PET Centre Practice Development Radiographer/ Imaging Technologist

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

Job summary

A leading academic institution in London is seeking an experienced PET Radiographer/Imaging Technologist for maternity leave cover. The successful candidate will be responsible for optimizing imaging practices and leading training initiatives, with a strong focus on Total Body PET. This full-time position offers a salary range of £53,947 to £63,350 per year, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and research outcomes.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years experience in PET imaging or nuclear medicine required.
• Proven ability to deliver training and mentorship.
• Experience in developing new clinical and research imaging protocols.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality imaging studies in Total Body PET and PET-CT.
• Lead training initiatives for Imaging staff.
• Collaborate with colleagues on research projects.
• Ensure compliance with clinical and regulatory standards.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Decision-making

Organizational skills

Knowledge of imaging techniques

Education

Full BSc / Diploma in Radiography

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 programmes 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 high‑quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the Total Body PET research services, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical standards.
• To perform excellent quality imaging studies in Total body PET and PET‑CT in accordance with departmental protocols in an efficient, safe and timely manner.
• To collaborate with multi‑disciplinary research staff to deliver training on research appropriate topics as agreed with PET management team.
• To develop virtual and face‑to‑face training material for PET teaching sessions.
• To lead on innovative methods of facilitating training and Continuing Professional Development CPD, including collaboration with other the UK Total Body PET Network and partner Institutions.
• To maintain accurate documentation electronic and paper of staff training in accordance with PET Centre SOPs and Good Clinical practice – GCP.
• With the Superintendent Radiographers, to ensure all training files are maintained to a high standard and are kept up to date both on paper and on the PET Centre SharePoint pages and other electronic systems.
• To actively participate in Departmental and UK Total Body PET Network research meetings, training and induction programmes and events as agreed with the PET management team.
• To lead audits of the TB PET service on operational, performance and quality issues, and inpatient and staff satisfaction.
• To encourage and facilitate abstract submissions from the radiographer and technologist team at relevant conferences, leading to conference attendance according to agreed Departmental criteria.
• With the Superintendent Radiographers, to oversee the mentoring, supervising and assessing of PET imaging staff to obtain and maintain skills and work‑based competencies. Lead by example and mentor, supervise and assess a portion of PET imaging Staff.
• Support staff exchanges between departments and UK Total Body PET Network sites and facilitate knowledge exchange visits with other research institutions.
• Maintain and share up‑to‑date knowledge of regulatory and governance guidance for the conduct of clinical research.
• As a member of a multi‑disciplinary team, to ensure that clinical and research imaging is undertaken in an efficient, safe and timely manner ensuring that a high level of patient care is provided before, during and after imaging procedures.
• In conjunction with the Superintendent Radiographers, to prepare, develop and monitor clinical imaging protocols and to ensure that study design is optimised for individual patients.
• To produce and promote images of the highest technical quality as befits a high profile department and hospital, adapting and tailoring the examination to the needs of the patient, whilst keeping the radiation dose as low as reasonably practicable.
• To be responsible for handling radioactive tracers in accordance with the local rules.
• To be able to establish venous access and be responsible for drawing, measuring and injecting radiotracers into patients under the guidance of the ARSAC license holder.
• To act as an operator under the IRMER regulations.
• To use specialist knowledge to advise patients, carers and other staff members on radiation protection matters associated with examinations.
• To recognise and report abnormal scan findings that may require urgent clinical intervention to a Radiologist or other suitable member of the clinical team.
• To deal with non‑routine and complex enquiries from patients concerning issues affecting the scheduling of scans or the PET scanning procedure which cannot be dealt with by administrative or junior imaging staff.
• When delegated by the Superintendent Radiographers, to take clinical lead of an assigned shift in conjunction with other senior staff.
• To assist the Radiation Protection Supervisor in the radiation safety aspects as required, including radioactive contamination monitoring as per the departmental local rules.
• To liaise closely with the administrative staff to ensure efficient and timely patient throughput is achieved.
• To participate, as appropriate, in the KCL Appraisal and Development Scheme; this may include taking responsibility for the development of other staff as well as responsibility for personal development.
• To demonstrate leadership and innovation in the implementation of environmentally sustainable practices, recording progress through the Kings sustainability audit process and sharing good practice. To nurture and encourage sustainable practices and leadership within your team and networks.
• To facilitate an inclusive culture and ethos working with academic, research and other professional services staff and colleagues external to Kings.
• To undertake other tasks and responsibilities as necessary, appropriate to the position including working flexible hours. Operational hours are presently between 7am and 7pm Monday through Friday with occasional Saturday work.
• The role will require the post holder to rotate to both sections of the PET Department at St Thomas Hospital and Guys Cancer Centre, requiring daily attendance at the workplace, and with very limited opportunity for remote working.
• Participation in a rota that includes extended day and weekend working will be expected.
• Candidates with an existing NHS Pension may choose to remain in that scheme if they wish to do so. Further information is available via our HR Department.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected 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 year
King's Grade 7, including LWA