Job Title: Senior Radiology Assistant Reports to: Team Manager Band: 3 Department: Radiology Location Leeds Teaching Hospitals AfC Job No: 3321 JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY The Radiology Service delivers a diagnostic and treatment service for approximately 600,000 patients a year on 6 sites. The Service comprises several imaging modalities, each with up to 100 staff, providing a high quality clinical radiology service for patients. The job holder will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a high-quality radiology service, carrying out policies and procedures as specified by the Trust and Radiology Management Team. They will undertake a wide range of duties to clinically support of the Sonographers/Radiographers/MTOs and Radiologists and be primarily responsible for the care of patients requiring imaging.
Duties will include cannulating patients intravenously prior to imaging and assisting patients to complete their pre- examination safety sheets. Duties will also include assisting staff with interventional procedures such as biopsies and injections and adhering to aseptic techniques. Other duties include positioning patients for examinations, general cleaning, maintenance and care of equipment (including basic fault finding), trouble shooting and reporting of faults, stock control, clerical duties and data input onto the Radiology Information System (RIS). The post holder will work to departmental protocols and schemes of work.
Patients are received from multiple sources and presentation ranges from the unconscious to the fully mobile with uncooperative, incapacitated, anaesthetised, partially resuscitated, disorientated patients and those with special needs, physical and mental disabilities. Some patients exhibit antisocial or threatening behaviour. The post-holder may occasionally be required to work at any site within Leeds Teaching Hospital Trusts Radiology departments. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Clinical Responsibilities: Escorting patients in and out of the examination rooms.
Helping patients on and off the examination table. Assess communication needs of patients. To anticipate where communication difficulties might make completion of the modality checklist impossible and to implement alternative. methods to ensure that patient safety is maintained.
Communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their carers. Assisting with moving and handling of those patients who are immobile in a manner that is safe for all concerned and following manual handling guidelines. Reassuring and staying in attendance with patients requiring additional support. When necessary, attending to the patients personal hygiene requirements.
Explaining the undressing/dressing requirements to patients and where necessary assisting the patient. Understand the role of a chaperone and chaperone patients when required. Providing and communicating after care following invasive procedures. Assisting patients with after care following interventional procedures.
General help and assistance to the Radiographer/Sonographer/Clinical Technologist/ Radiologist throughout the patients examination, either in the department or on the wards. To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary, paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linens contaminated by bodily fluids. Initiate emergency procedures and assist with basic life support. Ensure safe handling of medicines at all times.
Assist patients in completing any safety forms required as part of their examination. Following completion of safety forms, evaluate the information provided to determine if the examination is safe to proceed. Escalate if necessary. Undertake venous cannulation.
Removing patient cannulas post procedures. To assess routine requests for imaging so that patient position and selection of appropriate table equipment is used to optimise image quality of the body part under examination. To defer to the radiographer for complex examinations requiring adaptation of standard technique. To physically position the patient for a range of routine examinations, to ensure that image quality, patient comfort and patient safety are maintained at all times whilst taking into account patient limitations.
To defer to the radiographer for complex examinations requiring adaptation of standard technique. To prepare drugs/contrast media for intravenous and oral administration and to load automatic drug injection pump - following appropriate training. When working in MRI, be sensitive to patient anxiety regarding the claustrophobic nature of the MRI scanner and to be able to help patients overcome their anxiety so that the examination can be performed. Administrative duties: To include registering the patient, updating patient records, bookings, extraction of work lists and all other associated RIS activities.
To enter accurate patient and examination data into Radiology Information System. Maintain accurate records at all times. Understand the contingencies required when electronic systems fail. Liaise with other departments/wards within and outside LTHT to ensure a quality service for patients and clinicians.
Monitor stock, operate stock control and order medical equipment, accessories, consumables, linen and pharmacy and order as required. Dealing with telephone messages in an efficient manner. Report any adverse incidents to the appropriate line manager in line with the Trust and radiology risk management system. Equipment duties: Basic operation of the specialised equipment following appropriate training.
Wear personal protective equipment when required. Care for, check and maintain high standards of cleanliness of clinical equipment to minimise spread of infection. Prepare trolleys and conduct aseptic technique whilst assisting with interventional/biopsy procedures. Maintaining high standards of cleanliness in examination rooms to minimise spread of infection.
Ensure safe disposal of linen and clinical waste from the department. As part of the radiology team ensure all equipment is maintained to a high standard and used appropriately. Basic fault finding and reporting and documenting faults. Other duties: To assist in promoting the overall aims of the department.
To participate in department organisation and workload planning offering proposals to change department procedures. To assist in the training of other members of staff. To assist qualified staff in the evaluation of resources to develop high standards of patient care and achieve value for money initiatives. Participate in the individual performance review system.
Undertake hand hygiene audits. To be responsible for own mandatory training and ensure it is up to date To attend departmental meetings when required. To be aware of and comply with all standards of conduct and care related to the Trust in general and the Department of Radiology in particular. Develop and maintain an appropriate level of knowledge and understanding in the methods of image production.
To be aware of the current Ionising Radiation Regulations if working in areas involved with radiation, Employers procedures and local rules. To be aware of the potential hazards of strong magnetic fields if working in MRI. Maintain and develop an appropriate level of professional knowledge and understanding to enable the safe delivery of practice. To participate in personal development needs that may be identified by the team manager or in the appraisal process in an agreed timeframe.
Supervise safe work practices of NHS staff and students in a hazardous environment. To keep accurate and timely records of own work and that of other members of the radiology team. To participate in audit projects, either of their own work, that of the department or others, as required. Additional duties as requested by the management team, commensurate with the grade.
THE LEEDS WAY VALUES Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are: Patient-centred Collaborative Fair Accountable Empowered All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values. Additionally, the following are core values which relate specifically to this post are a commitment to providing a quality service that meets the needs of patients, staff and other health professionals in line with radiology and Trust values.
Pleasant, caring and friendly in nature and able to communicate at all levels with a professional manner showing politeness and empathy towards patients and their families 6.WEST YORKSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ACUTE TRUSTS (WYAAT) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients. By bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change. WYAAT is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country.
The Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that ambition

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