Advanced Practice Therapeutic Radiographer | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester

The successful candidate will join the colorectal clinical oncology team as an advanced practitioner and will take a key role in co‑ordinating and promoting continuity of care, ensuring the patient knows who to access for information and advice for colorectal cancer patients at The Christie. The successful candidate will be a knowledgeable expert, who understands the process and stages of the patient care pathway specific to the disease type and will co‑ordinate aspects of radiotherapy for patients in the given disease group by effectively managing and monitoring the waiting list and decreasing waiting times to maintain a patient‑focused service. They will participate in the direct clinical management of patients from first presentation at the hospital, until discharge or death, including 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. Independent prescribing responsibilities support this practice. Strategic planning, education, research and audit are key components of the role. The post holder will exercise advanced clinical expertise, levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Co‑coordinate and promote continuity of care, ensuring patients know how to access information and advice.
• Co‑coordinate aspects of radiotherapy for the disease group, manage and monitor the waiting list, and decrease waiting times.
• Direct clinical management of patients from first presentation until discharge or death, including history taking, examination and requisition of investigations.
• Formulate clinical management plans, re‑evaluate treatment plans, and support independent prescribing.
• Provide and receive highly complex, sometimes sensitive information, including diagnosis, scan results, management options, prognosis, and life expectancy.
• Conduct “Bad News” consultations and utilize persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic, and reassurance skills to achieve consensus with consultants, medical colleagues, and other MDT members.
• Lecture to radiographers, postgraduate scientists, doctors in training, and assist in the organisation of the department’s teaching programmes.
• Consent patients for treatment and procedures as per hospital policy; accept and make appropriate referrals to/from other professional colleagues.
• Check and interpret referrals, taking action as clinically indicated.
• Contribute to the coordination and effective management of the admission and discharge process for the disease group.
• Educate patients and carers on health promotion, illness prevention, and facilitate lifestyle changes where appropriate.
• Prepare accurate and concise records and reports (verbal and written).
• Communicate with patients’ referring specialists, GP, community and hospice services.
• Ensure effective communication with patients, relatives, MDT members; collaborate within the Cancer Network and provide clinical support to colleagues within cancer units.
• Participate in strategic review of the service, represent the service at strategy planning meetings, advisory boards, and relevant working groups.
• Publish results in peer‑reviewed journals of top quartile impact.

Qualifications and Experience

• Highly developed specialist knowledge across radiotherapeutic, chemotherapeutic, surgical, palliative and other medical aspects of patient care within Lower GI oncology.
• Extensive relevant practical experience and postgraduate post‑registration study (e.g., master's degree).
• Significant formal training or experience within Lower GI oncology.
• Professional registration and ongoing CPD; maintain a professional portfolio to demonstrate competency in line with the trust framework.
• Identified personal development needs and participation in personal development plan with named mentor from the medical team.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

The post holder will be an ACP (Lower GI Oncology) supervising critical elements of the patient pathway, acting as part of a clinical team led by the oncologist. Responsibilities include assessing complex facts and situations using analytical skill, interpretation and comparison of options, managing competing expectations from patients, the Trust, and partners, reviewing and evaluating their own role, and practicing evidence‑based health care.

Planning and Organisational Skills

The post holder will plan and organise complex clinical management plans, formulate and adjust them to respond to changes, and develop, structure and schedule activities, including allocation of tasks to colleagues within the Trust or partner organisations. They will lead on translating developments within their specialist area for implementation in the clinical setting.