Job Description

Applicants are invited for an enthusiastic and motivated senior radiographer / technologist looking to extend their role within our team in the Nuclear Medicine Section of the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department. The key aspect of this role is providing therapeutic and non imaging diagnostic nuclear medicine.



The Nuclear Medicine Section comprises of a team of physicists, radiopharmacy technicians, clinical radiographer / technologists and senior assistant clinical technologists. The group has an active involvement in the research and development of nuclear medicine treatment pathways and members of the team are active within National and European working groups. We are committed in ensuring we are working to best practice by supporting our staff's professional development. We have strong working links with the Oncology department which have allowed the development of advance practice.

You must have a degree or equivalent qualification in Nuclear Medicine. Applicants must have experience and sound knowledge in

nuclear medicine.



The post holder will work primarily in the Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering (MPCE) Department's Nuclear Medicine and may also have

the opportunity to support Radiology Department's Nuclear Imaging Section.



The post holder will be expected to carry out a broad range of highly specialist healthcare science procedures involving radioactive materials.

Within MPCE they will carry out a full range of diagnostic non-imaging and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures and once trained will have the opportunity to develop towards a consultant role.



The post holder will supervise, support and assist in the service delivery and personal development.



The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.



We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.



The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.



To be professionally responsible to the Lead Physicist (Nuclear Medicine) for the clinical work undertaken in the Nuclear Medicine.

To be managerially responsible to the consultant radiographer/clinical lead (Nuclear Medicine)

To be clinically responsible to the appropriate Consultant/ARSAC licence holder for clinical procedures that may be carried out.

To ensure that the responsibilities of the sections in clinical areas are firmly established and that constructive relationships with clinical

users are maintained.

To be fully conversant with current legislation ensuring that all processes carried out using radioactive materials are done in a manner

that complies with legislation and local arrangements including IRR 17, IR(ME)R 17, EPR 2016.

To perform a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures across a variety of complex clinical presentations

and pathologies to the required standard.

To provide professional and technical support, supervision and assistance to qualified nuclear medicine radiographers / technologists

and any other staff in service delivery including healthcare assistants and apprentices.

To ensure professional practice, and that of the service, is maintained and extended through participation in Continuous Professional

Development.

Demonstrate awareness and compliance to IR(ME)R17 and IRR 17 and other relevant regulations. The post holder will maintain strong professional links within the departments and with clinical users across the Trust and its customers. The post will involve direct patient contact and so will require a sensitive approach to the patients' needs and an awareness of the

confidential nature of patient information.

There may be a requirement to work some antisocial hours.

Clinical Responsibilities

To act as operational clinical lead (once trained). To act as an Operator under IR(ME)R 17. Assess referrals, and authorise under guidelines. Prioritise patients to ensure optimum efficiency and service quality. Ensure that the protocol used for an examination is suitably matched to the clinical indications for the procedure. Liaise with referrers and practitioners to clarify or discuss requests for complex diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine

procedures.

Act as a point of specialist advice for referrers, other clinical staff, patients and their relatives. Ensure that patients, relatives and staff are appropriately informed and reassured of any discussions relating to patient procedures. Assess the physical, mental and communication abilities and needs of individual patients and respond appropriately. To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their escorts prior to, during and after a procedure. To assist junior staff in dealing with what they consider complex or contentious patient situations. To document that patients have consented to exposure to ionising radiation prior to the procedure, and to issue and ensure they

understand any instructions / restrictions they need to follow.

Enter accurate patient examination data into Imaging Information Systems e.g. RIS, PACS and Clinical Web Portal. Accurately position patients for the appropriate procedures, taking into account their abilities, needs and limitations. To be able to identify discrepancies/deviations in the results of procedures. Visually be able to discriminate subtle differences between images to ensure there are no artefacts. Assess outcomes following procedures, and ensure that any necessary additional procedures are undertaken within a single patient

attendance where possible.

Assess and respond to adverse treatment responses. Ensure that unexpected abnormalities seen are brought to the attention of the referring clinician and ARSAC licence holder and that the

patient is managed in an appropriate and supportive manner.

Work unsupervised, seeking advice from colleagues and senior radiographic, technologist, or medical staff when required. To participate in the delivery of an extended day service when required. To site and perform intravenous cannulation and manual injection of radiopharmaceuticals, with high precision, accuracy and aseptic

technique, to avoid extravasations.

To administer radiopharmaceuticals orally. Perform accurate and precise manipulations of patient samples using a variety of laboratory and related equipment. Undertake the use of radiation counting equipment to determine the levels of radionuclides present in patient samples. Undertake the input and manipulation of counting data into complex computer programs and spreadsheets to generate analysis results

for diagnosis.

To be able to safely manage radioactive contamination of patients or the environment, in accordance with departmental procedures. To monitor clinical waste for radioactivity according to departmental procedures and to process appropriately.

Operational Responsibilities

To use clinical experience and knowledge to ensure lowest possible dose of radiation to patient whilst obtaining and maintaining a

diagnostic image or result.

Operate highly complex nuclear medicine and radiological equipment accurately and safely. Operate advanced software to determine patients' clinical reports. Ensure that all the documentation relating to a procedure is appropriately organised to ensure rapid and accurate transit through the

administrative and clerical systems of the service.

Ensure that all data inputs are accurately recorded in order to maintain the integrity of data for both patients and the service. Use the equipment in the department safely and effectively, ensuring adherence to the manual handling regulations at all times. Undertake regular equipment quality control tests, documenting results, recognising trends and proposing actions require to effect

change if necessary.

Clearly label, or remove from circulation, any faulty equipment to mitigate the risk of its continued use. Make initial investigations into equipment failures, and communicate details of the problem effectively to the appropriate senior member

of staff in timely manner.

Ensure that any documentation relating to routine servicing or equipment breakdown is correctly filed, and the information disseminated

appropriately.

Monitor the implementation and observance of radiation protection local rules and working instructions and report any problems to a

Radiation Protection Supervisor.

Perform first line quality control checks on dose calibrator equipment and report any deviation from expected values.

Managerial Responsibilities

To provide professional and technical support, supervision and assistance to qualified nuclear medicine radiographers / technologists

and any other staff in service delivery including healthcare assistants and apprentices.

To participate in the induction of new staff.

Service Improvement

Participate in the development of the services provided by the Nuclear Medicine Department. Implement new procedures within the department and monitor their effectiveness. Communicate effectively with users of the service, both within the hospital and externally, in order to ensure the provision of an efficient,

timely and high quality service.

Training and Governance Responsibilities

Attend and participate in staff / governance meetings and in departmental activities such as departmental audits. Maintain a safe, clean and tidy work environment, ensuring there are adequate supplies of stock in clinical areas. Ensure adequate training in the use of any piece of equipment before using it unsupervised. Take full advantage of any training opportunities which may present, and highlight any training requirements to their line manager. Assist in the training and competency assessment of staff. Provide presentations to the department, feeding back from Study Days, Postgraduate courses, and projects. Expand and update professional skills and knowledge for Continuous Professional Development. Attend and complete all mandatory training, as required by the Trust. Participate in research projects within the department. Ensure a high standard of patient care and participate in the monitoring of standards. * To undertake any other duties which may be required and which are appropriate to the post.