Trainee Reporting Radiographer - Adult Chest X-Ray

Northampton General Hospital Nhs Trust; Northampton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is offering a Trainee Reporting Radiographer - Adult Chest X-ray within the Plain Film Reporting Team. This is a developmental opportunity for HCPC-registered Diagnostic Radiographers looking to progress into advanced practice via a postgraduate Adult Chest X-ray Reporting programme and a structured competency pathway.

Appointment will be at Band 5 or Band 6, with protected training and supervised reporting.

Qualifications

• HCPC registered Diagnostic Radiographer.
• BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography or equivalent.
• Evidence of CPD and commitment to professional development.
• Desirable: post-registration study or additional qualification.

Responsibilities

• Maintain HCPC registration and an appropriate portfolio of continuing professional development.
• Successfully undertake and complete the approved postgraduate Adult Chest X-ray Reporting programme and associated clinical competency requirements.
• Participate in supervised reporting, feedback, discrepancy review and ongoing competency assessment as part of the development pathway.
• Participate in departmental teaching, multidisciplinary learning and professional development activities.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Plain Film Reporting Team at Northampton General Hospital (NGH), part of University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN), as a Trainee Reporting Radiographer - Adult Chest X-ray.

This is a developmental opportunity for an HCPC-registered Diagnostic Radiographer with an interest in progressing into advanced practice and developing specialist skills in adult chest X-ray reporting.

Appointment will be at Band 5 or Band 6, dependent on experience and current level of practice. The successful candidate will undertake an approved postgraduate Adult Chest X-ray Reporting programme alongside a structured programme of supervised clinical reporting and competency development. On successful completion of the postgraduate qualification and agreed clinical competency pathway, the postholder will progress to Band 7 Advanced Practitioner - Reporting Radiographer.

The successful applicant will join an established reporting team and will be supported by experienced Reporting Radiographers and Radiologists throughout their training. The role provides an excellent opportunity to develop advanced clinical skills while contributing to the delivery of a safe, timely and sustainable plain film reporting service. This post does not include on-call commitment.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will undertake a structured programme of academic and clinical training in adult chest X-ray reporting, working towards an approved postgraduate reporting qualification and the competencies required for progression to Band 7 Advanced Practitioner - Reporting Radiographer.

During the training period, the postholder will continue to undertake general plain film radiographic duties within their scope of practice, alongside protected training and supervised reporting activity. They will develop the knowledge and skills required to independently interpret and report adult chest radiographs, communicate significant and urgent findings appropriately, and contribute to the delivery of a safe, effective and timely reporting service.

The postholder will work closely with Reporting Radiographers, Radiologists and the wider multidisciplinary team and will be expected to participate fully in the academic, clinical and competency requirements of the development pathway.

This post does not include an on-call commitment.

About us

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Job responsibilities

Education and Professional Development

• Maintain HCPC registration and an appropriate portfolio of continuing professional development.
• Successfully undertake and complete the approved postgraduate Adult Chest X-ray Reporting programme and associated clinical competency requirements.
• Participate in supervised reporting, feedback, discrepancy review and ongoing competency assessment as part of the development pathway.
• Participate in departmental teaching, multidisciplinary learning and professional development activities.
• Support students and colleagues where appropriate and within own scope of practice.

Clinical Governance

• Participate in clinical audit, peer review, discrepancy learning, quality improvement and service evaluation.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and patient confidentiality in accordance with Trust requirements.
• Report incidents, near misses and patient safety concerns in accordance with Trust policy.
• Work within agreed reporting protocols, professional scope of practice and local governance arrangements.
• Recognise limitations in own knowledge and competence and seek appropriate advice or escalation when required.

Communication

• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients, carers, colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Develop positive and collaborative working relationships across NGH and UHN.
• Communicate and elevate urgent, unexpected or significant imaging findings in accordance with agreed departmental pathways.
• Provide clear and appropriate clinical information when discussing imaging findings with relevant healthcare professionals.

Research and Service Development

• Support audit, research, quality improvement and service development initiatives within Plain Film and the wider reporting service.
• Promote evidence-based practice and incorporate learning from audit, peer review and professional guidance into clinical practice.
• Contribute to the continued development and sustainability of the UHN Plain Film Reporting service.

General Responsibilities

• Comply with Trust policies, procedures, mandatory training and professional standards.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and respectful working practices.
• Maintain professional conduct in accordance with HCPC standards.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and level of competence.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Professional Registration

Essential

• HCPC registered Diagnostic Radiographer
• BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography or equivalent recognised qualification and grade
• Evidence of relevant CPD and commitment to professional development

Desirable

• Relevant post-registration study or additional qualification
• Previous experience of audit, service improvement or clinical governance
• Experience of image interpretation, preliminary clinical evaluation/commenting or other relevant advanced practice activity
• Previous experience of audit, service improvement or clinical governance
• Knowledge of clinical audit, discrepancy/learning processes and reporting governance

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post-registration experience as a Diagnostic Radiographer
• Current experience in plain film radiography, including chest imaging
• Experience working autonomously and making appropriate clinical decisions within scope of practice

Desirable

• Experience of image interpretation, preliminary clinical evaluation/commenting or other relevant advanced practice activity
• Previous experience of audit, service improvement or clinical governance

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates sound knowledge of chest radiographic anatomy, pathology and image quality
• Understanding of the role and responsibilities of a Reporting Radiographer
• Understanding of IR(ME)R, radiation protection and relevant professional standards
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively

Desirable

• Knowledge of clinical audit, discrepancy/learning processes and reporting governance

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.

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.

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