Lead Radiographer Reporting or Trainee (Annex 21)

Merseywestlancs; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension

27 days annual leave (pro rata)

Unsocial hours payments

NHS discounts

Job summary

Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust is seeking an experienced radiographer to join our Radiology team as Lead Radiographer Reporting or Trainee (Annex 21) at Whiston Hospital. The post involves leading the reporting service, training staff, and supporting operational management while training to report plain film studies.

The role requires HCPC registration, a relevant postgraduate qualification (Annex 21), and a commitment to clinical governance and service improvement.

Qualifications

• BSc in Radiography or equivalent experience.
• Post Graduate Certificate in the relevant modality (Annex 21) or equivalent.
• HCPC Registered.
• MSc Radiography or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform diagnostic imaging examinations following departmental protocols.
• Lead and train staff in PACS/RIS and related systems.
• Provide clinical leadership and ensure quality standards within the department.
• Cover on-call, out of hours and weekend duties as required.

Skills

PACS experience

Leadership

Education

BSc in Radiography

Post Graduate Certificate (Annex 21)

HCPC Registered

MSc Radiography

Job description

We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations.

Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.

Lead Radiographer Reporting or Trainee (Annex 21)

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Radiology Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (Including weekends, Bank Holidays and out of hours)

Job ref 409-8221708-A

Site Whiston Hospital Town Prescot Salary £49,387 - £56,515 This post may be offered under Annex 21 AfC Terms & Conditions Salary period Yearly Closing 01/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced radiographer to join our team of reporting radiographers.

We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated individual to train to report plain film studies. The post holder will support in leading and developing our service as well as supporting the operational managers. You must have a flexible approach to working and be able to demonstrate good organisational and communication skills along with a commitment to service improvement.

This post may be offered as a training opportunity under Annex 21 AfC Terms & Conditions, subject to experience, competency and suitability.

An Enhanced DBS Certificate, with the checking of the Adults and Children's Barred Lists is required for this position.

Interview date to be confirmed

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring the best quality images are obtained and support staff education, day-to-day support of the operational management of the service that we provide working closely with our Consultant Radiologists and our administration team.

You will work clinically as well as performing managerial tasks and will be expected to cover out of hours and weekend working within the Radiology department.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancs, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• Responsible for administration, performance monitoring and data quality of the PACS/RIS and other integrated systems.
• Responsible for training of staff in PACS/RIS and associated systems.
• Perform diagnostic imaging examinations in accordance with departmental protocols.
• Responsible for ensuring image quality is maintained from all staff members
• Responsible for the initial and ongoing training and education of staff in the designated modality.
• Be competent in the use of all appropriate imaging equipment
• Participate in the on-call, flexible working and out of hours service as required
• Responsible for QA program in designated area
• Abide by radiographic protocols
• Abide by all Radiation Protection regulations
• Report all equipment malfunctions to appropriate personnel
• Responsible for sending accurate image data to the Picture Archiving Communication System for storage, transmission and archive
• Justify radiographic examinations for Junior Radiographers, Radiographic Assistant Practitioners and Student Radiographers.
• Promote quality initiatives, ensuring the quality of patient care and compliance of quality standards
• Undertake staff appraisals
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients on complex, contentious and sensitive issues, using persuasion and negotiation where required
• Maintain a patient, courteous manner in all aspects of communication with patients and staff especially in distressing situations
• Liaise with lead clinicians to ensure effective running of the service
• Maintain a good working relationship with other departments and staff to ensure the provision of and efficient and effective service to all users and patients
• Communicate with service users and external agencies

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Autonomously undertake Advanced Practice in a specialised area of radiography by displaying expert clinical practice, this could be either clinical interpretation of images, performing radiological or interventional procedures where appropriate.
• To provide clinical leadership to all staff in the department
• To act as a radiographic clinical expert in the relevant field
• Provide clinical support and advice to staff
• Provide education to junior staff and ensure competencies are achieved.
• Provide additional support and education to staff who require it.
• Ensure image quality is maintained and improved, education staff where appropriate
• Support the modality and department in improving services to enhance the quality of the service received by the patient.
• Support the modality and department in quality initiatives and ensure communication and education of appropriate staff.
• Responsible for setting and maintaining a high quality of clinical and professional standards within the department
• Promote and ensure compliance with radiographic protocols
• Ensure clinical and professional standards are met at all times
• Exercise clinical judgement in the utilisation of resources and initiate liaison with relevant clinical teams if clinical findings necessitate
• Perform all aspects of clinical and technical procedures as per departmental policy
• Ensure compliance with COR code of conduct and HCPC regulations to ensure registration is maintained

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for accurate data entry on the Radiology Information System
• Ensure all documentation associated with regulations are kept and stored appropriately.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

• Responsible for the training and development of staff both radiographic staff and external staff.
• Contribute to continuing education programme by attending courses and keeping abreast of current professional developments
• Ensure professional standards are maintained by contributing to the clinical training and development of radiographers, radiographic assistant practitioners and students

