Radiology Department Assistant - UHL

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a committed multi-professional team who provides valued hospital and community services to residents in South East London from our two main hospital sites, University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich. The Trust offers a supportive culture and rewards well for contribution. Our Radiology Departments at both University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital are extremely busy, undertaking a wide range of X-ray examinations and scans such as CT, MRI and Ultrasound.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, highly motivated Band 3 Radiography Department Assistant to join our departmental team. Your duties will involve you working alongside and supporting our Radiographers, Sonographers and Doctors as they provide the highest quality of care and imaging for our patients. You will need to have good organisational skills and be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people including patients, carers and Trust staff. You should have previous experience of customer service, ideally within healthcare and basic IT skills are essential. Training will be provided in the specialised areas within the Radiology Department. The successful candidate will be required to participate in the established departmental shift patterns which cover 7 days a week and must be flexible in their approach to working hours.

Main duties of the job:

• To provide non-technical assistance in the Radiology Department.
• To ensure the provision of a good working environment in which patients receive a high standard of patient care.
• Assist in specialised imaging procedures.
• To ensure pre-procedure requirements have been carried out, for a variety of radiological examinations, assisting patients as required.
• To ensure patient’s well being prior to leaving the department following their procedures.
• To assist Radiographers and/or Radiologists in imaging rooms.
• To act as a chaperone where necessary.
• To supervise patients in the Radiology department and to provide general assistance to the Radiographers on duty.
• To ensure the safety of patients during movement or transfer on and off radiology couches, using safe handling devices where necessary.
• To assist the porters and/or Radiographers in transferring patients, using a hoist as necessary.
• To ensure patient privacy and dignity is maintained whilst in the Radiology department.
• Refer to Radiographers, Radiologists or Nursing staff any concerns with regard to patient’s suitability for examination or patient’s well being.
• Respond to emergency alarms and seek assistance where appropriate.
• Communicate with multi-disciplinary teams in all areas of the Trust with regard to patients requiring Radiology services.

Clerical duties:

• To receive patients, noting their details with specific attention to checking patient’s identification.
• To follow clerical procedures as directed by Office Co-ordinator for all clerical and related functions.
• To ensure accurate patient details are entered on the computer and confirmation details completed.
• Be able to use a PC and keyboard.
• To answer telephones and respond to general enquiries from wards and perform other clerical duties as may be directed by the Head of Radiography, Superintendent or Radiographer in charge of area.
• Delivery of instructions or equipment to wards and theatres as required.
• Report problems with office equipment (computers etc) to a senior member of staff or IT as appropriate.
• Arrange for patients to come from the ward to the Radiology department.
• Communicating with ward staff for any preparation required.
• Informing porters of any transport requirements, e.g. infection risk, oxygen, mode of transport, etc.

Clinical duties:

• To assist in specialised procedures in Radiology examination rooms.
• To be responsible for all aspects of patients’ care and communication whilst performing or assisting in procedures.
• The patients may frequently be anxious and nervous and the post holder will need to be able to identify such patients and provide the necessary support for such situations.
• To ensure all patients are examined in a clean, safe and tidy environment.
• Prepare basic sterile or clean trolleys for which training will be given.
• Assist medical staff in sterile procedures e.g. biopsies.
• Assist patients as required, including: Escorting to toilet, Undressing and dressing, Transferring patients within departments.
• Ensure any spillages are cleaned in accordance with Trust procedures.
• Explain procedures to patients and other health professionals as instructed by senior staff.
• Reassure and support patients during examinations (some intimate).
• Baby-sit for children whilst carer/sibling in X-ray room.
• Check patient’s glucose levels with glucometer if required.
• Undertake pregnancy tests as required pre-procedure.
• Monitor levels of consumables in examination rooms and restock (incl. stationery items as necessary), reporting stock shortages to the Supplies Dept, the radiographer in charge of area, or to Head of Imaging as appropriate.
• Be able to transfer electronic radiology images using the Image Exchange Portal, a computer system, both out of the Trust and back into the Trust.
• Support other uses within the Trust, when needed or appropriate.
• To carry out general tidying of the department and mobile x-ray units and light cleaning duties as and when deemed necessary by the radiographer in charge of that area or the Head of Imaging.
• Cleaning of equipment where spillage has occurred, this includes any spillage of bodily fluids.
• Washing and cleaning medical equipment post procedure and package to return for sterilisation.
• Ensure safe use of specialist radiology equipment.
• To report equipment failures immediately to the radiographer in charge of that area.
• There are long periods of standing or walking in the department.
• There are intermittent short moments where you will be sitting in front of the PC capturing data into the radiology information system.
• There are no financial responsibilities with this job, other than to be mindful of the fact all stock, medical and non-medical has a cost related to it.

Standard Directorate Duties:

• To comply with all Health and Safety Regulations including the Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR99) and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposures) Regulations (IRMER) 2000.
• To adhere to all departmental protocols, policies and procedures and the local MRI policy.
• To attend and participate in departmental staff meetings relevant to the post.

Person specification:

Qualifications and Training:

• GCSE/CSE English & Maths or IT or equivalent life skills.
• NVQ 3 in healthcare.

Experience:

• Previous experience of working as part of a team/directly with public.
• Previous work experience in health care.

Knowledge:

• Good communications skills, able to communicate at all levels, both verbally and in writing and with individuals where there may be barriers to understanding.
• Confident use of a computer.
• Confident to act on own initiative and to take instruction.
• Ability to adapt to different tasks throughout day.