgement on a daily basis to verify and maintain reproducible and precise treatment. Work within departmental protocols, deviating where necessary to reach sound conclusions and provide optimum care. To justify medical exposures where necessary.

Work autonomously within the legal, ethical and professional framework provided by the professional body. Generate new solutions to identify and best meet the needs of the patient. Lead and take responsibility for efficient, accurate, patient‑focussed pre‑treatment procedures, using state of the art equipment including CT, PET CT, MRI and different pre‑treatment software applications. This requires expert clinical judgment to authorise deviation from protocols where necessary. Evaluate the patient condition drawing on expert knowledge and experience to intervene where necessary. Commencement, continuation and cessation of pre‑treatment procedures and treatment will be assessed by the potholder. They will then discuss this with the wider multidisciplinary team and devise an appropriate course of action. Need to obtain further written informed consent prior to radiotherapy pre‑treatment procedures. Develop relationships for up to 8 weeks with patients, relatives and carers, offering advice and guidance to explain the management of radiotherapy side effects. Assess sideeffects daily, make appropriate referrals and arrange adequate follow‑up care. Use effective communication skills to provide and receive highly confidential, sensitive and complicated patient information. The radiographer must seek and maintain patient cooperation and trust using these expert skills to support and empower them through the care pathway. They must draw on extensive knowledge and experience to converse effectively with patients and families from diverse age, ethnicity, social, and mental health backgrounds. Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff.

A Vacancy at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to join the pre‑treatment team across radiotherapy and proton beam therapy services at UCLH. They will promote technical developments and ensure the highest possible standard of care for patients with cancer. The radiotherapy department delivers treatment for a broad spectrum of cancers which include a wide range of common cancers as well as specialist treatments including a paediatric and adolescent workload, brachytherapy and isotope work, total body irradiation and limb sarcoma radiotherapy. The pre‑treatment suite area is equipped with a dedicated CT, Mould room and has access to MRI and PETCT. Radiographers deliver advanced practice for palliative virtual simulation and breast localisation. UCLH has been designated as one of two national Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) centres for the UK. The PBT department focusses on the treatment of CNS tumours, head and neck cancers and spinal/pelvic sarcomas. Paediatrics, and teenage and young adults, make up approximately one third of the patient cohort. The PBT pre‑treatment suite has a dedicated CT and MRI scanner. We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and dynamic individual to join our team. The individual will promote best practice and streamlining the patient pathway. They will carry out all practical aspects involved in preparing radiotherapy delivery to a high standard in a culture of safe, patient centric service. You will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge of the pre‑treatment process for both photon and proton planning and to gain skills such as administering intravenous injections, MRI scanning and advance practice in radiographer led services such as breast simulation. The postholder will:

Be accountable for own professional actions. Be recognised and accessible as an expert team leader in radiotherapy pre‑treatment, promoting best practice, giving expert advice, delegating and disseminating knowledge to the profession and to the wider health care arena.

Be responsible for the acquisition of high quality pre‑treatment images, whilst minimising patient dose. The postholder will assess and manipulate the images, requiring knowledge and ability to interpret between numerous imaging modalities (e.g. PET, CT, MRI). They must initiate changes based on their judgments and report these to the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure accurate tumour delineation and targeting.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top‑quality patient care, excellent education, and world‑class research. We provide first‑class acute and specialist services across eight sites: University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing), We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England - for the third year in a row.