Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Imaging Assistant

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To ensure correct identification of patients
• Communicate with and support radiographic/technical, medical and nursing staff in the examination of patients by ensuring a safe, clean and hygienic working environment.
• To deal with colleagues, patients, carers and relatives in a helpful, reassuring and friendly manner.
• Ensure patients are appropriately prepared for nuclear medicine and radioisotope therapy procedures following defined protocols.
• To direct and escort patients and their belongings between departments and clinical areas either on foot, in wheelchairs or on beds.
• Contact patients by telephone in advance of scheduled planning appointments to ensure attendance and provide relevant instructions.
• Undertake routine procedures using hospital based patient information systems (HIS/ICW), including searching for patients' details and updating and checking these when a patient attends.
• Assist patients in their personal preparation for nuclear medicine and radioisotope therapy procedures, including helping with dressing.
• To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their escorts prior to, during and after an examination.
• To comply with protocols and procedures existent for the provision of work.
• To adhere to the "local rules" relating to radiation protection.
• With training, to handle and dispose of radioactive, contaminated body fluids (faeces, blood, urine etc.) in a manner appropriate to the level of bio-hazard and radiation hazard.
• To clean equipment on a daily basis and inform senior staff when repairs are needed.
• To undertake daily equipment checks and document compliance or report repairs/faulty equipment as necessary, e.g. resuscitation trolley, oxygen and suction equipment, fridge temperatures and emergency equipment
• With training, assist in maintaining clinical and non-clinical stock levels of consumables, and ensure that orders are placed in a timely fashion
• Assist in the manual handling of patients following manual handling training guidelines.
• Initiate basic life support when required and attend training annually.
• To ensure the safety and wellbeing of patients and visitors within the department.
• To ensure that statutory Departmental and Trust requirements for record keeping are met.
• To report any deficiencies in the quality of service provision to the Radioisotope Services Manager or his/her Deputy.
• To participate in the extended hour rota and be willing to adopt a flexible approach to working hours if required.
• To notify the Radioisotope Services Manager and/or Deputy Service Lead of any untoward incidents as appropriate and according to departmental procedures and protocols.
• To ensure security in the work environment and maintain the integrity of all Controlled Areas.
• To ensure that materials required for safe manual handling of immobile patients are always available, maintained in good working order and that the need for repairs / replacements are highlighted.
• To provide patients or relatives with empathy and emotional support.
• To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their escorts prior to and after an examination. In particular, to be sensitive to patient anxiety regarding the claustrophobic.
• To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary.
• To be trained and become skilled in the performance of venepuncture.
• To handle and dispose of radioactive and biohazard sharps in an appropriate manner.
• To work predominantly at the Sutton Nuclear Medicine Department and rotate to the Chelsea Nuclear Medicine Department if needed.
• To identify personal objectives during annual review meetings with line manager.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Evidence of education to GCSE/NVQ level 2 or equivalent
• Evidence of A level in one subject

Experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a healthcare setting
• Understanding of working with patient who are critically and chronically ill
• Experience of working with oncology patients

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential criteria

• Ability to express themselves clearly
• Evidence of effective interpersonal skills
• Evidence of good organisational skills
• Self-motivated to work under minimal supervision
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Awareness of the importance of patient confidentiality

Desirable criteria

• Ability to use a range of computer software.
• Evidence of problem solving
• Awareness of the importance of patient confidentiality

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria

• Good communication skills, written and verbal
• Patience and understanding of patient's needs

Desirable criteria

• Ability to use own initiative and prioritise workload
• Ability to remain calm and demonstrate tact and diplomacy whilst under pressure

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential. We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications. We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment. Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application. Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination - What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus. Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK. Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

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