Advanced Practise Therapeutic Radiographer – Pre-Treatment

University College London Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is seeking a motivated radiographer to join the pre-treatment team across radiotherapy and proton beam therapy services. You will promote best practice and help streamline the patient pathway, delivering high-quality pre-treatment work for photon and proton planning.

The post holder will gain experience with CT, PET-CT, MRI, and advanced pre-treatment software, lead pre-treatment procedures, and contribute to multi-disciplinary

Qualifications

• BSc in therapeutic radiography; HCPC registration to practice as a radiographer.
• Postgraduate experience and leadership in radiography pre-treatment.
• Experience with pre-treatment and radiotherapy planning is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Deliver complex radiotherapy pre-treatment procedures with high accuracy.
• Lead and disseminate best practices within radiotherapy pre-treatment.
• Acquire and interpret pre-treatment images across CT, MRI, PET-CT and related software.

Skills

Leadership

Autonomous working

Imaging interpretation

Communication with MDT

Education

BSc in therapeutic radiography

HCPC registration as a radiographer

MSc or Master's in radiotherapy pre-treatment

Job description

Job summary

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.

Main duties of the job

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.

About us

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)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

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.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached 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 side effects 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*

* 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.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff

To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications (Essential)

• BSc in therapeutic radiography or equivalent formal qualification
• Health Profession Council (HPC) registration as a therapy radiographer.

Desirable

• Participation in audit/clinical governance.
• MSc or Master's level equivalent experience in radiotherapy pre‑treatment.

Experience/Skills & Ability (Essential)

• Significant postgraduate experience with relevant specialist training and knowledge and experience as a band 6 radiographer.
• Practical experience in pre‑treatment and delivering a wide range of radiotherapy techniques.
• Leadership experience.

Skills and Abilities (Essential)

• Plan, carry out and analyse clinical and departmental audits.
• Be confident to work autonomously within scope of knowledge and experience
• Problem solve and make decisions using mathematical and evaluative skills
• Plan, prioritise and organise own and section workload.
• Demonstrate ability to work under pressure in an unpredictable working environment, maintaining a calm and professional attitude. Work confidently within the multidisciplinary team.
• Work flexibly in a variety of situations and participate in shift work as required.
• Demonstrate knowledge and ability to ensure compliance with quality system.
• Work confidently within the multidisciplinary team.
• Interpret a wide range of imaging modalities for pre‑treatment and treatment optimisation.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).