Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical duties and responsibilities

•    To work autonomously with other specialist disciplines. To streamline patient care and improve access for patients, both within and outside The Christie, ensuring that radiotherapy is carried in accordance to current recommended timescales.

•    Plan and manage own workload and the workload of the service, in a flexible manner, ensuring that service provision meets the need of patients.
•    Participate in the direct clinical management of patients. This includes history taking, systematic physical examination and requisition of appropriate clinical investigations, formulation of clinical management plans and re-evaluation of implemented treatment plans as appropriate. 
•    Consent agreed patient groups for treatment and procedures as per Trust policy.
•    Work with the clinical team to formulate clinical decisions and complex treatment plans to manage acute radiotherapy toxicity and psychosocial issues by responding to actual and potential health problems appropriately.  

•    For agreed patient groups, work as an independent non-medical prescriber. 

•    Accept and make appropriate referrals from/to other professional colleagues. 
•    Contribute to the coordination and effective management of the admission and discharge process.
•    Prepare accurate and concise records and reports both verbal and written. 
•    Communicate with the patient’s referring specialist, GP and other community and hospice based services at regular intervals as appropriate.  
•    Practice evidence based health care and be responsible for developing, monitoring and updating clinical policies in relation to own area of practice.
•    Act as an expert resource and provide advice to ward/departmental areas and the wider community.
•    Attend and participate in all relevant MDT’s and clinics ensuring relevant information relating to patient treatment and care is communicated and received.
•    To attend relevant oncology clinics to make initial contact with this group of patients and perform acute and late toxicity assessments.
•    To maintain and develop links with local cancer networks and cancer service collaborative. 

•    To be pro-active in the development and implementation of evidence based clinical practice in line with local and national initiatives, facilitating changes in service where necessary. 

•    To act as an expert resource on pre-treatment scanning, planning and treatment delivery in relation to the specific patient group. 

Patient Care

•    Develop a relationship that recognises the person (patient/family member/carer) as an individual.
•    Give information, at an appropriate level of understanding, to ensure a patient is fully informed along all stages of the patient pathway. 
•    Develop and update patient specific information which is age appropriate.   
•    Co-ordinate the patient journey ensuring appointments and information is communicated to the patient in a timely fashion. 

•    Act as a patient advocate with clear feedback systems in place to the MDT and referring hospitals.
•    Communicate highly complex, sensitive or contentious information to patients and carers. This may include diagnosis, results of scans or other investigations, management options and details of prognosis.
•    Asses on a regular basis whether more support or advice is needed and offered where appropriate.
•    Provide an important point of contact for the patient and those around them both during and after completion of treatment, ensuring continuation of care.
•    Cover other appropriate disease groups as required.

Supervisory and Managerial Responsibilities.

•    Contribute to the clinical governance process, including adverse incident reporting/investigation and the management of complaints, as appropriate.  
•    Attend meetings at managerial, Trust committee and local Trust partnership level, acting as advocate for area of work and profession. 

•    Participate in national oncology/radiotherapy advisory boards and relevant working groups as invited. Assist in the development of integrated patient pathways (e.g. NICE Guidance on Cancer Services, NHS Guidance etc.).

•    Identify gaps in service provision and work with the MDT and cancer network to implement the changes required to improve service provision. 
•    Act as a reviewer for performance management reviews of junior staff.

Responsibilities for human resources

•    Work closely with team to ensure relevant MDT meetings and clinics are staffed.

•    Active role in managing inadequate performance, including capability and poor professional standards for students or employees. Participate in any investigation processes.

•    Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff. 

Professional and Personal Development

•    Act in accordance with the HCPC code of professional conduct: standards for conduct and ethics.

•    Provide evidence of continued professional development in the form of a professional practice portfolio to meet the revalidation requirements of the HCPC.

•    Be flexible in line with evolving radiotherapy service across all Christie sites.
•    Ensure patient confidentiality at all times.
•    Maintain patient safety and dignity.
•    Comply with policies and procedures of the Trust.
•    Maintain clinical competencies, sufficient to participate in the patient pathway for specific disease site.
•    Participate in performance development review and evaluate own clinical practice.
•    Maintain essential training records.

Teaching and Training

•    Take an active role in the training of all learners in radiotherapy.
•    Educate patients and their carers on issues surrounding health promotion and illness prevention.
•    Promote and facilitate changes to lifestyle where appropriate.  

Research and Audit

•    Maintain ICH/GCP competence.
•    Facilitate radiotherapy research.
•    Keep up to date with current research and publications.
•    Initiate and support clinical audit with respect to evaluating service effectiveness and future developments within the role, developing and managing strategies to address any shortfalls.
•    Disseminate relevant research findings to colleagues and members of the health professions via presentation and publication.

Project Work

•    To pursue continuing professional development and in doing so provide evidence of continued professional development in the form of a professional portfolio.
•    Assist in the development of radiotherapy treatment planning and delivery of the specific disease site.
•    Lead on developing and updating patient and carer information.
•    Assist in the development of appropriate competencies and training for specialist radiographers and other non-medical health care professionals who may assist the review team.
•    Assist in development of relevant protocols in the radiotherapy quality system