Deputy Lead Radiographer. Nuclear medicine and PETCTNHS

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced Nuclear Medicine Radiographer/Technologist to join our expanding multidisciplinary Nuclear Medicine and PET-CT Service.

We are seeking a highly skilled practitioner who is committed to delivering high-quality patient-centred care and who has experience in Nuclear Medicine imaging and radiopharmaceutical procedures. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting service delivery across Nuclear Medicine, PET-CT and associated diagnostic services, whilst contributing to service development, quality improvement, education and research.

The department provides a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic services, including 4 SPECT/CT gamma cameras, PET-CT, 2 bone densitometry scanners and radionuclide therapies , serving both local and regional populations. The post holder will work closely with consultants, radiographers, technologists, physicists, radiopharmacy staff and wider multidisciplinary teams to ensure the highest standards of patient care across our two site department.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

• Undertake and independently perform a wide range of Nuclear Medicine and PET-CT examinations.
• Act as a senior clinical practitioner and role model within the department.
• Support the day-to-day operational management of imaging services and patient pathways.
• Ensure examinations are performed safely and in accordance with IR(ME)R, ARSAC and local policies.
• Contribute to the delivery and development of radionuclide therapy services.
• Provide supervision, support and training to junior radiographers, technologists, assistants and students.
• Participate in protocol development, quality assurance and service improvement initiatives.
• Assist with workforce planning and service capacity management.
• Participate in departmental audits, governance activities and research projects.
• Maintain accurate patient records and ensure compliance with Trust policies and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in weekend and extended days as required.

Job description

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

1. To perform all standard and complex Nuclear Medicine, SPECT/CT procedures using highly specialised equipment in a timely and accurate manner with due regard to the Health and Safety of self, staff and patients.

2. To specialise and actively participate in one or more advanced areas of Nuclear Medicine, hybrid imaging PET/CT etc.

3. Ensure that all standard operating procedures, protocols and guidelines are adhered to by junior members of staff and students and that any adaptation of technique is technically and clinically justified.

4. To act as an operator under IR(ME)R.

5. To be able to operate all hardware and software used in the department.

6. To take responsibility for patient consent, identification and relevant clinical history taking prior to commencement of imaging in accordance with Trust and professional legislation.

7. To undertake both routine and advanced administration of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals and advanced phlebotomy and laboratory skills.

8. Provide clear instructions and descriptions of all procedures to staff, patients and relatives as necessary.

9. To provide clinical information to the patient whilst interpreting, negotiating and adapting the procedure as appropriate.

10. Optimally use all supporting and immobilisation devices on patients to achieve diagnostically accurate studies.

11. To ensure that all images are of the highest diagnostic quality possible and that they are presented for reporting in timely and accurate manner.

12. To act as the lead source of reference for the development and introduction of new techniques as part of the delivery of the service.

13. To ensure correct quantities of radiopharmaceuticals will be available to meet patient appointment schedules and place orders when required.

14. To assist in Quality Assurance of all relevant equipment and take responsibility for reporting discrepancies to appropriate personnel.

15. To participate in waste monitoring and storage.

Professional Responsibilities:

16. To work in accordance with all legislation and departmental policies during exposure to sealed and unsealed radioactive material, blood samples and other hazardous waste, and to ensure that best practice is maintained by self and junior members of staff.

17. To attend and facilitate appropriate professional meetings as required.

18. To understand and apply all relevant legislation when performing Nuclear Medicine investigations.

19. To ensure personal responsibility is taken for reporting potential and actual adverse incidents to appropriate personnel and assist junior staff in completion of these.

20. The position will be required to work with several other staff including Nuclear Medicine Technologists/Radiographers, Nursing Staff, Health Care Assistants, Clinical Scientists, Physicists, Radiopharmacists, Radiopharmacy Technicians, Consultants and Junior Medical Staff, Management staff, and Administrative and Clerical Staff.

Clinical Governance/Quality

21. To ensure robust Q.A system is in place both for equipment and image quality.

22. To comply with the Health and Safety policies of the trust including attendance at mandatory training sessions as specified.

23. To comply with departmental and organisational policies and procedures including reporting and investigating of all accidents and incidents.

24. To actively participate in the development, review and audit of protocols etc. as required.

25. To be responsible for the maintenance of equipment within the imaging area advising of any defects in equipment or systems thus providing an early warning for potential hazards.

26. To ensure that potential hazards are identified and reported to the correct authority as necessary.

27. To participate in clinical audit as appropriate.

28. First line of investigation of complaints.

29. To always observe patient confidentiality and to comply with the data protection act and Caldicott recommendations.

30. All employees of the Trust are required to carry out their duties with due regard to the fair access policy and respect the culture beliefs and customs held by clients and staff.

31. To take the lead in the Quality assurance requirements for the Nuclear Medicine/PET CT department.

Education and training development

32. To supervise and provide specialist training in conjunction with the clinical lead.

33. To be responsible for the training and development of radiographers/technician and assistants in Nuclear Medicine/PET-CT and DEXA.

34. To ensure that all training records and competencies are maintained and updated on a regular basis in compliance with standards.

35. To participate in the recruitment and selection of staff.

36. To attend relevant training courses as identified and agreed with senior staff and managers during appraisal sessions.

37. To disseminate information from training sessions as required.

38. Participate and contribute to the staff development programme and educational activities.

39. To act as mentor to junior staff.

40. Maintenance of an up to date CPD portfolio.

41. To participate in departmental appraisal system and appraise junior staff.

42. To deliver multi-disciplinary training across professional boundaries.

43. To take a lead role in the development of clinical audit and research.

Equality and Diversity

It is the responsibility of every member of staff to understand our equality and diversity commitments and statutory obligations under current equality legislation (the Equality Act 2010) and to:

Act in ways that support equality and diversity and recognises the importance of peoples rights in accordance with legislation, policies, procedures and good practice.

Valuing people as individuals and treating everyone with dignity and respect, consideration and without prejudice, respecting diversity and recognising peoples expressed beliefs, preferences, and choices in working with others and delivering appropriate services.

• Recognise and report behaviour that undermines equality under Trust policy.
• Be consciously aware of own behaviour and encourage the same levels of behaviour in colleagues.
• Acknowledge others different perspectives and recognise the diverse needs and experiences of everyone they meet.
• With the support of managers develop an equality and diversity objective through the personal development review process.

About us

NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group) was formed on 1 November 2024, born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our communities.

We are one of the largest employers in region, with over 18,900 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services that extend to more than two million people in the North West.

We operate from five hospital sites:Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside, and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to several elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospitalprovide specialist services incardiothoracic surgery,cardiology and respiratory medicine, both in the hospital and out in the community.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single en-suite bedrooms and mainly focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.