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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Undertake radiographic duties in any of the radiographic or clinical areas of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust or peripheral units under our management, ensuring the high standards of radiographic quality and patient care are maintained, and delivered in a timely manner.
• To be responsible for the patient whilst in your care and where appropriate to inform relatives and carers when necessary of the procedure being under taken.
• Be competent in all routine diagnostic techniques, using highly developed physical skills to provide images of diagnostic quality in a timely manner. Be able to accurately position patients’ with minimum discomfort to facilitate accurate diagnostic images without the need for repeats.
• Be competent in all specialist techniques and in the use of all specialist x-ray  equipment used in your modality, thereby providing images of diagnostic quality in a timely manner.
• Be able to assist and advise both specialists and non-specialists in matters pertaining to your modality. Using specialist skills, knowledge and professional judgement when required.
• As a senior and specialist radiographer, make recommendations on clinical practice to modality superintendent or lead consultant, and assist in the implementation of any change.
• Assess information on X-ray requests to ensure it is relevant and can be justified under IR(ME)R 2017.
• You are expected to interpret clinical information to support the requested examination.
• You will work to agreed protocols, but will be expected to modify an examination if you believe clinical indications require it. 
• Assess the Radiation risk to the patient and ensure it is kept as low as reasonably practicable (the ALARP principle) and assess any additional risks involved within your modality.
• Ensure that patient examination, dose and other details are accurately recorded onto the Radiology computer system in a timely manner so providing correct data on each case.
• Assess any manual handling necessary to ensure safety of staff and patients.
• Assess any infection risks and employ necessary precautions. There will be frequent direct contact with body fluids, foul linen, fleas, lice etc.
• Ascertain patient allergies and contraindications to the procedure and communicate to senior clinical staff as necessary.

• Assess likely danger of patient or relative becoming violent and aggressive and take appropriate precautions.

• You are expected to Interpret and follow departmental clinical protocols whilst employing professional judgement to ensure the most appropriate examination for the patient is carried out, using clinical judgement when necessary to identify and interpret pathologies as required and take appropriate action including those within the field of expertise.

• Interpret and follow Trust Policies and Procedures, following accepted protocols and professional codes of conduct to manage own workload.

• Adhere to all aspects of the regulations pertaining to COSHH, Departmental Operating Procedures, and observe the Local Rules relating to radiation safety, thereby maintaining a safe working environment.

• Be competent in the use of Computed Radiography and the Picture Archive Communication System.

• Prioritise and organise the workload within your modality cooperating with the rest of the department and hospital to ensure efficient and effective throughput of patients.

• You should assess when guidance and support is required in a particular situation.
• Be encouraged to attend training courses where appropriate and as identified by the personal development review programme, to ensure that your skills and knowledge meet the changing requirements of the post.

• Regularly attend and participate in Audit sessions.

• Provide ongoing tuition to students, work experience and assistant practitioners, developing core radiography skills as part of their external courses.
• Respond to the changing needs of the department on a daily basis by providing a flexible approach to the working day, thus maintaining the existing excellent standard of service and the continuing promotion of good working relationships. The work pattern will be unpredictable due to responding to emergency bleeps, and changing patient lists etc. Concentration will need to be maintained for long periods when operating equipment.
• Support and enhance the continual quality initiative and ensure a “quality first” approach to all aspects of work.   

• Be responsible for the safe use of expensive, highly complex and specialist equipment.

• Be responsible for informing modality leads, clinical and non-clinical staff, superintendents and any patients affected by any equipment faults, and ensure that the equipment is safe to use for both staff and patients.

• Participate in the on-call rota as appropriate.

• There is a constant requirement to exert moderate physical effort when moving equipment and patients with and without the use of mechanical aids.

• There will be frequent exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances and occasional exposure to traumatic incidents when working in A and E as part of the trauma team or carrying out mobile x-ray examinations on the wards and in theatre or within your specialist modality.  

• All managers have a responsibility to assess risks and implement the necessary actions to minimise these within the sphere of responsibility. They must enable staff to attend statutory and essential training.   All staff have a personal responsibility to be familiar with the Risk Management Strategy, follow policies and procedures and take all actions necessary to reduce risk. Staff must ensure that they attend appropriate statutory and essential training.

• Undertake other duties as may be necessary due to change of practise within the Directorate from time to time, commensurate with grade for this post, and under the direction of the Superintendent Radiographer. 

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 

• Ensure effective communications with patients of all ages and physical and mental abilities to facilitate cooperation and provide reassurance to achieve a satisfactory and diagnostic examination at the first attempt.

• Liaise with all patients, health professionals and non-clinical staff regarding patient care, explaining clearly and concisely where and when they will receive results.

• Liaise with other healthcare professionals and medical staff to ensure efficient and effective patient care. This may involve the use of complex information when discussing the patient’s condition or images required to achieve the correct diagnosis.

• You will be expected to maintain a working relationship with; Superintendent Radiographers, modality leads, the Directorate Manager, Modern Matron, Consultant Radiologists and Specialist Registrars. 

All Job Holders are required to… 

• Work to the Trust values - Put patients first, Take ownership, Respect others, Be positive, Listen, learn and improve.

• Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, e.g. Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities etc.

• Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.

• Attend statutory, essential and mandatory training.  

• Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of Data Protection Legislation.

• Comply with the Corporate Governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust.

• Comply with the codes of professional conduct set out by the professional body of which registration is required for the post.

• Ensure they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk. 

• Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a specific role with children and families.

• Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time frame.

• Staff must comply with Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in order to promote safeguarding and prevent abuse to vulnerable people using Trust services.

• Maintain the prevention and control of infection and fully comply with all current Trust Infection Control policies and procedures.

• Take responsibility for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties, in line with the Public Records Act and be aware that any records created by an employee of the NHS are public records and may be subject to both legal and professional obligations.