Band 7 Clinical Specialist PET/CT

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Leadership

Organise and manage the workflow in the department for which they are responsible in collaboration with the other site’s Clinical Specialist / Deputy.

Daily Responsibilities

1. Undertake specialised imaging within any of the diagnostic departments, appropriate to knowledge, training and planned development. This should be carried out according to the competencies set for radiographers/ technologists at this level.
2. Provide support for the Clinical Specialists and the Deputies to ensure the smooth running of the service on a day-to-day basis.
3. Assist in the management of workflow and ensure that all data inputs are recorded for patient record integrity, statistical evaluation purposes and evidence of compliance with standards.
4. Adapt planned schedules according to circumstances when required e.g. if emergency requests are made, radiopharmaceutical shortages, transport fails etc.
5. Organise and manage the workflow in the department for which they are responsible in collaboration with or in the absence of the Clinical Specialist / Deputy.
6. Participate in the education of other groups of staff as part of a course of study, professional development or an induction process, to ensure a wide knowledge of the role of Radiology within the patient journey.
7. Support the training of student Radiographers rotating through the department.
8. Ensure that the general cleanliness and tidiness of the department is maintained.
9. Reporting estate and equipment faults as appropriate.

Communication

1. Communicate specialist information regarding Nuclear Medicine/PET-CT and the Service to users of the service, patients, relatives and other health professionals.
2. Communicate frequently with the CCC partners in the NW PET-CT service to discuss clinical details of the service, e.g. scanning protocols, capacity, etc.
3. Communicate sensitively with patients and their carers when discussing details of their medical condition.
4. Communicate effectively with all users of the service verbally, on paper and electronically, to ensure clinical and service needs are met. This includes patients, carers and referrers, both within the Trust and externally (e.g. Wirral University Hospital Trust, Royal Liverpool University Hospitals and Alliance Medical).
5. Liaise effectively with other staff within Radiology and Pre Treatment to optimise the patient experience e.g. co-ordinating appointments and instructions when patients attend more than one modality.
6. Ensure that patients understand what is involved in the imaging procedure they are about to undertake and have agreed to exposure to ionising radiation prior to their examination.

Patient Care

1. Supervise the PET-CT clinical team and the level of service provided.
2. Undertake administration of radioactive tracers to patients and PET-CT scanning according to departmental protocols.
3. Occasional support of the Nuclear Medicine department by undertaking complex Nuclear Medicine scans and procedures, including planar imaging and SPECT-CT.
4. Deliver radioactive therapeutic agents to patients.
5. Attend to the personal care of patients and their possessions whilst attending the Radiology department.
6. Identify patients requiring further support services and guide them appropriately e.g. Safeguarding, Macmillan Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialist.
7. Establish from the patient, patient’s guardian or the referrer the patient’s suitability for receipt of I.V injections, assessing risk of any contraindications, ensuring appropriate aftercare in terms of radiation protection.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

1. Interpret scan results to assess diagnostic and technical quality.
2. Make judgements on how scanning protocols and techniques should be adjusted to suit individual patients.
3. Analyse performance of equipment and make judgements about whether adjustments need to be made.
4. Act as a point of advice for imaging referrers and patients (regarding their referral for imaging).
5. Act as an operator under IR(ME)R  regulations.
6. Ensure that all radioactive materials are handled safely and in compliance with local rules and appropriate legislation, including IRR.
7. Comprehend and adhere to requirements of IR(ME)R, assessing justification for referral and dealing with inappropriate requests.
8. Have an excellent working knowledge of safety instructions and Local Rules/policies and ensure compliance with these at all times.
9. Responsible for enforcing compliance with Local Rules/policies with others.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

