Therapeutic Radiographer Apprentice (Band 5 Annex 21)

The Christie International; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Trainee Therapeutic Radiographer, undertaking a three-year degree apprenticeship with Sheffield Hallam University, while rotating across Christie radiotherapy sites.

This full-time permanent post (37.5 hours) includes one day per week off-job study time; pay follows Annex 21 Band 5 with staged progression in years 1–3 and a move to the bottom of Band 5 after completion.

Qualifications

• IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in all skills or equivalent.
• UCAS points 96 from three A levels or equivalent qualifications.
• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised course.
• Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQ) Level 4/5 qualifications.
• GCSE Maths and English at level 2 or above.

Responsibilities

• Work within departmental protocols under supervision and develop skills in analysing complex treatments.
• Contribute to clinical discussion and undertake training to maintain effective practice.
• Participate in teaching activities and complete competencies within time frames.
• Support patient care, safeguarding, and information governance requirements under supervision.

Skills

Communicate effectively

Good organisation

Interpersonal skills

Open to learning

Flexible approach

Self-motivated

Work independently

Teamwork experience

Healthcare setting experience

Enthusiastic attitude

Education

IELTS 6.5 or equivalent

UCAS points 96 from three A levels

Access to HE Diploma

HTQ Level 4/5 qualifications

GCSE Maths and English (grade 4/C or above)

Prior learning considered on individual basis

Job description

Therapeutic Radiographer Apprentice (Band 5 Annex 21)

Band 5 Annex 21

Main area Clinical Networked Services Grade Band 5 Annex 21 Contract Permanent Contract Hours 37.5 hours per week (Full time permanent) Job ref 413-108848-CNS-RS

Site RT Cross Site Education - E00080 Town Manchester Salary £25,377 - £29,282 Pro rata, per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 29/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are looking for trainee Therapeutic Radiographers to undertake a degree apprenticeship programme at The Christie.

The post will require successful candidates to complete a three-year undergraduate degree with Sheffield Hallam University, while undertaking clinical placement across all Christie radiotherapy sites (Withington, Oldham, Salford, Macclesfield and Proton Beam Therapy departments).

This is a full-time permanent post (37.5 hours) and all trainees will be allocated 1 day per week off the job training to be used for study.

For the duration of the apprenticeship you will be paid on an annex 21 salary of the band 5 range.

Your first year will be 65% of the top of a band 5 salary.

Your second year will be 70% of the top of a band 5 salary.

Your third year will be 75% of the top of a band 5 salary.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship and confirmation of a permanent position, along with your registration, you will move to the bottom of a band 5 salary range.

Main duties of the job

Main duties include:

• Work within the departmental protocols; under supervision.
• To develop skills in analysing complex treatments during the training programme
• Contribute to clinical discussion under the supervision of the team
• Provide, receive, and use sensitive information maintaining patient confidentiality at all times in line with information governance legislation.
• Ensure all work and actions comply with local rules and current UK IRR 2017 and IR(ME)R 2000
• Manage their own time efficiently, ensuring all clinical and academic needs/ requirements are met.
• Using empathic, motivational, and compassionate communication skills to represent the views of team members and peers at meetings and workgroups and when reporting information back to the team.
• Working under supervision, ensure trust policies and work protocols are followed to give high quality patient care. Highlighting any areas of concern to a supervising member of the team.
• Working under supervision, recognise and appropriately act upon the emotional and psychological needs of patients, colleagues, team and one’s self.
• To participate and attend all teaching activities and meetings as required of the degree course at the Higher Education Institute (HEI) or local departmental training.
• Achieve all the competencies as outlined by the radiotherapy education team in conjunction with the HEI, within a specified time period

Working for our organisation

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% 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical / Clinical

