Lead Radiographer

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced radiographer to join our busy plain film team, looking after St Helens plain film department including Dental and Theatre.

We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and dedicated individual to be responsible for managing, leading, and developing our service. You must have a flexible approach to working and be able to demonstrate good organisational and communication skills along with a commitment to service improvement.

An Enhanced DBS Certificate, with the checking of the Adults and Children's Barred Lists is required for this position.

Main duties of the job

• Our department at St Helens has 4 GE plain film rooms, 1 dental room and 1 dexa as well as 2 image intensifiers and 2 DR mobile machines.
• The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the service that we provide, working closely with our Consultant Radiologists and our administration team.
• You will work clinically as well as performing managerial tasks and will be expected to cover out of hours and weekend working within the Radiology department.

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• Responsible for administration, performance monitoring and data quality of the PACS/RIS and other integrated systems.
• Responsible for training of staff in PACS/RIS and associated systems.
• Perform diagnostic imaging examinations in accordance with departmental protocols.
• Be competent in the use of all appropriate imaging equipment.
• Participate in the on-call, flexible working and out of hours service as required.
• Responsible for QA program in designated area.
• Abide by radiographic protocols and all Radiation Protection regulations.
• Report all equipment malfunctions to appropriate personnel.
• Responsible for sending accurate image data to the Picture Archiving Communication System for storage, transmission, and archive.
• Justify radiographic examinations for Junior Radiographers, Radiographic Assistant Practitioners and Student Radiographers.
• Promote quality initiatives, ensuring the quality of patient care and compliance of quality standards.
• Undertake staff appraisals.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients on complex, contentious and sensitive issues.
• Maintain a patient, courteous manner in all aspects of communication with patients and staff.
• Liaise with lead clinicians to ensure effective running of the service.
• Maintain a good working relationship with other departments and staff.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Autonomously undertake Advanced Practice in a specialised area of radiography.
• Provide clinical leadership to all staff in the department.
• Act as a radiographic clinical expert in the relevant field.
• Provide clinical support and advice to staff.
• Responsible for setting and maintaining high clinical and professional standards within the department.
• Promote and ensure compliance with radiographic protocols.
• Ensure clinical and professional standards are met at all times.
• Exercise clinical judgement in the utilisation of resources.
• Perform all aspects of clinical and technical procedures as per departmental policy.
• Ensure compliance with COR code of conduct and HCPC regulations.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for accurate data entry on the Radiology Information System.
• Ensure all documentation associated with regulations are kept and stored appropriately.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the training and development of staff.
• Contribute to continuing education programme by attending courses.
• Ensure professional standards are maintained by contributing to the clinical training and development of radiographers.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the day-to-day management of the designated department.
• Ensure the effective and efficient running of the service.
• Monitor and evaluate all aspects of service delivery.
• Demonstrate effective leadership qualities and promote teamwork.
• Undertake initial investigation of patient and user complaints.
• Promote a working culture that improves quality.
• Responsible for clinical and professional standards within the designated department.
• Identify and contribute to service development within the department.
• Responsible for implementing policies within the designated department.
• Responsible for risk assessments within the designated area.
• Responsible for the maintenance and servicing of all equipment in the designated work area.
• Participate in the procurement of radiographic equipment.
• Promote quality initiatives, ensuring the quality of patient care.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, professional, and organisational requirements.
• Act as radiation protection supervisor for a designated department/Modality.
• Refer patients for on-going imaging examinations within departmental protocols.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Participate in the audit of current techniques and keep up to date with the research and development of new techniques.
• Participate in departmental audit and research programmes.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc in Radiography and/or equivalent Qualification and/or Equivalent Experience.
• Post Graduate Certificate in the relevant modality.
• HCPC Registered.
• MSc Radiography and/or equivalent Qualification and/or Equivalent Experience.

Knowledge and experience

• Significant post graduate clinical experience.
• PACS experience.
• Manage self and others.
• Experience of participation in emergency single handed out of hours duties.
• QA testing.

Skills

• Ability to organise own work and others within the team.
• Good communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Audit analysis.
• Data collection and analysis.
• Ability to interact within a multidisciplinary team.
• Organisational skills.
• Evidence of time management skills.
• IT literate.
• Presentation skills.
• Student assessor.
• NVQ assessor.

Other

• Team player.
• Commitment to quality.
• Able to travel to both sites via own car or assisted driver.

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.