Agenda for Change

AGENDA FOR CHANGE NHS JOB EVALUATION SCHEME

JOB DESCRIPTION TEMPLATE

1. JOB IDENTIFICATION Job Title: Band 5 Conventional Imaging Radiographer

Reports to: Conventional imaging team leader

Department, Ward or Section: Radiology

CHP, Directorate or Corporate Department: medical Diagnostics

Operating Division: Raigmore Hospital

Job Reference: SSCLSSRAIGRADI71

No of Job Holders:

Last Update: March 2013-03-25

2. JOB PURPOSE

1. To participate in the provision of a high quality diagnostic imaging service, providing direct care in order to assist in the management of patients referred from clinicians located within and outside Raigmore and Community Hospitals within our Highland region. 2. Support the delivery of a conventional radiographic imaging service based at Raigmore Hospital and outlying hospitals. (Dingwall, Invergordon, Nairn, Grantown on Spey and Aviemore) 3. Justify in accordance with IR(ME)R 2000 and perform examinations in the field of general radiography. 4. Act within departmental and clinical protocols and policies, including matters relating to the safe operation of general radiography. 5. Participate in audit of clinical practice as required by the section team leader. 6. Support the conventional imaging department team leader in meeting operational targets of the general imaging service for the Highland area. 3. DIMENSIONS

Clinical areas:

7. Conventional imaging department within the division of radiology at Raigmore hospital and outlying hospitals. (Dingwall, Invergordon, Nairn, Grantown on Spey and Aviemore)

Equipment: Digital equipment in conventional room Ceiling suspended conventional and resus imaging equipment Fluoroscopy equipment Mobile radiography & fluoroscopy units Digital Orthopantomograph equipment CR dental imaging equipment Computed radiography units.

Clinical Activity:

Approx 63,000 examinations per annum.

Clinical provision:

24 Hours, 365 days per annum. Participate in radiology department shift system.

Staff Responsibility:

1. Supervision of student radiographers on clinical placement in conventional imaging. 2. Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, maintaining open and positive communication links.

4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION

Conventional Imaging Team Leader

Non -Rotational Radiographers Community Radiographers

Rotational Assistant Radiographe Radiographers Practitioner r s Helpers

5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT

1. The Raigmore Radiology and local community imaging departments provide a comprehensive and co-ordinated conventional radiographic imaging service. 2. The conventional radiographic imaging report is a vital diagnostic tool, providing a diagnosis or contributing to a diagnosis, leading to an effective course of treatment and care plan for the patient. 3. Promote excellence in clinical practice through continuing education and input into Clinical Governance and Audit initiatives, providing advice and training for NHS Highland. 4. Promote multidisciplinary team working in the provision of a highly skilled, patient focussed approach to quality care.

6. MAIN TASKS AND REPONSIBILITIES

1. Maintain a high level of expertise in the safe operation of Radiology imaging equipment and manage faults effectively as per departmental fault reporting procedure. 2. To act appropriately under IR(ME)R 2000 regulations, to have a full working knowledge of the detail of the regulations and understand the delegated scope of practice according to NHS Highland employers level 2 procedures. Observe local rules relating to radiation safety under IR99 regulations. 3. Understand and comply at all times with the ALARA principle, to minimise patient radiation dose. 4. Work as part of a team to ensure effective communication and delivery of care, liaise with fellow healthcare workers and referring clinicians to provide a high quality imaging service to patients. 5. Recognise characteristics of normal and abnormal tissues and structures which may require further imaging or alteration of imaging technique. 6. Independently analyse image quality following the examination so that a comprehensive diagnostic outcome is achieved in order to aide patient management and expedite treatment. 7. Advise clinicians regarding clinical suitability of their patient for radiographic imaging and analyse and understand this information in order to modify established protocols to optimise the examination and develop a plan for the diagnostic procedure. 8. Responsible as a point of contact for users of the service dealing with colleagues, patients, carers and relatives in a helpful reassuring and friendly manner. 9. Prioritise workload depending on the severity of a patient condition and the direct impact on their management. 10. Know how and when to call for assistance in the event of an emergency. Be trained and able to assist in emergency patient care, including resuscitation. 11. Maintain patient records by input of accurate information to reflect the service provided and meet professional standards, following NHS Highland Radiology Policy relating to data archiving, image storage and retrieval. 12. Develop and maintain the required knowledge and skills to provide independent working, keeping up to date with current advances in technology and diagnostic techniques. In accordance with the departmental competency framework. 13. Ensure safe and efficient use of equipment, taking action to resolve faults, following the fault reporting procedure.. 14. Be actively involved in the training of student radiographers on clinical placement in the department. 15. Maintain a clean and safe working environment for both patients and staff in accordance with appropriate NHS Highland infection control procedures and be aware of conventional x-ray imaging specific infection control protocols. 16. Promote excellence in clinical practice through continuing education sharing techniques and developments with other centres. Participate in research and development activities and audit initiatives as appropriate. 17. To act as a point of expertise for imaging referrers from all areas and disciplines in NHS Highland. 18. To maintain a high standard of patient care, attending to the nursing needs of patients as appropriate. 19. To be accountable for own professional actions and to act as a role model within the department, setting and maintaining high standards of professionalism and patient care and encouraging the development of a strong and flexible multi-disciplinary team. 20. Participate in 24 hour service delivery.

Training and Education

1. Maintain knowledge of advances in diagnostic Imaging in order to promote a culture of continuous improvement within the department. 2. Take responsibility for maintaining a Professional Development plan (PDP). Participate as a reviewee, in the PDP&R process and work with the team leader to ensure development needs are identified and planned. 3. Participate in mandatory training. 4. Develop and update clinical knowledge and skills to ensure delivery of evidence based care by attending educational meetings and reading articles and books, feeding back learning outcomes to team members. 5. Contribute to team discussions and meetings expressing personal opinions clearly and objectively while demonstrating a flexible and positive approach and willingness to accept change.

