Specialist Clinical Technologist

We are offering an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual to join our team ofClinicalTechnologists providing the Nuclear Medicine service at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.

The post is suitable for Clinical Technologists or Radiographers who have experience working within Nuclear Medicine. Applicants should hold a Degree level qualification (or higher) with a sizable Nuclear Medicine or Radiography component.

The Nuclear Medicine Department at Derriford Hospital is part of the Imaging and Clinical Support Services Directorate and offers the broadest range of examinations of any department in the South-West. It is a tertiary referral centre for specialist examinations and performs approximately 6,500 examinations of 60 different types each year on both in-patients and out-patients.

The department carries out a wide range of imaging and non-imaging diagnostic studies as well as therapy procedures. The department is equipped with three gamma cameras. There is a gamma counter for non-imaging purposes and shared access to a lead shielded en-suite therapy room on the oncology ward for high activity treatment of patients with radiopharmaceuticals. The department has an inhouse radiopharmacy.

The department can offer highly specialised services which generates income from other hospitals in the region. Research and development is also undertaken at local, national and international level.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will work in the nuclear medicine department providing a specialist diagnostic imaging service . On a day-to-day basis this will include working closely with patients, the administration of radioactive substances, carrying out complex diagnostic medical imaging procedures and the use of specialist computer systems to process data. The post-holder will also manufacture radiopharmaceuticals in the in-house radiopharmacy.

The department has two dual gamma cameras and one single headed camera and in-house radiopharmacy facilities. A broad range of nuclear medicine investigations are carried out in the unit, to aid the assessment of a wide spectrum of pathologies affecting all major body organs and functions.

The workload covers both adult inpatients and outpatients and paediatrics from Plymouth and the surrounding area. The department also receives referrals from other hospital\’s in the South West of England.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and \’At Risk\’ status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. TECHNICAL –IMAGING

Administers a variety of radiopharmaceuticals intravenously, orally and by inhalation followed by a wide range of imaging procedures. These are performed with computer-controlled acquisition without supervision as directed by the Chief Clinical Technologist and include:

• Bone, brain, thyroid, gastric, hepato-biliary, parathyroid, lung perfusion and ventilation studies and infection imaging.

• Dynamic and static renal imaging, micturating cystography and measuring urine output.

• Cardiac studies – gated MUGA and myocardial perfusion tomography.

• Cerebral blood flow tomography and Datscans.

• Adrenal and carcinoid imaging.

• Tomography studies including X-ray CT for attenuation correction and image registration

• Assesses the need for additional, non-standard images to improve the diagnostic accuracy of studies.

• Ensures all images are of a high diagnostic quality prior to the patient leaving the department and are presented in appropriate format for clinical reporting in a timely and accurate manner.

• Performs daily calibration and quality control of imaging equipment.

2. TECHNICAL –NON-IMAGING

• Administers a variety of radiopharmaceuticals intravenously and orally

• Performs without supervision Glomerular Filtration Rate measurements – collection of timed blood samples, accurate pipetting of open blood samples and use of specialist equipment to assay the samples.

• Performs additional non-standard investigations as required.

• Processes non-imaging studies and presents data/reports in an appropriate format for clinical reporting

3. TECHNICAL –COMPUTER PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS

Processes data acquired from gamma cameras to provide quantitative data on organ function and presents the computer-generated data/reports in suitable format for clinical reporting including:

• Renal Studies:

o renal uptake and excretion curves

o other indices of renal function

o analysis of micturating cystograms.

o tomographic reconstruction with and without attenuation correction

4. RADIOPHARMACY

Performs Radiopharmacy procedures under the same standards as Pharmacy in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.

Takes responsibility for:-

• The daily planning of manufacture and supply of radiopharmaceuticals.

• Maintaining the integrity of the aseptic suite.

• The correct use of specialist clothing and precautions required for the safe handling of radioactive materials.

Follows the principles of Good Manufacturing Practice and performs the following duties in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures:-

• Prepares the working environment for manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals

• Prepares and elutes the 99mTechnetium generator, carries out assay and quality control of generator eluate including radionuclidic purity and sterility.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Bsc (Hons) Clinical Technology or Radiography or equivalent
• Demonstrable and robust evidence of a commitment to CPD
• Post Graduate Diploma or Masters in Nuclear Medicine or equivalent
• HCPC registration or Registered with the RCT

Knowledge and experience

• Previous demonstrable experience in Nuclear Medicine performing a wide range of diagnostic procedures.
• Proven ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team and on own initiative.
• Competent in routine data acquisition and analysis plus the use of databases and patient information systems.
• Venepuncture and cannulation skills
• Proven knowledge of relevant legislation, national standards, professional and other guidelines such as IRR99, IRMER, MARS(ARSAC,) MHRA.
• Previous demonstrable experience in radiopharmacy manufacturing and dispensing.
• Demonstrable experience in the labelling of blood cells.
• In-depth proven knowledge of Nuclear Cardiology procedures.

Aptitude and Abilities

• Good interpersonal skills to work with patients of all ages and backgrounds with a wide range of medical conditions.
• Good interpersonal skills to work with staff from other professions.
• Good written and verbal communication skills at all levels.
• Ability to prioritise workload, instruct and direct others.
• Organisational skills to work within a team.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.

If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.

We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients\’ experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included .

It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.

Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.

For Doctors Roles:

Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.

We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.

In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.

We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.

Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.

Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.

In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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