Imaging Care Assistant

at  University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Accompanying patients to and from the scan room, providing advice to the patient on the correct way to change for their examination if required and where necessary assist with undressing and dressing. To assist Radiographers/Sonographers/Registrars/Radiologists during patient examination as required using manual handling skills & mechanical aids when appropriate. To ensure the scan rooms are clean, tidy and well stocked according to the requirements of each room at all times. To be familiar with imaging procedures of all modalities in order to be able to explain them to patients of all ages & abilities, carers & relatives & report any concerns to a radiographer.
To provide support for anxious, emotional, frightened & terminally ill patients of all ages & their relatives. In the absence of the inpatient co-ordinator provide this role by assessing the clinical urgency of the patient, co-ordinate with the wards and input the tasks in the portering system, synbiotix. To transport patients to and from the department in wheelchairs or beds either alone or with a Porter or colleague as necessary. Also moving equipment from one modality to another.
To assess any infection risks & use necessary precautions. There may be on occasional contacts with bodily fluids. To be competent in infection control issues concerning medical equipment in all areas of imaging. To be able to organise & prioritise your own workload to maintain efficient & effective patient management.
To participate in any other duties commensurate with grade & at the discretion of the Service Line Manager and Modality Leads. To demonstrate the posts duties to assist in the training of new ICAs, Student Radiographers, Trainee Sonographers and Assistant Practitioners. To use IPM & keyboard skills to accurately enter patient information on to the computer system (CRIS) ensuring that data/alarms held is correct and completed in a timely manner. Adhere to the date protection act ensuring patient confidentiality at all times.
To maintain yearly competences in accordance with the modality in which you are working. Be able to assess a patients mobility needs and apply the appropriate manual handling techniques. To support & enhance the continual quality initiative programme ensuring a quality first approach to all aspects of work in the Imaging Department. To assist with the daily checking, re-stocking of the Resus Trolley and the weekly check with a senior member of staff.
The ability to be able to work with other employees as part of a multi skilled team, flexibility in working patterns to fulfil unexpected clinical requirements. To act as a chaperone when required ensuring that the patients dignity is protected. These patients need to be dealt with in a sensitive & empathetic manner due to the nature of the examination. Empty sharps bins and dispose of in the correct place.
Confidential waste and yellow bags should be placed in the correct areas for disposal. Wipe down equipment after appropriately every use and reset the room between patients. To assist in medical emergencies i.e. resus or contrast reactions.
Understand when to deliver BLS and the skills to deliver. To possess the skills or be willing to be trained to take patient observations. To possess the skills or be willing to undertake training to perform point of care testing. Hold a Society of Radiographers cannulation qualification or be willing to undertake additional training to achieve the qualification.
To check the safety questionnaires of patients attending the CT scanners bringing any discrepancies to the attention of the senior radiographer. When working in ED x-ray evenings, nights & weekends co-ordinate between ED, wards, and theatres, Porters & Radiographers to ensure the smooth & safe running of the department. There will be times when you are on your own due to the radiographer being out of the department. This is addition to the duties that you would perform during a weekday.
Be competent in answering the telephone and logging the calls in a chronological order. Know the urgency of a trauma call in ED and theatre calls and how to alert the radiographers. Initial review of the MRI safety form-highlighting any responses requiring action/ investigation to the MRI radiographer at the earliest opportunity. To assist patients attending for MRI examinations & if necessary help them to complete the safety questionnaire.
Ensure all the questions are answered & bring any discrepancies to the attention of the senior radiographer. Ensure all patients are metal free pre examination & help change/position coils on the scanner bed. To be responsible for carrying out the correct procedure for those MRI patients who are attending for an IOFB x-ray prior to their MRI. Also ensure that a MRI patients safety questionnaire is completed & checked in x-ray west before the patient is allowed an arthrogram prior to their MRI scan in case they need an IOFB.
Communicate with wards and other departments around patient availability as required by the radiographer through various formats i.e. telephone or email and know how to answer and operate the departmental bleeps. To be able to organise and prioritise own workload in order to maintain efficient and effective patient throughput at all times. Understand and adhere to the Data Protection Act ensuring patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
To enhance the continual quality initiative programme ensuring a quality first approach to all aspects of work in the area. Removal of cannulas, where needed, in accordance with departmental protocol. Act as MR authorised person (MR environment) i.e. able to enter the magnet autonomously

Please refer the Job description for details