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the day to day management of the designated department, planning and prioritising workload
• Ensure the effective and efficient running of the service with due regard to available resources. Allocating activity to ensure maximised use of capacity. Using data to inform decisions.
• Monitor and evaluate all aspects of service delivery with regard to waiting times ensuring that waiting times are kept to a minimum
• Demonstrate effective leadership qualities and promote teamwork
• Undertake initial investigation of patient and user complaints and exercising judgement and initiative take appropriate actions to resolve the problem/complaint
• Promote a working culture that improves quality
• Responsible for clinical and professional standards within the designated department
• Identify and contribute to service development within the department
• Responsible for implementing policies within the designated department and contribute to Radiology Trust policies
• Responsible for risk assessments within the designated area
• Responsible for the maintenance and servicing of all equipment in the designated work area, liaise and communicate with manufacturers
• Responsible for optimum use of resources within the department and maintain adequate stock levels
• Participate in the procurement (specification, evaluation and selection) of radiographic equipment
• Promote quality initiatives, ensuring the quality of patient care and compliance of quality standards
• Promote compliance with all Trust risk management procedures and ensure risk management strategies are implemented including Health & Safety legislation for Control of Radiation, COSHH, VDU use, handling of patients, fire regulations and security etc
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, professional and organisational requirements. Liaising with outside agencies to ensure compliance with statutory regulations when required. Ensure all documentation associated with regulations are kept and stored appropriately
• Ensure all staff are compliant with the relevant registration eg HCPC, ARSAC
• Act as radiation protection supervisor for a designated department/Modality
• Refer patients for on-going imaging examinations within departmental protocols.
• Responsible for the day to day management of the designated department
• Contribute to the recruitment, selection and appointment of professional, technical and support staff in accordance with policy and procedures
• Monitor staff performance and formulate personal development plans in accordance with Trust development review process (IPR).
• Monitor and action dose discrepancies via Dose Monitor alerts. Produce Dose audits and DRLs
• Monitor and action incidents within own work area that are reported via Datix
• Ensure image quality is maintained and improved, education staff where appropriate
• Support the modality and department in improving services to enhance the quality of the service received by the patient.
• Support the modality and department in quality initiatives and ensure communication and education of appropriate staff.
• Responsible for setting and maintaining a high quality of clinical and professional standards within the department
• Promote and ensure compliance with radiographic protocols
• Ensure clinical and professional standards are met at all times
• Exercise clinical judgement in the utilisation of resources and initiate liaison with relevant clinical teams if clinical findings necessitate
• Perform all aspects of clinical and technical procedures as per departmental policy
• Ensure compliance with COR code of conduct and HCPC regulations to ensure registration is maintained.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc in Radiography and/or or equivalent Qualification and/or Equivalent Experience
• Post Graduate Certificate in the relevant modality or equivalent significant experience in the modality (Annex 21)
• HCPC Registered
• MSc Radiography and/or or equivalent Qualification and/or Equivalent Experience

Knowledge and experience

• Significant post graduate clinical experience
• PACS experience
• Manage self and others
• Experience of Participation in emergency single handed out of hours duties
• QA testing

Skills

• Ability to organise own work and others within the team
• Good communication skills and interpersonal skills
• Audit analysis
• Data collection and analysis
• Ability to interact within a multidisciplinary team
• Organisational skills
• Evidence of Time management skills
• IT literate
• Student assessor

Other

• Team player
• Commitment to quality
• Able to travel to both sites via own car or assisted driver.

Our Values

• We are Kind
• We are Open
• We are Inclusive

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS Trust who are one of the best places to work for in England.

Given sometimes we receive a high volume of applications to work for us, please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated should a sufficient number of applications be received from which a shortlist can be confirmed. Therefore, you are advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The Trust may contact you during the recruitment process for your feedback on your experience. We always aim for continuous improvement in our practice.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We actively cultivate a professional environment of fairness, equality, dignity, and respect for all individuals. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and value the unique skills, perspective and experience you bring. We are grounded in the belief that diversity enhances our collective strength, fostering innovation and excellence within our workforce. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we commit to offering an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

If you are having difficulty completing an online application, or require any disability reasonable adjustments, to the application process, please contact [e-mail]

We also commit to offering an interview to all armed forces veterans who meet the minimum criteria for the job (the essential criteria) listed in the personal specification. If you wish to apply under this Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this on the online application form.

The Trust operates anonymous shortlisting where no personal information about you, including your name or personal details are shared with the recruiting manager. No equality information is shared at any time during the recruitment process with the recruiting manager or other people involved in the decision-making process.

The equality monitoring information you provide is used in the following situations: to review our recruitment practices; where a job is limited to a specific person to verify their eligibility to apply; and to offer disability reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.

eVisa Update

For successful candidates on selected work and study visa routes, who have completed and paid for their applications will no longer receive a visa vignette in passport as evidence of their permission to enter the UK.

Instead, you will be issued with an eVisa only, which is accessed by creating a UKVI account.

Before travelling to the UK, we advise applicants to:

• Understand how to generate an eVisa share code

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 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.

Please note if applicable, applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment.

If you have not already done so, you are therefore encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service to which a small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

Flexible Working

We actively support flexible working patterns throughout MWL. Changes made to the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook mean that:

• All employees have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment.
• There is no limit on the number of requests they can make.
• Employees have the right to make requests, have them considered, regardless of the reason.

At Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we will consider requests for flexible working. We would also encourage you to also discuss flexible working options at interview stage.

Working for Team MWL

Staff recognition is especially important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Employee of the month. Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

The Trust is a non-smoking across all our sites. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action. For more information, see the Smoke Free NHS website.

You will be expected to undertake the Trusts' commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

You must ensure that your application, including personal statements and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated and will check all applications against AI detection software.

Additional Information

Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trusts Values and Behaviours which are We are KIND, We are OPEN, We are INCLUSIVE, which can be found here .

An applicant guide to help and support you with your application and what to expect during your recruitment journey can be accessed in the supporting documents.

Good luck with your application. We hope to welcome you