Lead Research Radiographer for CT scanning in London

The primary purpose of this exciting new role is to lead the provision and delivery of high-quality clinical and research CT imaging services that will include a new state-of-the-art Photon Counting CT scanner being installed at the Royal Brompton Hospital. This newest element of the Brompton's extensive diagnostic facilities will be part of an important strategic collaboration between the School of BMEIS and the Heart, Lung & Critical Care (HLCC) Clinical Group of Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Clinical research will be the core mission for the collaboration, with all eligible clinical patients planned to be approached for consent to research participation. Clinical academics hosted by Kings and HLCC will work together to establish a new world-class research program in Photon Counting CT.

Main duties of the job

• The post-holder will have primary responsibility for promoting a research culture among the radiographer and imaging delivery teams, whilst also maintaining excellence within clinical services, meeting the needs of referrers and offering high standards of patient care.
• They will perform their duties in accordance with local and national regulations and guidelines concerning ionising radiation and health and safety.
• They will be responsible to the Royal Brompton CT Imaging Lead and will assist them with creating and updating procedures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for clinical and research procedures.
• They will be required to work across all the CT scanners at the Royal Brompton's imaging facilities.
• They will be responsible for the induction, assessment, training, and workload allocation of radiographers undertaking CT scanning procedures.
• They will be accountable to the Director of Clinical & Research Imaging Operations and will work with them to provide regular reports to the Guys & St Thomas NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and the HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine.

About us

This post is jointly hosted by the Research Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, within Kings College London's School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences (BMEIS) and the Royal Brompton Hospital's Imaging Department in Chelsea. The School of BMEIS is committed to improving the way we deliver healthcare through the use of advanced engineering and has worked in partnership with Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust to deliver specialist clinical services for many years. When the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals joined Guys and St Thomas in February 2021, we became the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. Together, we provide treatment for people with heart and lung disease, including rare and complex conditions, offering some of the most sophisticated treatment that is available anywhere in the world.

Job responsibilities

• To provide high-quality patient care and radiographic services undertaken in CT scanning at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
• To assist in the development and updating of clinical and research exam protocols, and to ensure scanning techniques are optimised in relation to dose and quality for the clinical and/or research question.
• To assess whether the patient is fit enough to undergo a particular procedure, decide the best means of transferring a patient, and of carrying out a procedure and to initiate and assist in patient resuscitation in an emergency.
• To assess CT images for quality, clinical significance and adherence to research protocol and to take appropriate action when necessary.
• To carry out IV cannulation for the purpose of administering radiographic contrast agents.
• To undertake procedures, including obtaining informed consent from patients and completing case report forms, as part of research projects.
• To support other CT radiography staff to actively participate in research projects in accordance with their skills and experience, including leading training and education sessions when required.
• To input and work closely with others into the development of research protocols, documentation and related procedures.
• To coordinate research scans including scheduling, completing relevant documentation and collecting relevant data for invoicing for individual scans as per departmental practice.
• To closely liaise with Clinical Scientists and researchers to ensure relevant resources are available for complex scans.
• To collaborate with imaging teams and other professional groups to prepare scientific abstracts for National and International Conferences.
• To use all equipment and medical devices in accordance with their conditions of use, clinical SOPs and the Trust's moving and handling policy.
• To observe and enforce the Trust's infection control policies, including handwashing and dealing with biological or other spills, and to attend/deliver training on infection control issues as required.
• To work single handed when covering duties outside of normal working hours.
• To use initiative and judgement in the prioritising of workload.
• To deputise for the RBH CT Imaging Lead.
• To assist in the induction, training, and supervision of all radiographic and other staff within the CT Scanning Department.
• To assist in co-ordinating a training programme for radiographers within the CT Scanning Department and to assist them in maintaining their Continuing Professional Development.
• To ensure that student radiographers or visiting staff working practice complies with all statutory/local safety and radiation regulations.
• To teach and assist in the practical training of all radiographers, undergraduate radiographers and other staff working in CT Scanning Department.
• To assist and supervise the IV cannulation training in CT Scanning Department.
• To assist with the staff appraisals, and that staff members have a meaningful appraisal/personal development plan that includes feedback to the individual from a selection of internal customers and team members.

