L Radiographer, Senior

Purpose of the Post

Responsible for the day to day planning and implementation of an effective training programme for UCC MSc Radiography students on clinical placement within the clinical placement site of Letterkenny University Hospital

Develop the capacity and quality of postgraduate Radiography clinical education programme and support both students and Practice Educators/Radiographers.

As this is a new programme and this is a new post, the requirements for clinical placements are expected to develop and evolve further. This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive. The range of duties will be subject to periodic review with the post holder. It is planned to undertake a formal review of the post after two years and the structure of the post may change as a result. Post holders will be consulted as part of this development. Successful candidates will be accepting the post on the basis of this review and possible restructuring at a future date.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will support the principle that care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree
• Maintain awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.
• Performance management systems are part of the role and you will be required to participate in the Group’s performance management programme

PRINCIPAL DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

1. Liaise with UCC Practice Education team to ensure optimum Radiography Clinical education and learning experience for students across each year of the programme.

2. Organise and co-ordinate placements in the clinical placement site(s).

3. Provide induction to students on Radiography Clinical education, site policies and procedures relevant to their placements.

4. Ensure student learning contracts/placement objectives are agreed at the start of each placement in conjunction with the Practice Educator/Radiographer.

5. Participate in the clinical supervision of students during patient intervention (where appropriate) in collaboration with the Practice Educators/Radiographers.

6. Organise relevant tutorial, group and peer learning activities relevant to students before, during and after placement.

7. Provide advice, support and assistance to the Practice Educators/Radiographers in the assessment of student performance, in collaboration with the Practice Education team and relevant University staff.

8. Collaborate with UCC Practice Education team in providing support to Practice Educators/Radiographers through mentoring and the organisation, design and delivery of CPD workshops and courses related to education and evidence-based practice.

9. Attend Practice Tutor meetings and training sessions (approximately 2/3 days per year) at UCC to assist in clinical curriculum review and ongoing quality improvement processes.

10. Contribute to teaching of relevant aspects of the Clinical Practice modules for students at the University prior to their commencement of clinical education.

Participate in the development and integration of clinical education within the curriculum in alignment with CORU and the accreditation standards of the university

11. Prepare student rotas/practice education schedules and co-ordinate students assigned to practice education site(s) according to service demands and learning objectives.

12. Contribute to ongoing feedback to students about their performance, in conjunction with the Practice Educators/Radiographers.

13. Contribute to and attend clinical education workshops and training days and any relevant committees organised by UCC.

14. Co-ordinate, allocate, arrange and manage clinical student education within the clinical placement site(s).

15. Facilitate communication and effective working relationships between clinical/non-clinical colleagues and the university based staff.

16. Promote inter-professional learning across disciplines in the health care setting.

17. Participate in the quality assurance mechanism of the student learning environment.

18. Contribute to the development and promotion of multi-professional working in the delivery of a patient centred service.

CLINICAL TEACHING:

19. Facilitate effective learning within the clinical environment for postgraduate Radiography students.

20. Contribute to a professional practice education network. This may include the development and roll out of innovative learning methodologies, common assessment criteria, benchmarking standards for practice education, supervision models, practice teaching skills, and the use of information technology.

21. Evaluate the student learning experience within practice and its contribution to the whole learning experience in conjunction with the Practice Education Co-ordinator and Practice Educators/Radiographers.

22. Promote and develop communication and links with a range of local services in order to develop Radiography clinical education placement learning experiences.

23. There is a requirement for the post holder to be normally present when students are in the department.

24. There is a requirement for the post holder to be normally present when students are in the department.

SERVICE AND STANDARDS:

25. Maintain a high standard of clinical/non-clinical practice within healthcare and other settings.

26. Keep abreast of research and practice developments in relevant clinical/non-clinical areas by attending seminars, conferences and post graduate courses and maintain clinical/other relevant competency.

27. Ensure that privacy and dignity of the patient is respected at all times.

28. Liaise with patients, carers and other health care professional to ensure a holistic approach to patient care.

29. Co-operate in the provision of clinical service as part of the Diagnostic Imaging team when placements are not being undertaken.

30. Ensure compliance with all departmental policies such as the imaging protocols, data collection system, current administrative procedures, health and safety guidelines, and infection control etc. Be involved in the development of these in line with best practice

31. Ensure good radiation protection practices are observed and understood by students.

32. Participate in the in-service training programme at clinical/non-clinical sites.

33. Contribute to forward planning and the development of services with particular emphasis to the service needs of postgraduate Radiography students.

34. Participate in a performance review process with line manager.

35. Undertake any other responsibilities in relation to clinical education assigned by manager or the university (s) in consultation with each other.

36. Undertake other responsibilities as are agreed from time to time with the Radiography Services Manager or other such person to whom he/she may be accountable.

37. Duties while students are not on placement may include maintaining clinical competency, participating in research activities, audits and quality initiatives, preparing and updating Practice Educators/Radiographer(s) for upcoming placements, completing CPD activities and contributing to practice education within the University.

SAFETY

The Radiographer, Senior (Clinical Placement Tutor) will:

38. To promote and maintain a safe environment for staff and patients.

39. To be familiar with, and ensure that, Radiation Protection Rules and Regulations are applied at all times.

40. To ensure all hospital policies on infection control, health and safety etc., are understood and compiled with.

41. To maintain up to date knowledge of clinical, technical and radiographic developments in relation to Radiation Safety and to promote awareness of new developments.

42. To promote the ALARA principle.

43. To investigate and take appropriate action in accordance with hospital policy in relation to complaints, accidents and incidents.

44. Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etcand comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

45. To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

DOCUMENTATION

46. Maintain accurate records of student attendance, reasons for absence, certified sick leave.

47. Formulate student rotas, in collaboration with the Practice Education Co-ordinator (university), appropriate to the learning needs of the student and the clinical experience schedule.

48. Adjust student rotas, according to service demands, staffing levels, equipment maintenance contracts etc.

49. Compile a report at the end of each clinical module and forward it to the Practice Education Co-ordinator.

LEGISLATION

50. To maintain up to date knowledge of Regulations/EU Directives/Statutory Instruments regarding medical ionising radiation protection.

51. To ensure that all hospital policies and relevant legislation on radiation safety is understood by students and complied with.

CONFIDENTIALITY

52. You will be aware of the confidential nature of Hospital work and in particular, the right of patients to confidentiality.

53. In the course of your employment you may have access to, or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients and/or staff, or other health services business. Such records and information are strictly confidential and unless acting on the instructions of an authorised officer, on no account must information concerning staff, patients or other health service business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.

Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the service user and in relation to all hospital activities as per statutory requirements and General Data Protection Regulations.

KPI’s

• The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
• The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.
• Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture.
• In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession.
• The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

· Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.

· All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.

· Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.

· In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts 2005 and 2010 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.

· In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Buildings is not permitted.

· Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.

· Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.

· To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

· The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.

· The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.

· The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:

o Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives

o Document Control Information Management Systems

o Risk Management Strategy and Policies

o Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards

o Decontamination Code of Practice

o Infection Control Policies

o Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure

o Data Protection and confidentiality Policies

· The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Group’s Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.

· The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.

· The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.

· The post holders’ responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.

· The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.

· The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.

· The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.

· It is the post holder’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management/Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP) Code of Practice.

Risk Management, Quality, Health & Safety

· Adequately identifies, assesses, manages and monitors risk within their area of responsibility.

· Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

· Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Education & Training

· Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.