Deputy Lead Clinical Technologist (Nuclear Medicine)
Job overview
A position is available for a Deputy lead Radiographer / Technologist – Band 8a to work in the Nuclear Medicine department at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The Christie is situated in south Manchester and is an international leader in cancer research and development.It is the largest cancer treatment centre of its kind in Europe.
You would form part of a multi-disciplinary team that provides the clinical Nuclear Medicine service to patients of The Christie. The team provides a specialist imaging service using two SPECT-CT cameras, and a PET-CT scanner. It also provides extensive molecular radiotherapy and in-vitro services.The working pattern will include extended working days and weekends.
Applicants should have a degree in a relevant science subject or equivalent, PgDip or equivalent in Nuclear Medicine. They should have substantial experience of working in clinical nuclear medicine to include experience in PETCT and Therapy and a background in teaching and training.Candidates will be required to maintain membership of the Register of Clinical Technologists, or State Registration as a Radiographer.
Main duties of the job- To be part of a team of radiographers, clinical technologists, administrative and support staff, and scientists; that provides the clinical Nuclear Medicine service to patients at The Christie and at other sites.
- To deputise for the lead clinical technologist in the day-to-day provision of the service; and for implementation of policies and guidelines; and service development; and to help ensure that the service provided is high quality and cost effective.
- To help ensure the management, development, and evaluation of staff, including recruitment, appraisal, continuous professional development and performance and conduct; to have direct responsibility for the management and supervision of assistant technologists and support workers.
- Participates in the delivery of advanced PET/CT radiographer / clinical technologist education/training nationally.
Working for our organisation
The Nuclear Medicine Department at The Christie offers a specialist range of tests which are focussed on diagnosing and assessing cancer, including non-imaging tests, gamma camera imaging and PETCT scanning. We also provide a wide range of radionuclide therapy, including more complex procedures requiring personalised doses and/or hospital stays in dedicated facilities.Our department houses a radiopharmacy, two SPECTCT-capable gamma cameras, a PETCT suite, and facilities for both outpatient and inpatient radionuclide therapy. The Nuclear Medicine service is supported by the complimentary skills and expertise of radiopharmacists, radiopharmacy technicians, radiographers, clinical technologists, medical physicists, physics technicians, nurses, healthcare assistants, and a dedicated administration team.
Nuclear Medicine at The Christie also supports a number of Nuclear Medicine departments throughout the north-west of England and beyond, by supplying radioactive tracers and providing scientific advice on radiation safety and best practice.
The Nuclear Medicine team at The Christie pride ourselves on a friendly, inclusive and collaborative approach to delivering the very best service to our patients and driving forward improvements that will lead to better diagnosis and treatment in the future.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Management of the Clinic
Ensures that the routine clinical service is provided to a high quality and in a safe and timely manner by:
- Deputises for Lead Clinical Technologist when required.
- Line manages staff in discrete areas of the overall service; this involves preparation of staff rotas, managing holidays and monitoring overtime and leave, using a combination of systems. Collaborating in recruitment of new staff by preparing job adverts; and short-listing, interviewing, and selecting suitable appointees.
- Acting as an authorised signatory and helping to ensure financial resources are used appropriately and efficiently. Ensuring that all trust policies are implemented; and participating in the creation, implementation, and review of local procedures.
- Oversight of and participation in ordering of supplies and equipment using NHS Supply Chain and Integra services
- Demonstrating expertise and acting as a role model by providing clear advice and support/supervision to the multi-disciplinary team. Helping to provide professional leadership by promoting effective and professional practises to maintain high standards in patient care in the work of the staff in the clinic. This includes Clinical Technologists, Radiographers, Physicists, Nursing staff, HCSWs and Administration and Clerical staff.
- Conducting Professional Development Reviews on staff with a wide range of skills – radiographers, clinical technologists, HCSWs and nursing staff.
- Helping to implement, monitor and review induction, orientation, support and mentoring programmes to ensure that all staff are fully trained and supported in all aspects of their work, are up to date with the trust’s mandatory training programmes; ensuring staff are appropriately prepared for pay progression where applicable; and that all record keeping is accurate, legible and maintains patient confidentiality.
- Supporting the implementation of developments in service provision and application of regulatory requirements for discrete areas of the Nuclear Medicine service i.e. Molecular Radiotherapy and non-imaging in-vivo procedures, The Ionising Radiations Regulations; The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations and amendments; The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations and amendments; COSHH; professional policies (e.g. health and safety, patient management and safety) and guidelines (e.g. BNMS and EANM).
Management of accommodation and equipment
Supports the optimum use of clinic accommodation and imaging and other equipment by:
- Making a significant input into the regular planning and development of new clinical and non-clinical facilities within the department as a consequence of changing work practices over the medium and long-terms. This work includes collaborating and making arrangements for work to be undertaken with builders, architects and Estates staff; and participating in the specification, procurement and commissioning of new and replacement equipment.
- Ensuring that equipment performs to agreed standards by having a sound knowledge of the equipment used to identify any malfunctions and take appropriate action. Helping to lead a QA programme, covering all aspects of quality to ensure the standards are monitored and maintained; and maintenance records, logbooks and inventory details are accurate.
- Contacting the physics team and/or company representatives whenever faults occur, or performance is unacceptable to minimise ‘down-time’.
Participation in the work of the Clinic
Helping to provide the clinical service by:
- Managing the patient day list, ensuring all problems in scheduling and interfacing with other departments with respect to the patient care pathway are resolved.