1. Review protocols in PET-CT regularly and propose changes as and when required.
2. Propose changes to work practices in PET-CT and organize IOT meetings.
3. Comprehend and adhere to all Health & Safety and COSHH legislation.
4. Follow Infection Control Guidelines with regard to patient and personal protection.
5. Be aware of and work within agreed departmental and Trust policies.
6. Ensure that all staff maintain professional standards of conduct and work.
7. Ensure that a high standard of service is practiced at all times in order to maximise the diagnostic/therapeutic potential of examinations.
8. Ensure that the practices of sound Clinical Governance are followed, with the aim of continual improvement of services.
9. Co-operate in carrying out risk assessments to minimise risk to staff, patients and visitors.
10. Actively participate in departmental activities/meetings, including QSI accreditation, audit, staff education and risk management.
11. Report clinical, non-clinical and radiation incidents in line with Trust and Departmental Risk Management policies.
12. Take responsibility for Continuing Professional Development, to ensure an up to date high level practical and theoretical core of knowledge.
13. Actively contribute as part of a team for the delivery of an effective and responsive Radiology service.
14. To work flexible hours according to the needs of the service (service hours of 7am until 8pm) including weekends and Bank Holidays as required.

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

1. Carry out quality assurance tests on equipment and report findings. Keep accurate records and results of tests, to ensure a safe environment for staff, patients and visitors reporting any discrepancies to Medical Physics.
2. Ensure that all equipment is operating accurately and safely for both staff and patients, and report any defects promptly.
3. Use and be responsible for highly expensive pieces of specialised equipment.
4. Refrain from willful misuse or interference with anything provided in the interests of health and safety from any action that may endanger self or others.
5. Arrange daily orders of radiopharmaceuticals totaling several thousands of pounds per week.
6. Responsible for safe operation and maintenance of Nuclear Medicine equipment.

Responsibility for Human Resources

1. Participate in the PADR process for staff within the department to assist in drawing up Personal Development Plans.
2. Supervise Radiographers, Technologists and Assistants during their daily work.
3. Provide training in PET-CT to Radiographers, assistants and students.
4. Support the Radiology Operational Site Manager in managing staff attendance. Undertake and record return to work discussions and follow up with the ROSM.
5. Assist in the training of students, both Diagnostic and Therapeutic, as required to fulfil their educational needs with respect to oncology imaging.
6. Participate in the education of other groups of staff during their visit to the department.
7. Promote health and safety in the department.

Responsibility for Information Resources

1. Collect performance data for measurement of compliance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
2. Maintain appropriate records regarding the service.
3. Promote data protection and data security in Nuclear Medicine.
4. Process acquired data to produce information in the format required for Radiologists/Nuclear Medicine Physicians to produce their report on the examination.
5. Enter data, received from referrer in form of paper requests, on to the Radiology Information Systems.
6. Keep accurate records of all procedures undertaken on computer and paper based systems, ensuring patient confidentiality, in line with Caldicott principles/GDPR.
7. Utilise IT systems to aid scheduling examinations and assist in patient management.
8. Assist in the management of workflow and ensure that all data inputs are recorded for patient record integrity, statistical evaluation purposes and evidence of compliance with standards.

Responsibility for Research and Development

1. Regularly participates in R&D activities, e.g. studies setup.
2. Undertake clinical audit
3. Participate in the examination of patients for the purpose of clinical trials or research projects, according to agreed protocols and keep appropriate records, either manually or electronically, as required.

Freedom to Act

1. Act as Lead practitioner in PETCT
2. Take responsibility for PETCT
3. Professionally accountable for own actions.
4. Work closely with the relevant Consultant Clinical Scientist (Imaging Physicist) to ensure compliance with legislation, approved codes of practice and guidance notes relating to radiation safety.
5. Work according to departmental and Trust policies.
6. Work within professional guidelines.
7. Accountable for own actions.
8. Respond to incidents and complaints.
9. Review images and ensure that appropriate supplementary imaging procedures / views are performed prior to patient departure from the department.
10. Ensure that urgent findings are communicated appropriately and patients directed accordingly

For addition information, please see the Job Description and Person Specification.

For any queries please contact:

Diana Almeida – Clinical Specialist PET-CT

[email protected]       0151 318 8432