PET Centre Practice Development Radiographer/ Imaging Technologist

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in London is seeking a highly experienced PET radiographer/imaging technologist for a full-time position covering maternity leave. The role requires a dynamic and ambitious qualified individual with at least 3 years' experience in PET imaging or nuclear medicine. Responsibilities include delivering high-quality imaging, training staff, and participating in research studies related to Total Body PET. Salary ranges from £53,947 to £63,350 per year.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience in PET imaging or nuclear medicine is required.
• Experience in practice development roles and/or delivering research studies is preferred.
• Hands-on prior experience of working in PET or Nuclear Medicine, including handling blood products and unsealed radiation sources.

Responsibilities

• Promote high-quality clinical care and assist in the development of Total Body PET research services.
• Perform quality imaging studies in accordance with departmental protocols.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary research staff to deliver training.
• Lead training and Continuous Professional Development initiatives.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Decision-making

Time management

Communication

Technical knowledge of PET imaging

Education

Full BSc / Diploma in Radiography or Nuclear Medicine

Registration with IPEM or HCPC

Postgraduate qualification in relevant imaging or research topic

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

SharePoint

Job description

We are seeking a highly experienced PET radiographer/imaging technologist for maternity leave cover, to support our imaging teams in developing new ways of working to fully exploit the opportunities that Total Body PET will bring.

To be successful in this post, we require a dynamic and ambitious qualified Radiographer/Technologist with good interpersonal skills and at least 3 years experience of working in PET imaging or nuclear medicine. Candidates who have experience in a practice development role and/or in delivering research studies and/or working with Total Body PET will be preferred.

An important criterion for selecting the successful post holder will be their commitment to drive and implement change when recommended. They will support teams to deliver excellent clinical care to all patients and research subjects, working within all relevant local and National regulatory and clinical governance guidelines.

The role will be based at Guys and St Thomas Hospitals, but there will also be some requirement to engage with collaborators across the UK Total Body PET infrastructure, and to promote and disseminate practice development information to the wider PET professional community.

This is a full time post (35 Hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for maternity leave cover (up to 12 months).

Main duties of the job

With support and in collaboration with the PET Centre Superintendent Radiographers, the post holder will be responsible for identifying, developing and co-ordinating training and development initiatives for the Imaging teams. With input from the Medical Physics Leads, they will ensure staff are supported in adopting new practices to optimise clinical imaging protocols for Total Body PET, whilst maintaining skills in conventional PET-CT.

They will ensure staff are trained to the highest possible standards to deliver a growing portfolio of PET research studies in adherence with Good Clinical Practice. In doing so, they will be expected to lead by example, able to deliver excellent quality imaging and patient/participant care themselves. They will provide leadership and motivation to establish research and clinical practices which are evidence-based and lead to standard setting. With the Superintendent team, they will monitor and review professional standards of care, reporting on performance, and instituting remedial action where necessary.

The post holder will assist the Radiation Protection Supervisor, Superintendent Radiographers and clinical and academic leads in all aspects of service provision, including working with new staff, trainees, students and visitors. They will need to be able to work independently, make decisions, and organise and prioritise their workload in a busy work environment and time critical situations.

About us

The PET Centre is part of Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College London within the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences.

We run a clinical PET service in parallel with an extensive programme of clinical research. Facilities currently include two cyclotrons, radiochemistry labs, three PET-CT scanners and a PET-MR scanner. We have recently installed two state-of-the-art Siemens Quadra Total Body PET-CT scanners. This is a very exciting time to join our team with ample opportunity to contribute to an ambitious programme developing the clinical and research capabilities of the department.

Our work includes providing a clinical PET service for >8,000 patients per year from across South East London as well as national referrals from other UK centres. We also support clinical and technical research programs with collaborators from the Hospital, the Medical School and other institutions. Clinical and research imaging capabilities are greatly enhanced by our on-site cyclotrons and radiochemistry laboratories, with tracers produced to GMP standards. We are one of two initial sites selected by the Medical Research Council (MRC) for the UK Total Body PET infrastructure.