Protocols, Policies and Procedures

1. To be familiar with and adhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, the Health and Safety at Work Act and IR(ME)R 2000. 2. Implement divisional policies, evaluating those policies, proposing changes of those policies as appropriate. 3. To promote awareness and compliance with policies and guidelines relating to requests for radiographic imaging services. 4. NHS Highland Policies/National Guidelines 7a. EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

Safe use of expensive equipment

1. Safe use and maintenance of highly complex conventional imaging equipment used by self and others. 2. Computed radiography units which are complex IT systems used for processing image data and performing quality control on images. 3. Computer with multiple programmes. 4. Laser printer 5. Label printer 6. Patient hoists 7. Patient transport on chairs and trolleys.

7b. SYSTEMS

1. Radiology Information System (RIS) 2. Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) 3. Patient records/medical notes for sifting regarding safe clinical practice, e.g. safety contraindications, allergies if administering contrast. 4. General office equipment including computers – email, NHS Highland intranet and internet. 5. Responsible for processing and archiving modality imaging data. 6. Computer software such as Word and Excel to create reports, spreadsheets, record R&D activity, research, quality assurance and audit, etc. 7. Data entry on computer such as RIS, Excel & Word documents, etc.

8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK

1. Work independently on a day-to-day basis to provide a highly specialised technical and managed clinical service. 2. The post-holder is professionally and managerially responsible to the conventional imaging team leader. 3. Appraisal will be undertaken in order to agree the annual personal development plan.

9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS

1. Justification of diagnostic procedures in accordance with departmental policies and procedures. 2. Responsible for the prioritisation of own workload. 3. Use clinical judgement and experience to ensure optimum imaging standards and patient care for individual cases. 4. Use judgement to assess a patient’s condition, often acute, and decide on an appropriate method to obtain diagnostic images. 10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB

1. Prioritising clinical duties whilst undertaking a mentally, emotionally and physically demanding job, ensuring that safety measures are understood and adhered to. 2. Working independently at outlying hospitals. 3. Aware of how quickly a controlled and stable situation can become an emergency, life-threatening situation. Can respond with speed and accuracy to minimise delays in treatment or diagnosis. 4. Managing workloads while being interrupted by clinicians and colleagues with requests and seeking information. 5. Explaining to patients and clinical colleagues why their examination has been delayed with courtesy and patience. 6. Cope with the physical and mental demands of the job, working independently and on a regular basis produce images on patients who may have learning/physical difficulties or are abusive or severely injured. 7. Make decisions in complex and unpredictable environment. 8. Enforcing the safety of patients, visitors and staff whilst in the Radiology department. 9. Exposure to blood, bodily secretions and high grade infections. 10. Being able to manage an unpredictable work load effectively and interact successfully with fellow health care professionals.

11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

INTERNAL

1. Regular communication with the modality team leader and team members. 2. Liaise with porters regarding patient transfer to and from department. 3. Liaising with nursing and other professional staff regarding patient care. 4. Act as a point of contact regarding imaging safety for staff and patients within the modality. 5. Report breakdowns and faulty equipment to senior colleague/team leader.

EXTERNAL

1. Co-ordinate with departments who refer patients for imaging ensuring they are issued with the correct information and preparation regarding their patient. 2. Reporting of radiation and safety incidents in accordance with local and national protocols. 3. Report faults and breakdown of ancillary equipment to estates. 4. Anticipate where there may be communication difficulties e.g. language/educational barriers, by providing explanation appropriate to patient group to encourage compliance with the imaging process. 12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Physical Skills:

1. Positioning of patients and equipment requires a high degree of accuracy to demonstrate anatomical features required. 2. It is important during examinations to ensure the patient is adequately immobilised. 3. Radiographic imaging examinations require the operator to perform a highly complex series of actions, planning and executing the radiation exposure, whilst constantly observing, communicating with and reassuring the patient 4. Helping with the transfer of patients from trolleys and wheelchairs.

Mental Demands:

1. Regular intense concentration is required when assessing patient’s condition and performing examinations to a high diagnostic standard throughout every shift period. 2. Evaluating clinical information on request forms using highly specialised knowledge. 3. In the event of equipment failure manage the situation, providing an immediate decision and solution informing the patient if the examination is being delayed.

Emotional Demands:

1. Providing a caring service for patients, identifying pathologies and being aware of the potential outcome can be extremely distressing. Performing radiographic imaging on these patients can be emotionally difficult for both patients and staff. 2. Care, patience, empathy and understanding is required when dealing with patients who may be anxious or confused, in these instances one must exhibit powers of persuasion and encouragement to ensure completion of the diagnostic examination. 3. Liaising with patients/relatives/staff in unforeseen circumstances, e.g. equipment breakdown, late lists. 4. Judging and assessing patient suitability for imaging and communicating the decision not to image when appropriate.

Working Conditions

1. Work in an environment where there is potential exposure to ionising radiation, observing best practice to minimise dose to self and others. 2. Daily exposure to uncontained body fluids and disposal of these in a safe and effective manner in accordance with infection control regulations. 3. Occasional contact with infectious patients, possibility of sharps/needle stick injury. 4. Potential exposure to violence and aggression both physical and verbal from patients, relatives and carers. 13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB

HPC Registration BSc in Radiography/ DCR Diploma of College of Radiographers Port folio evidence of CPD Full UK Driving Licence

14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

Job Holder’s Signature

Date: Head of Department Signature:

Date: Review Date: