Senior Therapeutic Radiographer

University College London Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 5 radiographer to join a dynamic radiotherapy team. The role involves rotations between photon and proton departments and exposure to pre-treatment, treatment preparation, treatment units and brachytherapy, ensuring high standards of patient care.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team, maintain quality systems, and support training and junior staff while contributing to service development.

Qualifications

• BSc in therapeutic radiography or equivalent.
• HPC registration as a therapy or nuclear medicine radiographer.
• Desirable: clinical experience in pre-treatment and mould room tasks.
• Significant Band 5 Radiographer experience with specialist training.
• Experience planning and delivering a wide range of radiotherapy techniques.

Responsibilities

• Work autonomously within the professional framework while maintaining the quality system.
• deputise for Band 7 radiographers to ensure continuity of patient flow.
• Prioritise daily tasks considering patient needs and team skills mix.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to ensure best practice in care.
• Rotate across Photon and Proton services and participate in on-call duties.

Skills

Autonomy in clinical care

Team liaison

Problem solving under pressure

Education

BSc in therapeutic radiography

HPC registration

Tools

QA procedures

Job description

Job summary

This role offers an opportunity to be part of the dynamic radiotherapy team at UCLH. The post holder will undertake rotations between the photon and proton departments and will work across a wide range of areas; pre-treatment, treatment‑prep, the treatment units and brachytherapy. UCLH is seeking a committed individual with the energy and focus to continue building on the existing service of excellence.

Radiotherapy services at UCLH are delivered across two departments. The photon department is equipped with Varian TrueBeam systems with advanced imaging packages and 6DoF couches. The department has a comprehensive brachytherapy suite and a Gulmay skin unit. UCLH is one of only two NHS sites delivering proton beam therapy across the NHS. The proton beam therapy (PBT) department is equipped with Varian ProBeam gantries with advanced imaging packages and robotic couches. Both departments have a dedicated CT scanner and the PBT department also has a dedicated MRI scanner. The department delivers radiotherapy services for a broad spectrum of cancers comprising of common cancers as well as specialist treatments including brachytherapy, molecular radiotherapy and total body irradiation. The PBT department focus's predominantly on head and neck, brain and sarcoma treatment sites. Paediatrics and TYAs make up approximately one third of the patient cohort.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be accountable for own professional actions and will work autonomously within the legal, ethical and professional framework provided by the professional body. Work within the quality system at all times. They will question and propose changes to procedures when necessary, to maintain the validity and appropriateness of the system. They will have the ability to deputise for Band 7 radiographers ensuring the continuity of patient flow through the department. They will be required to prioritise daily tasks, considering the patients' needs and team skills mix. They will react and reorganise the workload in response to unforeseen circumstances, such as machine breakdown, to minimise disruption. The role requires liaison with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure best practice with respect to patient care prior to, during and following radiotherapy treatment. They will facilitate the development, training and integration of junior members of staff. They will rotate throughout all areas within both the Photon and Proton services and will participate in the departmental on call service in the photon service. They will be required to continually looking to improve existing methods and create new solutions to optimise the care and service provided to the patients. The post holder must be extremely competent and comfortable with the use of computer software, e.g. patient treatment, image manipulation, and virtual simulation, in a highly technological environment.

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 Hospital
• 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.

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 or nuclear medicine radiographer.

Desirable

• Clinical experience in pre-treatment and mould room tasks.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience as a Band 5 Radiographer with relevant specialist training and knowledge.
• Practical experience in planning and delivering a wide range of radiotherapy techniques.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Provide specialist clinical training and undertake presentations, both within the dept and nationally in conferences and workshops.
• 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.
• Be committed to self‑development and continued professional development.
• Demonstrate knowledge of radiotherapy equipment QA to ensure its safe use.
• Knowledge of radiation protection especially as related to unsealed source therapy
• Demonstrate ability to work under pressure in an unpredictable working environment, maintaining a calm and professional attitude.
• 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 planning and treatment optimisation.

Communication

Essential

• Provide information and support about cancer, and communicate highly distressing, sensitive information to patients and relatives/carers.
• Be enthusiastic and motivated, with the ability to lead a team through times of change.
• Use excellent communication skills to relate confidently across all professional boundaries to

Values

Essential

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Specific Requirements

Essential

• The majority of the shift necessitates standing, walking, manoeuvring and positioning: patients, trolleys, wheelchairs, beds and bulky, heavy accessory equipment e.g. lead blocks. This often requires transferring loads in suboptimal conditions e.g. extended height. This demands a high level of fitness and health.
• Must have excellent hand‑eye coordination and manual dexterity for millimetre precision when tattooing and positioning patients.
• Responsible for maintaining their own safety and that of their colleagues and patients in respect of manual handling, reporting any incidents appropriately
• Is responsible for ensuring the team is working within health and safety and infection control guidelines when dealing on a daily basis with bodily fluids (blood, vomit, faeces, urine, saliva, mucus) and open/fungating odorous wounds
• Work respectfully and responsibly with ionising radiation and hazardous substances (e.g. chemotherapy drugs), making certain that all team members adhere to local rules and national/international regulations

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

• A commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace and in service delivery and development.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

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

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).