• Work within the departmental protocols; under supervision.
• Under supervision be able to use their own judgement following assessment of patient and identifying and escalating when needed to a registered professional in the team.
• To develop their skills in analysing complex treatments during their training
• Contribute to clinical discussion under the supervision of the team
• To undertake additional training and development to maintain and develop personal skills, up-to-date and effective practice and knowledge in relation to the role through continuing professional development.
• Undertake all mandatory training relevant to role
• Complete an annual appraisal with clear objectives aligned with year of training
• Act as peer support in years 2 and 3 to new apprentices commencing their programmes
• Apply safe and effective moving and handling skills to protect patients and staff and abide by Health and Safety legislation in the workplace.
• Provide, receive and use sensitive information, maintaining patient confidentiality at all times in line with information governance legislation.
• Minimise risk of cross infection through contamination by bodily fluids/matter, in accordance with the infection control policy.
• Ensure all work and actions comply with local rules and current UK Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 and IR(ME)R 2000.
• Anticipate and identify common and complex treatment related side effects, offering advice under supervision and where necessary refer to other relevant health care professionals.

Management/leadership

• Manage their own time efficiently, ensuring all clinical and academic needs/ requirements are met.
• Understand the departmental processes and assist with the daily workflow for the area they are working in, under supervision.
• Using empathic, motivational, and compassionate communication skills to represent the views of team members and peers at meetings and workgroups and when reporting information back to the team.

Patient care

• Working under supervision, ensure they follow the Trust policies and work protocols to give high quality patient care. Highlighting any areas of concern to a supervising member of the team.
• Highlighting and following Trust procedures with any concerns in regard to safeguarding of patients and their families
• Responsible for monitoring, maintaining, and cleaning environments; including equipment pre/post procedure, under supervision.
• Working under supervision, recognise and appropriately act upon the emotional and psychological needs of patients, colleagues, team and one’s self due to the frequent exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances, e.g. continually working with patients with cancer.
• Working under supervision, dealing empathetically with cancer patients, families and carers with challenging behaviour, caused by either the physical and/or emotional effects of diagnosis or the disease, impacts on the emotional effort required for this post.
• Dealing with the large age range of patients and carers / dependents of varying physical states including anaesthetised and unconscious.

General

• Actively participate in and support activities in promoting and recruiting to the profession.
• To work flexibly as required by the service need.
• Participate in the extended shift system, bank holidays, weekend working and on call.

Training / Academic Studies

• To participate and attend all teaching activities and meetings as required of the degree course at the Higher Education Institute (HEI) or local departmental training.
• Ensure all assignments and academic workload is completed to the required level and in a timely manner.
• Attend academic sessions, some of which will be at the HEI, and use protected time appropriately to ensure completion of the programme.
• Achieve all the competencies as outlined by the radiotherapy education team in conjunction with the HEI, within a specified time period
• Complete the competency-based training set by the HEI, providing evidence in the required portfolio/degree modules.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and be a consistent role model for other learners in the department.
• Highlight to line manager all issues of inadequate performance, including capability and poor professional standards, that may impinge on the apprenticeship completion. Provide evidence where necessary and requested.

Person specification

Qualifications

• If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent.
• Previous experience in a health and social care capacity, including any placements or work-based learning undertaken as part of a Level 3 qualification
• 96 UCAS points from three A levels or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Nationals, Cambridge Technicals, OCR Nationals and T Levels.
• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course
• Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQ’s) New or existing Level 4 or 5 qualifications such as HNDs, Foundation Degrees, Certificate HE or Diploma HE
• GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English at level 2 or above (Grade 4 or previously C)
• Prior learning and experience will be considered on an individual basis

Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to use Word Processing / PC / have basic computer skills
• Good organisation
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Open to learning and willing to undertake training as required
• Flexible approach, self-motivated and able to work independently
• Experience of working with people/in a team
• Experience of working in large organisations
• Experience of working with people in healthcare setting
• Enthusiastic and upbeat in the face of challenges

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other Requirements

• Able to fulfill Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary)

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Application Information - If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards. These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessmentEmployment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history andreferences.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

If You're Offered the Role - you will be agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information - We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

We are fully committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.