Communication

• To provide advice concerning radiation protection issues.
• To discuss complex clinical issues with medical teams to ensure patients receive the appropriate procedures.
• To be responsible for ensuring that all staff are aware of, and comply with all national, trust and departmental policies and procedures.
• To liaise with other departments and wards in the hospital.
• To communicate appropriately with patients, relatives, and other members of staff.
• To explain procedures and reassure patients to gain their co-operation and consent.
• To use tact and sensitivity when asking personal questions, for example checking pregnancy status before examinations.
• To liaise with engineers, and medical physics to ensure equipment is functioning correctly, and is compliant with current standards and safety regulations.
• To provide regular verbal and written reports on CT clinical and research activity to the Director of Clinical & Research Imaging Operations, the Guys & St Thomas NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF) and the HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine.
• To assist in maintaining, reviewing, and updating the Standard Operating Procedures for the CT Scanning Department.
• To participate in the establishment of optimum image quality and the service standard and maintain a quality control programme for the monitoring of such.
• To be involved with the implementation of service developments for CT Scanning Department.
• To assist with and undertake regular audits covering both clinical and organisational issues within the CT Scanning Department.
• To maintain high professional standards as described in the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, and to comply with the Standards of Proficiency for Radiographers as set out by the Health Professions Council.

Resource management

• To be responsible for the maintenance and safe operation of the equipment in the CT Scanning Department and to ensure all statutory safety regulations are complied with in the absence of the CT Imaging Lead.
• To assist in ordering all stocks of equipment and drugs within budgetary limits defined by the CT Imaging Lead and/or wider Departmental management team to maintain the agreed stock control procedure.
• To use complex and expensive CT and imaging equipment, safely and responsibly.
• To assist in ensuring that accurate records of quality assurance and maintenance are maintained, and that remedial action is taken when required.
• To take a lead in reporting all equipment malfunctions to the appropriate company and if necessary, undertake any further action to ensure the safe operation of the faulty unit.
• To liaise with engineers visiting the department.
• To undertake equipment testing as part of the departmental Quality Assurance program, and to take appropriate action if the results are outside of pre-set tolerances.

Information management

• To use the Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) and EPIC electronic patient record systems and to assist and instruct other members of staff both within and outside of the CT scanning department in their use.
• To accurately input and retrieve data from EPIC, PACS and associated software systems.
• To assist and instruct other members of staff in the use of hospital software systems. This includes the safe importation and exportation of confidential image data.
• To become competent in the use of the Trust's procurement software.
• To access Kings electronic systems and research databases in line with the principles of information governance and good clinical practice.

Core Values

• To assist in ensuring all team members have a real voice in the development of the radiology service to patients/customers.
• To assist in maximising the potential of all team members and to ensure that all team members have a meaningful appraisal/personal development plan that includes feedback to the individual from a selection of internal customers and team members.
• To provide a safe and attractive working environment for team members within available resources.
• To abide by the NHS Code of conduct for managers, the Trust's Core behaviours for staff and managers and all other Trust policies, codes, and practices, including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement and health and safety.
• To abide by the Trust's and University's core values for staff, as well as all other policies, codes and practices including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. The Imaging Lead is assisted by a Deputy Lead, Superintendents and Band 7 radiographers providing managerial support. Radiographers are allocated to General x-ray, CT, fluoroscopy, the cardiac catheter labs for cardiology procedures and the Image Guided Therapy room in the Diagnostic Centre. The nature of the post is such that onsite working is expected with very limited opportunity for home working. Whilst employed by Kings College London, the post-holder will have an honorary contract with Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust and will mainly be based at the 3 main Royal Brompton Hospital sites. There may be a requirement for the post-holder to work at the Trust's private patient CT facility within the Wimpole Street Diagnostic Centre from time to time. Any potential applicants currently contributing to the NHS Pension scheme may continue to do so if they take up this post, rather than joining the University's pension scheme. Further information on this aspect can be provided by the hiring administrators if required.

Person Specification

• Other: Effective communicator, in person, in writing and by telephone, who works well in a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience: Cardiorespiratory CT knowledge and expertise; Expert knowledge of and experience of working within guidelines relating to ionising radiation and health and safety; Knowledge of Good Clinical Practice; IV cannulation competence and experience; Experience of clinical and research imaging and up-to-date knowledge of imaging techniques; Experience of CT-guided biopsies and/or interventional procedures.
• Qualifications: BSc Radiography or Diploma of the College of Radiographers; HCPC Registration; Disclosure and Barring Service Check. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£53,947 to £63,350 a year King's College London Grade 7, including LWA