About this role
Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, motivated, and dynamic Therapy Radiographer (Band 5) to join the team at our cancer centre in Macclesfield. The Macclesfield unit is the first Christie satellite centre with radiotherapy and chemotherapy departments and is therefore able to offer concurrent chemo-radiotherapy treatments. The department also delivers complex radiotherapy techniques (e.g. SABR and SGRT) using state of the art equipment. Consequently, we can offer a wide range of treatments to local patients, as well as varied development opportunities to radiographers.
The post holder will be based at the Macclesfield site in East Cheshire but, will be expected to work across all Christie sites as required.
This is a rotational post and you will have the opportunity to work across treatment and pre-treatment sections of the department.All candidates must be already registered with the HCPC and possess a Therapy Radiographer qualification (or evidence they are due to qualify this year).
Main duties of the job Main Duties and Responsibilities
Deliver safe, accurate, and high-quality radiotherapy treatment in accordance with prescribed treatment plans, departmental protocols, the Quality Management System, and relevant legislation. Work across treatment delivery and pre-treatment areas as part of a rotational service supporting patients throughout the radiotherapy pathway across Christie sites. Operate and perform safety checks on highly specialised radiotherapy and imaging equipment, reporting faults, variances, or malfunctions as required. Undertake and assess complex radiation dose calculations, interpret treatment prescriptions, and apply verification procedures to ensure accurate and reproducible treatment delivery. Position patients accurately, maintain comprehensive treatment records, and comply with all local, professional, and regulatory requirements, including Ionising Radiation Regulations and IR(ME)R. Contribute to the safe and efficient achievement of service workload targets while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. Provide compassionate, patient-centred support to individuals with cancer and their families, including communicating sensitive and confidential information, explaining treatment procedures and potential side effects, and offering emotional support where required. Monitor patients throughout treatment, identify treatment-related side effects, provide appropriate advice, and refer to other healthcare professionals when necessary.
About us
The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.
We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.
Job description Job responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To ensure that the highly complex radiotherapy and imaging equipment is safe and accurate to operate, both for staff and patients; undertaking the appropriate machine checks, reporting any variances, faults and malfunctions as necessary. This may include run up of equipment alongside the engineers at some sites.
Undertake and evaluate radiation dose delivery complex calculations, involving a range of radiation types and energies.
Interpret, monitor and evaluate the treatment prescription to ensure that radiotherapy is delivered accurately and reproducibly.
Evaluate delivery of radiotherapy through application and interpretation of treatment verification procedures.
Follow appropriate systems and working methods to achieve the safe, timely achievement of workload targets.
Be able to accurately position patient and operate highly complex radiotherapy and imaging equipment along the radiotherapy pathway.Keep accurate records and comply with necessary policies and procedures.
Analyse systematically and evaluate all data and information relevant to patients diagnosis, ensuring the patient and their relatives are treated with dignity and respect at all times.
Communicate confidential sensitive information in line with information governance, and provide emotional support, to patients and their carers/relatives including children and the terminally ill. Provide information to patients and their carers about the radiotherapy pathway and expected side effects.
To communicate accurate and timely information with all other disciplines involved along the patients pathway.
Anticipate and identify common and complex treatment related side effects, offering advice and where necessary refer to other relevant health care professionals. Apply safe and effective moving and handling skills in order to protect patients and staff and abide by Health and safety legislation in the work place.
Minimise risk of and cross infection through contamination by bodily fluids/matter. In accordance of the infection control policy.
Apply safe and effective moving and handling skills in order to protect patients and staff and abide by Health and safety legislation in the work place.
To implement the procedures and work instructions described for the department in the accredited Quality Management System, and report any variances.
Ensure all work and actions comply with local rules and current UK Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 and IR(ME)R 2017.
Be aware of and participate in the audit and research within the department and the implementation of new processes and techniques.
Undertake training and competency to dispense medication under Patient Group Directive (PGD).
Participate in the shift system, bank holidays, weekend working and on-call.
Awareness of the process to report safeguarding issues and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
Any other duties negotiated with the post holder, to develop their role in the organisation.
To achieve all the competencies as outlined by the radiotherapy education team within a time period as outlined by line manager.
Apply and abide by trust principles and behaviours. Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, ensuring timely and effective communication to support continuity of care. Adhere to infection prevention, moving and handling, safeguarding, health and safety, and information governance policies at all times. Participate in quality assurance, audit, research, service development, and the implementation of new techniques and technologies. Complete required competencies and ongoing professional development, including training to dispense medication under Patient Group Directions where appropriate. Contribute to departmental rota requirements, including shift work, weekends, bank holidays, and on-call duties. Demonstrate Trust values and behaviours, support continuous improvement, and undertake additional responsibilities appropriate to the role and service needs.
Teaching and training
Participate in an annual Personal Development Review.
Attend all essential training and clinical updates as required.
Take personal responsibility for compliance with essential training.
Be capable of assimilating new ideas and techniques.
Assist in the supervision and training/teaching of pre-registration students, new members of staff and all learners.
Highlight to line manager all issues of poor inadequate performance, including capability and poor professional standards, for students and employees.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Graduate level qualification in radiotherapy Registration with the HCPC as a therapeutic radiographer
Desirable
Evidence of attending post-registration training events
Experience Essential
Evidence of clinical placements to demonstrate technical and patient care experience Experience of working within a team environment
Desirable
Experience of quality, governance, and service improvement Evidence of CPD activity
Skills Essential
Excellent communication Ability to make sound judgements in a clinical setting ICT- e.g. OMS, R and V
Desirable
Ability to use Elekta radiotherapy equipment Ability to deliver training to and mentor student radiographers
Knowledge Essential
Knowledge of the principles in radiotherapy applied to all aspects of the radiotherapy pathway Knowledge of other relevant legislation, guidance and national working parties in radiotherapy IRMER, IRR, RCR
Desirable
Awareness of contemporary trends in advanced radiotherapy Knowledge of relevant and up-to-date literature pertaining to radiotherapy delivery
Values Essential
Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name The Christie NHS FT
Address Radiotherapy Macclesfield - E00864
The Christie at Macclesfield, Victoria Road
Cheshire
SK10 3BL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.christie.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)