Specialist Clinical Technologist in Coventry

We are seeking a friendly and hardworking individual to join our dedicated Nuclear Medicine team at University Hospital, Coventry. The department is equipped with 3 SPECT-CT systems (GE Aurora and Starguide) alongside a GE OMNI Legend 32 PET-CT. We perform a range of molecular radiotherapies, using Iodine-131, Radium-223 and Lutetium-177. We also have an onsite Radiopharmacy that produces Tc99m and Ga68 radiopharmaceuticals and are active in research and development.

Applicants should be a qualified Clinical Technologist, hold a recognised qualification in Nuclear Medicine with extensive post training experience and hold RCT registration, or be a qualified Radiographer and have substantial post training experience in Nuclear Medicine and hold registration with the HCPC. This is a specialist role, leading the quality and clinical governance aspects of the service, and includes imaging, non-imaging and molecular radiotherapy work. The successful candidate will have good interpersonal skills with an ability to work independently and as part of a team. The department operates a five day working week (Mon-Fri) between the hours of 08:00 - 18:30, with no on-calls. Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will take the lead Clinical Technologist role in respect to quality markers, patient safety and clinical governance.
• The post holder will lead the Nuclear Medicine aspect of the QSI accreditation, application and registration.
• The post holder will be responsible for supervising technical staff, trainees and students and will be accountable for their work.
• The post holder will be required to train technical and non-technical staff and give demonstrations and presentations.
• The post holder decides how to achieve defined results. Guidance may be provided by the Technical Manager or Deputy Technical Manager.

Job responsibilities

• To take the lead technologist role with respect to quality markers, patient safety and clinical governance within the department.
• To take the lead technologist role in QSI accreditation, application process and registration.
• Manage and assist with all technical aspects of the service, providing the specialist technical expertise and support as required and take a lead role in the development of specialist clinical governance protocols and procedures.
• Actively work to improve the safety and quality of the departments specialised services; this includes but is not limited to, Datix Management, Qpulse Management (Clinical), to participate in imaging risk management and quality / audit programmes, collating actions/outcome of appropriate audits and disseminating to staff.
• Lead Nuclear Medicine QIPS and attend Radiology Governance meetings to facilitate a channel of communication that will enable us to communicate updates of our service developments and KPIs at these forums.
• Act as first line support for information, advice and support (for staff, patients and carers) regarding patient safety and clinical governance. Provide solutions to complex, non-standard situations and act as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• To undertake the managerial duties of the Nuclear Medicine Technical Manager (and deputy) in their absence and to assist with these duties at all other times.
• Purchase radiopharmaceuticals, organise patient scheduling and technician workload. Ensure efficient and economic purchasing by appropriate patient scheduling but without compromising clinical need. Adapt the schedules (several times a day) in response to unpredictable urgent requests from consultant medical staff. Maintain a high quality patient service, at all times, through the efficient use of equipment, staff and other resources.
• Administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients by means of intravenous injection, orally or as a gas. Adhere to all written procedures covering such administrations and including patient identification, administered activity, pregnancy, breast feeding and restriction to the patients actions post administration.
• Provide the patient with a full explanation of the investigation, responding in detail to patient and relatives questions and advising where appropriate. Patients will often have a serious disease including cancer.
• Take blood samples in accordance with the diagnostic investigation.
• Work within an aseptic laboratory and, without direct supervision, undertake Radiopharmacy duties that include the elution of radionuclide generators and the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals suitable for patient administration.
• To perform a wide range of routine and specialist radionuclide investigations, using a gamma camera, to obtain the optimum diagnostic images of radiopharmaceutical distribution, and other radiation counting and monitoring equipment.
• To perform a wide range of routine and non-routine radionuclide investigations, using a PET-CT scanner to obtain high quality diagnostic images of the radiopharmaceutical distribution. To follow standard imaging protocols as requested on the referral.
• To perform a wide range of routine and specialist non-imaging investigations requiring the acquisition and analysis of samples and use of radiation counting and monitoring equipment.
• To undertake routine and specialist image processing and data analysis as required. Presenting the images and data in a manner that facilitates efficient reporting. Altering display protocols as necessary to optimise image presentation.
• Take an active role in the development and review of all protocols and procedures. Adapt protocols to meet the needs of individual patients. Assist with the development of new techniques and system of work and participate in the departmental research programmes.
• Participate in technologist recruitment.
• To supervise technical staff, trainees and students and to be accountable for their work. To supervise the radiation safety of visiting staff including medical and scientific personnel, students, nurses and support workers.
• Maintain data and records associated with specialist area(s) for use in audit, research and development and training purposes. This will include the regular development and maintenance of databases / spreadsheets.
• Liaise with scientific, medical, nursing and support staff; exchanging complex information relevant to the patients investigation.
• Undertake the procedures required when people or the environment become contaminated with radioactive material. This includes dealing with the containment, decontamination and disposal of radioactive material arising from the spillage of a radiopharmaceutical source/injection or body fluid and excreta, including urine, blood and faeces, from a patient who had been administered a radiopharmaceutical.
• Take an active role in the departments radiation protection and quality assurance programmes. Daily test imaging and non-imaging equipment to ensure correct performance.
• To minimise financial costs by safe and effective use of high capital value equipment in excess of 1,000,000.
• Be aware of and conform to the relevant legislation governing the practice of Nuclear Medicine Technology, following the safe working practices as described by local and national policy.
• Participate in appropriate training and development activities.

Person Specification

• Qualifications
• Essential: BSc Vocational degree or IPEM Diploma in Clinical Technology or BSc Radiography and Membership of the Register of Clinical Technologists, or State Registered Radiographer or equivalent.
• Desirable: Ongoing CPD activity, Post Graduate Qualification in Nuclear Medicine or Radiography.
• Experience
• Essential: Significant practical experience working as a trained Clinical Technologist, including all aspects of imaging, dispensing, administration of intra-venous radiopharmaceuticals and molecular radiotherapy. Supervisory experience.
• Desirable: Quality and governance work, including arranging and delivering QIPS meetings, incident and risk management.
• Knowledge
• Essential: An in depth knowledge of the technical aspects of the specialist area and a good scientific knowledge. Working knowledge of QSI accreditation process. An in depth knowledge of the practices and procedures associated with the use of radiopharmaceuticals for routine nuclear medicine investigations. A good knowledge of the relevant anatomy and physiology and radiopharmaceutical biokinetics associated with routine nuclear medicine investigations. Sufficient understanding of the legislation and guidelines associated with the medical use of radioactive substances so as to ensure safe working practice. A knowledge of the practices required to manufacture and dispensing of radiopharmaceuticals within an aseptic environment.
• Skills
• Essential: Responsible for all technical aspects of specialist area, the safe and appropriate use of nuclear medicine imaging equipment and associated image processing systems, preparation, dispensing and administration of a wide range of radiopharmaceuticals, administering radiopharmaceuticals to patients (via oral, sub-dermal, intravenous routes), the ordering of non-returnable radiopharmaceuticals, maintaining stocks of consumable items in a cost effective manner while ensuring adequate provision for patient procedures, prioritising and planning own patient workload, supervising work of technicians (trained and in training and other workers), supervising visiting medical, nursing and scientific personnel while observing/training within radioactive Controlled Areas.
• Able to derive diagnostic results from multiple data entries into complex numerical formulae, spreadsheets or databases, modify computer based patient imaging protocol to satisfy the patient's level of compliance, produce a written document describing an imaging or non-imaging procedure, safely manoeuvre and position patients in the vicinity of large moving equipment.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• Essential: Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's values. Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience.