Senior Therapeutic Radiographer

#CatchUpWithCancer; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester is seeking an experienced Therapeutic Radiographer (Band 6) to join the Proton Beam Therapy team. You will lead a multi-disciplinary treatment delivery with responsibility for daily gantry operations, patient care and staff supervision.

Applicants must be HCPC registered and hold DCR(T), BSc(Hons) or PGDip in Therapeutic Radiography. The role offers a fixed-term 12‑month contract with full‑time hours and a 06:00–23:00 shift pattern.

Qualifications

• HCPC-registered radiographer with Band 6 level experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate and supervise staff operating radiotherapy equipment.
• Operate radiotherapy and imaging equipment safely and accurately.
• Position patients and verify treatment delivery throughout the pathway.
• Maintain records and comply with policies and procedures.
• Contribute to audit, research and implementation of new techniques.
• Work shifts between 06:00 and 23:00 as required.
• Participate in on‑call duties as needed.

Skills

Communication

Team leadership

Clinical decision making

Workload management

On-treatment imaging

Quality governance

Auditing & research

Staff supervision

Education

DCR(T), BSc(Hons) or PGDip Therapeutic Radiography

Tools

PACS/RIS systems

R&V systems

PAS systems

MS Office

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Therapeutic Radiographer to join our friendly Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) team. We offer an excellent new starter induction programme and a wide range of training and development opportunities. These include support from our specialist education team and opportunities to attend and present at our Proton School. As a Band 6 Radiographer, you will be a key member of the treatment team, taking responsibility for the day‑to‑day running of a proton gantry, managing a diverse patient workload and supervising staff, with support from the Proton Superintendent Radiographers. The role offers excellent multidisciplinary working with anaesthetics, nursing and physics teams. We are looking for an experienced treatment radiographer with broad knowledge of radiotherapy equipment and techniques, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a commitment to developing themselves, the team and the Proton Service. Our Varian centre uses state‑of‑the‑art ProBeam spot‑scanning technology and provides a welcoming and supportive working environment. HCPC registration is essential.

Full and part‑time applications are welcome. Temporary posts are currently available, with the potential for permanent opportunities in the future, subject to service requirements. Shifts operate between 06:00 and 23:00 to meet service needs.

Informal enquiries and departmental tours are warmly welcomed.

Main duties of the job:

• Lead, coordinate and supervise staff operating radiotherapy equipment, acting as lead practitioner and making appropriate decisions regarding workload, patient care and treatment delivery.
• Safely and accurately operate complex radiotherapy and imaging equipment, completing required checks and reporting faults or variances.
• Evaluate treatment delivery through appropriate verification procedures and accurately position patients throughout the radiotherapy pathway.
• Ensure safe and timely delivery of the workload, maintaining accurate records and complying with departmental policies and procedures.
• Assess relevant clinical information and provide safe, effective and individualised patient care.
• Communicate sensitive information compassionately, providing patients and carers with information and emotional support throughout their radiotherapy pathway.
• Work in accordance with the departmental Quality Management System, reporting variances and contributing to the review and development of procedures.
• Participate in audit, research and the implementation of new techniques and processes.
• Work in accordance with relevant radiation legislation, local rules and departmental procedures.
• Complete required competencies within agreed timescales.
• Participate in shift, weekend, bank holiday and on‑call working as required.

About Us

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% of patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients’ homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world‑first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year Per annum, Pro rata

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: 413-112223-CNS-LM

Job locations: PBT Radiotherapy - E00625, Manchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom

Person Specification – Qualifications

• DCR(T), BSc (Hons) or PGDip in Therapeutic Radiography)
• HCPC registration.

Person Specification – Experience

• Clinical Experience within a treatment setting demonstrated by evidence of a contemporary range of treatment equipment and techniques including ablative techniques (SRS/SABR).
• Supporting colleagues in managing patients including protocol variations, response to imaging/changes in treatments.
• Experience in on‑treatment imaging and relevant on‑set clinical decision making.
• Experience of quality, governance and service improvement. Contributing to a ISO9001‑accredited system or similar.
• Reporting of incidents, errors, complaints and compliments.
• Participating in technical developments.
• Experience of working within a team environment.

Person Specification – Skills

• Ability to manage difficult conversations.
• Ability in conflict resolution with all grades of staff, patients, carers and general public.
• Ability to foster a team‑environment, motivating colleagues.
• Ability to impart messages including in group setting, utilising presentation aids as appropriate.
• Ability to manage colleagues.
• Ability to manage workload.
• Ability to manage pathways.
• Ability to analyse data and formulate plans based on these.
• Ability to make sound judgements to support clinical decisions.
• Ability to utilise core clinical IT (e.g. R&V systems, PACS/RIS systems, PAS systems).
• Ability to utilise clinical support IT (e.g. quality management systems, incident reporting systems, audit software).
• Ability to utilise core non‑clinical IT (e.g. MS Office etc).

Knowledge – Essential

• Knowledge of the principles of radiotherapy applied to all aspects of the radiotherapy pathway.
• Evidence of radiotherapy physics, anatomy and radiobiological knowledge.
• Understanding of referral pathways and the patient’s journey up to, through and beyond radiotherapy.
• Good knowledge of other relevant legislation, guidance and national working parties in radiotherapy.
• Advanced knowledge of IR(ME)R 2017 and IRR 2017 and responsibilities relating to own professional practice.
• Knowledge of Data Protection legislation, health and safety legislation, etc.
• Awareness of the professional context including the role and function of the College of Radiographers, the National Radiotherapy Board and the National Radiotherapy Implementation Group A/I SKILLS.

Values – Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details

Employer name: The Christie NHS FT

Address: PBT Radiotherapy - E00625, Manchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.christie.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details

For Questions About The Job, Contact: Superintendent Therapeutic Radiographer, Claire Burgess, [e-mail], 01619187785