- Authorising as ‘justified’ clinical requests for patient procedures where highly complex facts require interpretation and comparison of a range of options, and contacting referring clinicians to resolve any difficulties.
- Ordering and receipt of therapeutic and non-standard diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.
- Demonstrating dexterity, accuracy, and attention to detail in the preparation of specialist equipment, including heavy lead / tungsten radiation shielding, and the undertaking of highly complex procedures requiring frequent periods of prolonged concentration and varying amounts and durations of physical effort. These procedures include:
- Administering diagnostic and therapeutic radioactive materials to patients, orally or by intravenous injection, for routine procedures and clinical trials. Taking blood samples and assaying the amount of radioactivity contained in those samples.
- Carrying out highly complex imaging studies on patients, analysing the data using highly complex computer algorithms and presenting the results for interpretation.
- Preparing, analysing, and presenting the results for reporting. Prepare technical reports for a limited range of procedures. Analysis includes judgement of the optimum shape and position of computer-generated regions round anatomical structures and inspection of interim and final results for validity.
Clinical Governance
Takes an overview of clinical governance issues. The work includes:
- Investigation of incidents recorded on Datix system and implementation of any subsequent recommendations.
- Ensuring that all members of the clinic staff are aware of the importance of logging all incidents in line with trust policy.
- Planning and participating in internal audits, by collecting, collating and presenting data at audit meetings.
- Preparing and implementing new procedures for highly complex therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, for routine / research and clinical trials work.
- Undertaking regular review of general risk assessments and preparing new assessments for changed procedures.
- Participation in development and maintaining the department’s accreditation to appropriate standards.
- Demonstrating excellent communication skills in both clinical and non-clinical situations involving complex and sensitive issues or information; and to support patients and staff in potentially highly distressing or emotional situations and helping to ensure staff are supported to develop these skills.
- Promoting effective working relationships at all levels and initiating/implementing strategies to support senior staff in managing conflict situations effectively.
- Liaising with clinicians and nursing staff in other departments/wards to ensure safe and effective delivery of diagnostic/therapeutic services.
- Aiding communication within the clinical Nuclear Medicine workforce, and between Nuclear Medicine and other departments in the Trust and partner organisations by arranging programmes for, and chairing, staff meetings. This includes contacting nurse specialists and clinicians for information or to arrange teaching sessions at the meetings.
- Attending hospital-wide committees e.g., Information Forum and Clinical Trials Resource Group meetings as agreed with the Head of Nuclear Medicine
- Preparing and reviewing patient information leaflets/letters/treatment consent forms as necessary.
- Manages the safety of nuclear medicine clinic staff from ionising radiation and radioactive materials, as an appointed Radiation Protection Supervisor, including monitoring of staff doses and liaising with the dosimetry service provider.
- Makes a significant input into the regular development planning of the Nuclear Medicine group. This work includes regional and national PET services, Nuclear Medicine services and Molecular Radiotherapy services at The Christie.
Assists with the conduct of research and clinical trials by:
- Planning and monitoring the workflow needed to undertake and accommodate clinical trials involving highly complex patient procedures. Helping to ensure that clinical trials are undertaken in accordance with trials protocols, ‘Good Clinical Practice’ and research governance. Helping to ensure rotas are effective in optimising the efficiency of the service; anticipating potential problems and facilitating plans to overcome difficulties.
- Collaborating and making arrangements with research nurses, clinicians and other groups of staff concerning the conduct of trials.
Teaching and Training
Undertakes teaching and training. The work includes:
- Assists in planning a programme of professional development for the radiographer, clinical technologist and HCSW staff of the Clinical Nuclear Medicine Department in line with current service requirements.
- Undertakes and arranges training and mentoring for other staff in the Trust, or from other hospitals or institutes as required.
- Delivers and arranges teaching and training in Nuclear Medicine at graduate and postgraduate level in partnership with other healthcare professionals in partnership with higher education institutions.
- Undertaking and arranging training for other staff in the Trust, or from other hospitals or institutions as required.
- Delivers advanced PET/CT education/training for radiographers and clinical technologists nationally at graduate and post-graduate level.
- Delivers advanced PET/CT education/training for radiographers, clinical technologists and support staff throughout England as part of PET/CT national contract.
- Mentoring and assessment of staff undertaking post-graduate Nuclear Medicine qualification.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject
- State registered or listed on a voluntary register
- Qualification in Leadership / Management
Experience
Essential criteria- Substantial experience in clinical Nuclear Medicine, including PET/CT and radionuclide therapy
- Proven record of participation in CPD
- Experience of managing technical and administrative staff
Skills
Essential criteria- Sympathetic approach to patients
- Excellent communication skills.
- Ability to work both within a team, and independently.
- Ability to work safely, quickly and meticulously with good manipulative skills under pressure.
- Conscientious approach.
- IT literate
- Project management skills
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Excellent knowledge and understanding of Nuclear Medicine including PET/CT and radionuclide therapy, and radiation protection and aseptic technique
Values
Essential criteria- Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
Other
Essential criteria- Self-motivated & able to motivate others
- Able to work effectively under pressure
- Flexible approach to working hours
- In-depth knowledge, experience and maturity to be included in the list of names of members of staff who can be called in an emergency, occurring out of office hours.
The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.
We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels.In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.
We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy
All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.
By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.
The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.
Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.
You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.