Cardiac CT Specialist Radiographer

Job overview

We have an attractive opportunity for a radiographer with excellent clinical skills. We will consider staff with extensive cardiac CT knowledge with experience of independent cardiac CT acquisition.

You will become a valuable member of a team of specialist radiographers delivering a quality led and timely CT service.

They will also lead in delivering service improvement projects directly related to cardiac CT. The successful candidate will also be responsible for the training of radiographers and students in the use of cardiac CT and participate in the appraisals of junior staff.

The successful candidate will also be expected to be able to work across all the CT scanners and maintain their competence in all aspects of general CT, there is a commitment to out of hours working with this role.

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellent ongoing CPD and demonstrate compliance with trust training requirements. The department takes student radiographers from Exeter University and Plymouth University, and is a training site for Radiologists, meaning that teaching is a core part of the CT Radiographers role.

Main duties of the job

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

To participate in development activity by providing leadership for cardiac CT including supervision and training of CT radiographers

Working for our organisation

Whether you love walking, cycling, climbing, water sports, or exploring historic sites,

Derriford Hospital is a leading teaching hospital, providing a comprehensive range of acute and specialist services—including oncology, radiotherapy, paediatrics, neurosciences, and cardiothoracic care. As the designated regional major trauma centre, we are at the forefront of emergency and specialist care in the region.

1. Undertake non-clinician led cardiac CT studies under a defined system of work and adjust imaging protocols to the patient’s clinical situation as required. This will involve the providing and receiving complex / highly complex information. Provide the patient with empathy and reassurance during the procedure. Be able to communicate sensitive information to the patient in your care.
2. Lead the cardiac CT service, having highly developed specialist knowledge of cardiac CT, underpinned by theory and experience. Be able to prioritise your own workload, and provide training sessions for the CT radiographers in cardiac scanning. Implement policies and propose changes to practices and procedures for the cardiac CT service, in

1. Supervise cardiac CT lists in the absence of a cardiac radiologist, being accountable for cardiac CT image quality. Be able to analyse complex situations in their absence, ensuring safe practice. Be able to assess and implement these highly specialist imaging procedures.
2. Develop highly specialist knowledge to support the cardiac CT service, including ECG pattern recognition and a knowledge of drug interactions with beta blockade. Trained in ILS and the ability to lead a team managing a deteriorating patient (or ALS).
3. Attend regular multidisciplinary team meetings in order to maintain awareness of current issues.
4. Undertake radiographic duties in any of the CT scanners of Derriford hospital, ensuring the high standards of radiographic quality and patient care are maintained and delivered in a timely manner.
5. To be responsible for the patient whilst in your care. To adapt technique according to the patients’ condition. To communicate highly complex information. Where appropriate to inform relatives and carers, when necessary, of the procedure being undertaken.
6. Analyse complex tasks or situations requiring interpretation or comparison of a range of options. Possess specialist skills for assessing acute and other patient conditions, calculation of infusion doses and imaging parameters. Adapt these to complex cases.
7. Assist the CT management team in the management of Cardiac CT waiting lists and improvement projects to manage the performance of cardiac CT and patient waiting times and the development of new cardiac services.
8. To empathise and reassure patients who are worried, anxious or reluctant to undergo the procedure by providing thoughtful and well-constructed responses to their questions. Patient groups will regularly include learning disabilities, those with cancer, dementia, paediatrics, patients with severe pain and patients who are sedated or under anaesthesia. Frequent counselling for patients with claustrophobia.

For further details please see the attached JD & PS

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Must have demonstrated the competencies expected of band 6 CT radiographers.
• Must have demonstrated an aptitude in, or sustained interest in cardiac CT.
• Able to show good proven knowledge of all safety aspects of CT, commensurate with current level of demonstrable experience / exposure

• Post Graduate qualification relevant to this role.
• Able to demonstrate involvement in cardiac research

Qualifications

• Current HCPC registration
• BSc in Diagnostic Radiography or equivalent
• Certificate in IV Cannulation

• Computer literate (ECDL)
• ALS

Aptitudes and Abilities

• Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Organisational skills

• Ability to interpret the Trust’s policy on Violence and Aggression in order to maintain a safe working environment for yourself and colleagues

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.

If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.

We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.

This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.

For Doctors Roles:

Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details

University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.

We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.

In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.

We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.

Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.

Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.

In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.