Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional and Clinical

 To hold the relevant post graduate qualification to enable you to perform all CT and MR examinations to the highest standard using highly specialised skills and experience acquired.

• To act as a highly skilled specialist in the radiographic area of CT and MR scanning and as such be accountable for your own actions.
• To be competent to perform IV cannulation on a broad range of patients.  To safely administer contrast agents using high pressure injectors.
• To have a lead role in the training/ mentoring of all staff in Ct & MR scanning (including students training at masters level).

Procedural duties and responsibilities

• To accept and justify requests for CT/ MR Scanning to ensure the most appropriate examination and scanning procedure is performed.  
• To ensure MR safety and advise for patients, staff and visitor adhering to national and local guidance.
• To use skills acquired through post graduate CT & MR study and in depth clinical experience to provide a radiographer led CT & MR service to a broad range of patients.
• To use  CT & MR skills acquired to achieve consistently high technical quality images on all patients examined.  E.g. oncology, trauma, medical, surgical, paediatric, special needs.
• You will have a high degree of personal and professional autonomy and have the ability to make clinical judgements and decisions using knowledge, skills and experience. This includes working unsupervised in out of hour situations as a sole lead practitioner to provide a timely and diagnostically appropriate CT & MR study.
• To plan and prioritise work load and adjust lists for emergency/urgent patients.
• To use initiative in determining when and how to perform highly complex reconstruction of imaging data – outside of routine protocols – to optimise the diagnostic information from a complex/unusual study.
• To discuss highly complex CT & MR examinations with consultants to ensure optimum diagnostic procedure (outcome achieved).
• To demonstrate flexibility and multi-tasking skills by being able to cope with a high volume workload and multiple interruptions having the ability to focus on your own duties during difficult cases  when multiple staff from other departments     e.g. HDU or A/E are in attendance and may be extremely distracting.
• To have the ability to concentrate on complicated scanning lists or injecting/filling automatic injector to ensure no air emboli, for at least a whole session.

You must be able to deal with highly distressing/emotional circumstances    e.g. RTA’s, child abuse, attempted suicide – not only involving the patient but relatives and friends also – communicating complex and sensitive information in a manner which is consistent with their level of understanding, culture and background.

You must possess a sensitive and caring approach during frequent work with patients who have a terminal illness, utilising counselling and empathy skills as necessary.

You must have the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of individuals using reassurance and persuasive skills to gain the co-operation of often unpredictable patients such as paediatrics and the mentally ill – who may be aggressive – ensuring the safety of patients and staff at all times.

To provide a high quality patient centred CT/MR service being responsible for the assessment and care of the patient throughout the CT/MR examination and demonstrating an awareness of special physical and emotional patient needs.  To determine how best to perform the examination and precisely position each patient e.g. ICU/HDU, multi-trauma, oncology and the acutely ill.

To have attended a nationally accredited IV Injection course to ensure: correct analysis of patient risks associated with contrast administration, to perform accurate IV cannulation of patients – many of whom have compromised venous access e.g. oncology patients and IV drug users -  where a high level of hand/eye co-ordination is required, and detailed documentation of this process.

To safely use the high pressure injector pump including the appropriate selection of flow rate.

There is frequent potential for needle stick injuries so safe working practices must be maintained during IV Cannulation of all patients, including those with MRSA, Hepatitis and HIV+ etc.

To utilise the image link network to transfer images to specialist units to contribute to the ongoing clinical care of the patient.

To record comments/observations regarding the patient which may assist in clinical diagnosis and future patient studies.

To repeatedly transfer patients within Radiology pushing wheelchairs and trolleys as required, frequently performing the safe transfer of often immobile patients onto the scanning couch throughout the whole shift, including patients with spinal injuries.

To be responsible for the safe transit of patient equipment such as drips, drains, catheters, monitors and ventilators, during patient transfer and movement of the scanning couch and to manoeuvre ancillary equipment as necessary for individual scans e.g. headboard, knee support, MR coils etc.

To obtain relevant clinical history and access available literature and advice to allow patients to safely undergo Magnetic Resonance Scanning

In cases of emergency, to be responsible for the safe access to the MR scanning area.

To plan, participate, organise and work as a team

To handle and transfer sensitive and confidential patient information in accordance with data protection and Caldicott guidelines.

To be responsible for correctly creating, maintaining and updating patients’ Radiology records including hard and soft copy, retrieving and filing patient records.

To ensure provisional reports are securely entered into medical notes for transfer to the wards/A&E.

To ensure accuracy when booking lists of appointments i.e. correct examination protocol, relevant radiologist and clinical staff availability, correct preparation instructions and clinically prioritising as appropriate for efficient patient throughput.

To perform daily QA tests and analyse equipment faults, determining which part/s of a complex network of equipment is/are involved and the consequent impact on the scanning procedure, reporting faults according to departmental protocol.

To liaise with other services e.g. medical physics, equipment engineers, to agree appropriate time to access scanner.

To arrange for the timely transfer of images to the MDT room for the commencement of meetings.

To utilise computer software when developing protocols, documents and preparing reports e.g. audit projects.

To regularly review and manage the local patient image database, deleting files as necessary for efficient performance of the archive and scanner.

To selectively archive and network patient image data to optical disc and PACS.

To provide high standards of patient care in a safe, clean and tidy working environment.

Professional Duties and Responsibilities

• To be committed to CPD by actively seeking to keep professionally up to date using all training methods available, reflecting on personal practice to identify individual requirements and personal objectives in line with departmental strategy and professional guidance.

• Assist is specialist clinical training and perform specialist clinical MR training and supervision of student (degree level) radiographers, trainee (masters level) MR clinical specialists, nurses, medical students, and registrars, consistent with their level of understanding, ensuring that training records/assessments are completed as required.

• To support and motivate all staff and students – including the mentoring of new staff.

• To provide day to day supervision of radiology assistants working within the MR department and work in close liaison with other staff and wards to provide a responsive, efficient and high quality service.

• To maintain a broad depth of knowledge of CT & MR protocols and practices, and the departmental, Trust and national policies that govern the way in which we work.

• To review and undertake clinical audit on own/peers working practice/service delivery e.g. IV Cannulation, producing summary reports and presenting to colleagues.

• To continually evaluate, audit and implement working policies including examination protocols, proposing and contributing to changes in line with evidence based practice, ensuring clinical risks are reduced to a minimum.

• To update scanning protocols by changing and adapting set parameters which have been programmed into the MR console.

• To participate in the maintenance and annual review of rules, guidelines and protocols e.g. imaging protocols, local rules.

• To complete mandatory training to reduce risk to patients and staff within daily working practice.

Other Duties

• To work with the Modality Leads for CT/MR and assist in the organisation of the CT/MR service.

• To have the stamina to maintain an effective pace of working throughout the whole shift to enable efficient throughput of patients.

• To be fit for the continual use of computer screens during scanning lists for at least half a shift utilising VDU aids as provided by the Trust, to minimise personal risk.

• To work in frequently unpleasant (and occasionally highly unpleasant) working conditions with daily exposure to e.g. body fluids, abscess drainage, foul linen from incontinent patients, and multi-trauma, continually ensuring high standards of patient care.

• To deal with contaminated equipment following RTA’s or e.g. patients with MRSA/ Covid -19