Job responsibilities

• To promote highquality clinical care, and assist in the development of the Total Body PETresearch services, through the use of evidence based practice and clinicalstandards.
• To performexcellent quality imaging studies in Total body PET and PET-CT in accordance with departmental protocols in anefficient, safe and timely manner
• To collaboratewith multi-disciplinary research staff to deliver training on researchappropriate topics as agreed with PET management team
• To developvirtual and face-to-face training material for PET teaching sessions
• To lead oninnovative methods of facilitating training and Continuing ProfessionalDevelopment CPD, including collaboration with other the UK Total Body PETNetwork and partner Institutions
• To maintainaccurate documentation electronic and paper of staff training in accordancewith PET Centre SOPs and Good Clinical practice - GCP
• With theSuperintendent Radiographers, to ensure all training files are maintained to ahigh standard and are kept up to date both on paper and on the PET CentresSharepoint pages and other electronic systems
• To activelyparticipate in Departmental and UK Total Body PET Network research meetings,training and induction programmes and events as agreed with the PET managementteam
• To lead audits ofthe TB PET service on operational, performance and quality issues, and inpatient and staff satisfaction
• To encourage andfacilitate abstract submissions from the radiographer and technologist team atrelevant conferences, leading to conference attendance according to agreedDepartmental criteria.
• With theSuperintendent Radiographers, to oversee the mentoring, supervising andassessing of PET imaging staff to obtain and maintain skills and work-basedcompetencies. Lead by example and mentor, supervise and assess a portion of PETimaging Staff
• Support staffexchanges between departments and UK Total Body PET Network sites andfacilitate knowledge exchange visits with other research institutions
• Maintain andshare up-to-date knowledge of regulatory and governance guidance for theconduct of clinical research
• As a member of amulti-disciplinary team, to ensure that clinical and research imaging isundertaken in an efficient, safe and timely manner ensuring that a high levelof patient care is provided before, during and after imaging procedures
• In conjunctionwith the Superintendent Radiographers, to prepare, develop and monitor clinicalimaging protocols and to ensure that study design is optimised for individualpatients.
• To produce andpromote images of the highest technical quality as befits a high profiledepartment and hospital, adapting and tailoring the examination to the needs of thepatient, whilst keeping the radiation dose as low as reasonably practicable.
• To be responsiblefor handling radioactive tracers in accordance with the local rules.
• To be able toestablish venous access and be responsible for drawing, measuring and injectingradiotracers into patients under the guidance of the ARSAC license holder
• To act as anoperator under the IRMER regulations
• To use specialistknowledge to advise patients, carers and other staff members on radiationprotection matters associated with examinations.
• To recognise andreport abnormal scan findings that may require urgent clinical intervention toa Radiologist or other suitable member of the clinical team.
• To deal withnon-routine and complex enquiries from patients concerning issues affecting thescheduling of scans or the PET scanning procedure which cannot be deal with byadministrative or junior imaging staff.
• When delegated bythe Superintendent Radiographers, to take clinical lead of an assigned shift inconjunction with other senior staff.
• To assist theRadiation Protection Supervisor in the radiation safety aspects as required,including radioactive contamination monitoring as per the departmental localrules
• To liaise closelywith the administrative staff to ensure efficient and timely patient throughputis achieved
• To participate,as appropriate, in the KCL Appraisal and Development Scheme; this may includetaking responsibility for the development of other staff as well asresponsibility for personal development.
• To demonstrateleadership and innovation in the implementation of environmentally sustainablepractices, recording progress through the Kings sustainability audit processand sharing good practice. To nurture and encourage sustainable practices andleadership within your team and networks.
• To facilitate aninclusive culture and ethos working with academic, research and otherprofessional services staff and colleagues external to Kings.
• To undertakeother tasks and responsibilities as necessary, appropriate to the positionincluding working flexible hours.Operational hours are presently between 7am and 7pm Monday throughFriday with occasional Saturday work
• The role willrequire the post holder to rotate to both sections of the PET Department at StThomas Hospital and Guys Cancer Centre, requiring daily attendance at theworkplace, and with very limited opportunity for remote working.
• Participation ina rota that includes extended day and weekend working will be expected
• Candidates withan existing NHS Pension may choose to remain in that scheme if they wish to doso. Further information is available via our HR Department.

The abovelist of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will berequired to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably beexpected within the scope and grading of the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Full BSc / Diploma in Radiography or recognised Nuclear Medicine qualification
• Registration with IPEM or HCPC
• Postgraduate qualification in relevant imaging or research topic

Experience

• Hands-on prior experience of working in PET or Nuclear Medicine, including handling blood products and unsealed radiation sources
• Experience of delivering teaching/training
• Experience of developing new clinical and research imaging protocols in line with local rules and Good Clinical Practice

Knowledge and skills

• Extensive knowledge of imaging techniques and principles used in PET, CT and NM
• Strong correspondence, presentation and report writing skills
• Excellent computer literacy and IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint)
• Good interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate highly complex information effectively at all levels and overcome barriers to understanding
• Proven ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise own work in a busy work environment and time critical situations
• Good understanding of the principles of Total Body PET

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

£53,947 to £63,350 a yearKing's Grade 7, including LWA