Therapeutic Radiographer Apprentice (XR04)inLeedsinLeedsPUBLISHED TUE 15 OCT 2024

Expected Shortlisting Date

15/11/2024

Planned Interview Date

09/12/2024

To work within the radiotherapy department as a trainee therapeutic radiographer under the Therapeutic Radiographer Apprenticeship program. This is a three year training programme encompassing theory and practical experience working towards a bachelors degree in Therapeutic Radiography.

The post holder is responsible for performing with the highest standard of patient care and technical practice in their clinical area while treating patients.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, the trainee will be expected to have completed their degree in Therapeutic Radiography and register with the healthcare Professions council (HCPC). Allowing them to become a practicing Therapeutic Radiographer.

The radiotherapy department delivers treatment care packages to approximately 6,500 patients with cancer per year.

The trainee will be required to rotate through all areas within the radiotherapy department to develop a well-rounded knowledge of all aspects of the radiotherapy service and cancer care pathway.

The trainee will work supernumerary whilst in the department, under the supervision of a registered practitioner as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The trainee will provide radiotherapy treatment and patient support, in line with Trust and departmental policies and procedures under supervision.

Trainees will be provided with a minimum of 20% protected study time.

Trainees working hours will be required to be flexible and be able to work a variety of shifts between the clinical hours of the department which are currently 8.00am to 6.30pm.

About us

Core Behaviours and Values

The post holder will be honest, reliable & professional and demonstrate the behaviours outline by the Trust and the College of Radiographers Professional Code of Conduct. They must ensure that professional attitudes and standards are maintained.

They will have a commitment to team working, creating good interpersonal relationships and working atmosphere so that 2 way discussion, learning and development of the whole team can occur.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Technical / Clinical/ Academic

Work within the departmental protocols; under supervision

Able to use their own judgement following assessment of patient and identifying and escalating when needed to a registered professional in the team.

To develop their skills in analysing complex treatments during the course of their training

Contribute to clinical discussion under the supervision of the team

To participate and attend fully all lectures and meetings as required of the degree course at the Higher Education Institute (HEI) or local departmental training.

Ensure all assignments are completed to the required level and in a timely manner.

To undertake additional training and development to maintain and develop personal skills, up-to-date and effective practice and knowledge in relation to the role through continuing professional development.

Comply and undertake all mandatory training

Complete the competency based training providing evidence in the required portfolio/degree modules.

Complete an annual appraisal with clear objectives aligned with your year of training

Act as peer support in years 2 and 3 to new apprentices commencing their programmes

Management

Manage their own time efficiently, ensuring all clinical and academic needs/ requirements are met.

Understand the departmental processes and assist with the daily workflow for the area they are working in.

Representing the views of team members and peers at meetings and workgroups and reporting information back to the team.

Patient care

Ensure they follow the trust policies and work protocols to give high quality patient care. Highlighting any areas of concern to a supervising member of the team.

Highlighting and following trust procedures with any concerns in regards to safeguarding of patients and their families

Responsible for monitoring, maintaining and cleaning environments; including equipment pre/post procedure

General

Actively participate in and support activities in promoting and recruiting to the profession.

To work flexibly as required by the service need.

Carrying out additional duties as requested by the Head of Radiotherapy, management team or team manager, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Health and Safety/Risk Management

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals

NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system.

Comply with statutory Ionizing Radiations (Medical Exposures) Regulations IR(ME)R and Local Rules (Ionising Radiations Regulations - IRR) and departmental radiotherapy incident reporting procedures.

Responsible for prompt reporting of radiation incidents, equipment, patient and safety related incidents in accordance with departmental / Trust procedures. Also identifying and reporting any areas of perceived risk

Infection Control

The trainee must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

Equality and Diversity

The trainee must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Patient and Public Involvement

The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback.

Training and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development

The trainee must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The trainee should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

Communication and Working Relationships

Post holder will mainly work under close supervision occasionally unsupervised i.e. transporting patients etc.

An ability to provide and receive complex and sensitive information to / from cancer patients in an empathetic, reassuring and professional manner.

Assess potential communication barriers and demonstrate where necessary persuasive, motivational and negotiating skills, referring to supervising members of the team where necessary.

To recognise the potential for conflict in relationships and seek to minimise this, and contribute to effective communication and team working

To promote and maintain effective communication and relationships with immediate colleagues, the multi-disciplinary team, patients and visitors.

Special Working Conditions

Physical Effort

This post requires dexterity and highly developed co-ordination and sensory skills in order to speedily and accurately manipulate equipment with a high degree of precision, as well as finely manipulating the patients body to align the relevant anatomy with the radiation beam to accuracy within 1 mm.

They should when trained, under supervision be able to accurately apply permanent patient skin marks (tattoo) with needles and ink.

This is a physically demanding post with constant manoeuvring of patients and equipment, which can often be heavy and / or awkward.

The trainee will need to exert intense physical effort by reaching over and twisting heavy patients at height (approx. 5 feet from the ground) for short periods of time (5 minutes), several times a day (15-20 per day ), every day. The post holder will also need to lift accessory equipment (some weighing 6-10Kg) and position these at head / shoulder height onto other equipment. There are postural constraints involved in this due to limitations in work design.

These risks have been assessed by the Trust Back Care Lead and physio. Post holder works in pairs so lifting of accessories is recommended as a two person lift.

Mental Effort

A high level of concentration is required when treating each patient constantly in order to undergo patient assessment and maintain a high level of care (10-30 mins per patient / up to 50 patients per day.

Ability to view patient set-ups in both 2D and 3D. Excellent psychomotor and spatial awareness to accurately position patients (to within 1mm).

When not treating patients, periods of prolonged concentration (1-2 hrs) are required when viewing images, calculating prescriptions and checking datasets for accuracy.

Emotional Effort

To recognize and appropriately act upon the emotional and psychological needs of patients, colleagues, team and ones self due to the frequent exposure to distressing and emotional circumstances, e.g. continually working with patients with cancer.

Dealing empathetically with cancer patients, families and carers with challenging behaviour, caused by either the physical and/or emotional effects of diagnosis or the disease, impacts on the emotional effort required for this post.

Dealing with the large age range of patients and carers / dependents of varying physical states including anaesthetized and unconscious.

To act in an influencing role in areas that may cause significant conflict due to changes in traditional working practice.

Working Conditions

Working in an environment where radiation is used continuously.

Approximately 80% of time will be spent in clinical areas, therefore the post holder will require a professional approach to occasional exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions (uncontained body fluids, smells) and have knowledge of how to deal with these appropriately. Post holder will need to lead by example in effectively dealing with any exposure to verbal aggression and threatening behaviour (usually due to patient distress), and be able to support other junior staff to develop strategies regarding the correct de-escalation processes.

The remainder of the role will be spent doing academic work in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University.