Radiographer Assistant

Job Summary

Expected Shortlisting Date

28/04/2025

Planned Interview Date

05/05/2025

The radiographer assistant will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing high standards of patient care whilst following policies and procedures as specified by the Radiology Management Team. The post-holder will be required to support the MR radiographers and ultra-sonographers in the provision of MR and US services.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will undertake a clinical support role working in accordance with department protocols and schemes of work. The NIHR has funded the Leeds Biomedical Research Centre (http://leedsbrc.nihr.ac.uk/), a collaboration between Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Leeds.

The state-of-the-art imaging facilities are a key element of the research dedicated unit at Chapel Allerton Hospital which includes a Siemens Verio 3T MRI scanner, and GE10 ultrasound scanners.

This Varied Position Involves:

1. Assisting radiographers in chaperoning and preparing research patients for MRI and ultrasound procedures.
2. Giving clinical and clerical support to enable effective and efficient patient care to be delivered.
3. Assisting with clerical and administration tasks with the imaging unit.
4. Monitoring equipment as directed, reporting any problems to senior members of staff.
5. Assisting radiographers in the overall quality assurance programme.
6. Assisting researchers in their delivery of imaging related research activities.

General Clinical Duties

To undertake identified tasks as required by staff and work in accordance with trust standards, policies and procedures.

To undertake all aspects of patient care related to MRI and Ultrasound.

To maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness for patient needs, MRI and Ultrasound equipment and working environment.

To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary. Paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linen.

To be familiar with the requirements of clinical research trials.

To undertake administrative work relating to the trials.

To participate in the safe transfer of patients and equipment within the department and Hospital, using manual handling guidelines and risk assessment.

To assess specific communication needs of individual patients.

To undertake departmental hand hygiene audit.

Regularly check stock levels and order as appropriate.

Explaining the undressing/dressing requirements to patients and where necessary assisting the patient.

Clinical - MRI

To be fully aware of the potential hazards of working in an area of strong magnetic field and to be familiar with Trust local rules for MR safety pertaining to the assistant role.

To ensure that all persons entering the scanner examination room have completed an MRI safety checklist and have removed all personal belongings, which might either be hazardous in strong magnetic field or might be damaged by it.

To assess the patient safety checklist and identify potential hazards according to departmental protocol.

To ensure that patients valuables are safely locked away.

To be familiar with safety procedures (quench, fire, cardiac arrest) which are specific to the MR environment.

To implement and supervise safe work practices of NHS staff and students in a hazardous environment.

To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their escorts prior to, during and after an examination.

Clinical - Ultrasound

As required assist the Sonographer in the organisation of the ultrasound session.

Assist Sonographers/Doctors in interventional work/injections as required.

Assist in the general maintenance and care of the ultrasound equipment.

Responsible for making sure the equipment is correctly cleaned before and after use.

To assist the patient and sonographer in the ultrasound room in all aspects of patient care.

Technical

Maintenance and care of the processing equipment. Quality control, basic fault finding, trouble shooting and reporting of faults.

Administrative

Clerical duties to include accurately registering the patient, updating patient records, bookings and all other associated CRIS/Booking Bug activities.

Responsible for reception desk duties.

Dealing with telephone messages in an efficient manner.

To liaise with other departments/wards within the hospital and various external sources to provide a quality service to patients and clinicians.

To liaise with patients to arrange urgent investigations addressing individual patient needs, according to department protocol.

To arrange recall examinations according to departmental protocol, where discretion is required regarding what information should be presented to the patient.

To work closely with radiographic staff in the organisation of workload in line with clinical priorities.

To book appointments evaluating patient needs, degree of urgency and length of time required deferring to radiographic staff as necessary.

To monitor the appointment diaries and take action to maximise efficiency when booking patient appointments.

To adapt and respond to patient needs.

To attend Departmental meetings where needed.