Healthcare Science Practitioner in Manchester

Equipment performance testing and radiation protection surveys (main focus of role).

• Undertakes equipment performance and radiation protection surveys, alone or with a colleague, following standard operating procedures defined within an ISO quality system.
• Performs routine quality control on existing installations.
• Assists in the critical examination and commissioning of new equipment to ensure that it is safe for bringing into clinical use.
• Assists with investigation of faults on existing installations.
• Calibrates patient dose measuring equipment to confirm the accuracy of recorded doses.
• Checks the radiation protection of the installation to ensure staff and public safety.
• Analyses the results of equipment performance measurements.
• Writes electronic reports for the Radiation Protection Advisor/Medical Physics Expert and customers, detailing findings and recommending actions required.
• Calibrates x-ray dose measuring equipment.
• Performs testing of UV units, as required by the group, providing advice on level A QC testing, reviewing results and reporting findings.

Radiation Protection:

• Assists in providing radiation protection advice and support as required in the team.
• Produces ad hoc reports on equipment or customer sites, e.g. lists of equipment due.
• Inter-comparison of similar equipment types.
• Updates central records of measurements, e.g. typical patient doses, equipment calibration factors.
• Calibrates radiation protection meters as required and/or organises dispatch of equipment for external calibration.

Supervision and responsibilities for information resources:

• Maintains accurate records using Excel and Access (or other databases as rolled out in the NHS), e.g. results from testing, details of equipment.
• Liaises with radiographic staff to book survey visits in conjunction with the Booking Team as required.
• Supervises less experienced healthcare science staff (assistants, associates, practitioners or scientists) when undertaking equipment performance and radiation protection surveys as part of their training.
• Undertakes internal audits.
• Takes a lead on a number of group functions such as H&S checks, oversight of online QA platforms, maintaining our inventory etc., as required.

Professional:

• Undertakes training identified as required for role, including continuing professional development.
• Gains and maintains registration as clinical technologist.
• Follows the appropriate key work instructions, risk assessments and systems of work and ensures direct supervision of those you are responsible for until they are competent.
• Collaborates with other members of the group in the improvement of test protocols.
• Contributes to the teaching (and outreach) commitments of the service such as assisting in the preparation and delivery of material, e.g. at the Radiation Protection Supervisors courses.
• Contributes to the research and development of the service, e.g. by carrying out measurements or processing data.

Note: This job description indicates the duties and responsibilities that are appropriate to meet the present needs of the service. Since from time to time these needs may change it is necessary to recognise that the post holder must be willing to undertake other and/or different duties that may, after discussion, be assigned by the Director.