Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

A Radiology HCA will undertake a high quality, caring and compassionate personal care/clinical and associated duties under the direction and supervision of the registered professional both independently and working as part of the multi- disciplinary team.

Key results from the job holder

•  To have proficient attitudes and behaviours compatible with NHS and Trust values.
• To provide a high level of care to support the health and wellbeing of patients and carers when in the care of the Radiology department. This includes supporting all aspects of activities of daily living ensuring that patients receive appropriate hygiene, clothing and basic nutritional needs as required.
• To ensure that patients are appropriately prepared for imaging examinations, including instruction and support to change into and out of examination gowns.
• To advise patients on pre-procedure preparation regimes including the requirement to fast and/or hydrate. Advice may be provided to patients who are required to comply with a specific diet prior to undergoing an imaging procedure.
• To have a high level of proficiency in using department IT systems – CRIS, Sectra PACS, HIS, Patient Centre, NHS.net email accounts and Patient Transport System.
• To support clinical procedures that require clean and sterile working fields. This includes preparation of equipment and consumables to complete the procedure ensuring that this is used appropriately to maintain a sterile field.
• To assist with safe aspiration as directed by the Radiologist. This may include retracting a syringe to collect cells and samples that will be taken to the laboratory for testing.
• To support the clinical staff in correctly identifying and labelling pathological samples for transfer to the laboratory.
• Obtaining and recording physiological measurements including blood pressure and oxygen saturations results before and after interventional and cardiac procedures.

• Assist in preparation of imaging rooms prior to diagnostic procedures which is compliant with high standards of infection prevention and control.
• To share responsibility for maintaining safety within MRI Scanning Department including undertaking a questionnaire checklist before entering restricted areas which present a risk due to magnetic fields and radio-frequency exposure.  This includes ensuring that all metal objects are identified, safely isolated, and locked away, i.e., Mobile phones, hearing aids, any metallic objects.
• Undertake initial safety critical checks for pacemakers and any implanted medical devices which pose a risk if not identified and controlled.
• Adhering to MRI Safety guidelines to maintain safety within controlled areas, including the escalation of concerns and queries to qualified staff.
• To be aware of radiation protection requirements including local rules to promote safe practice within restricted and controlled areas. The postholder should apply this knowledge to foster a pro-active approach to safety to other staff who are visiting the area as part of their role.
• To order and monitor consumable items that are used across the service to support service continuity. This includes liaising with central procurement/stores teams to ensure appropriate quantities and quality of stock is ordered.
• To receipt and record deliveries to the department including substances that have the potential to cause harm such as radioisotopes and substances hazardous to health such as formalin and disinfection products.
• To ensure that pharmaceuticals are stored in secure and appropriate locations.
• To support nursing staff to maintain contemporaneous records of drug stock and to ensure that stock is delivered/stored as expected.
• To undertake specialised cleaning procedures to promote safe working practices. This includes cleaning of ultrasound probes that must be methodically disinfected between patients according to a standard operating procedure.
• To maintain good housekeeping and a clean environment. This included undertaking workplace audits to ensure that cleaning procedures are undertaken to the expected frequency and standard.
• Basic trouble shooting of minor/routine faults on scan machines, including escalating to qualified staff when this cannot be achieved.
• To segregate, monitor and dispose waste material according to Trust policy and to be aware of special requirements to dispose waste generated within Radiology including low-level radioactive waste which must be quarantined before entering the general waste stream. 

Communications and Key Working Relationships

§  Provide care, assistance and support to patients, during their visit to the department. 

• Maintain accurate and timely records through the CRIS system. Must demonstrate good communication in order to exchange information with patients.
• Provide basic non-clinical advice, information and guidance to patient’s relatives and visitors. This may include signposting to other services such as smoking cessation and Macmillan Cancer Support.
• To act as an ambassador for the service providing a first point of contact role for patients, clinicians, engineers, and other non-imaging colleagues etc. when working in the reception area.
•  Communicate effectively and with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives, and others.
•  Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, handing over responsibility for care.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
•  Report accidents, incidents, near misses or complaints following Trust policies/procedures.
•   Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns [and that] speaking up about what these are is a normal part of their routine.
• To assist in information collection from patients/ relatives as requested by trained staff.
•  To effectively use communication tools (verbal and nonverbal) through interpreters, and family consent for patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g., loss of hearing.
•   To use initiative to prioritise tasks allocated and adjust as necessary.
• To ensure that documentation is completed in accordance with Trust and             departmental requirements.

Responsibility for Finance

• Participate in ensuring effective use of financial resources in providing and delivering an effective service.
•  Exercise personal duty of care in the safe use and storage of equipment, i.e., lockers for patients’ valuables.
• Be environmentally aware and prudent in use of resources and energy.
• Responsible for ordering stock for the department using NHS supply chain.

Responsibility for Training

• To undertake procedures as directed by a Registered Health Care Professional after successfully completing relevant competencies, through the wwl learning hub.,
• Undertake Mandatory training updates.
• Maintain own level of competence and ongoing CPD, through wwl learning hub.
• Undertake role specific training for onward development of the role.

Responsibility for Health & Safety

• To work according to the WWL NHS Trust Lone worker Policy
•  To report faulty equipment to the Team leader/ Ward manager/ Registered Health Care Professional.
• To report to the Registered Health Care Professional any health and safety concerns.
• Report to the Registered Health Care Professional any complaints or untoward events as soon as possible.
• Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions
• All staff have a duty of care to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults, babies’ children and young people.
• Awareness of the Trust Vulnerable Adults and Child Protection Policy/ Guidelines.