Job summary
You will be part of our team of clinical imaging assistants working closely with radiographers, consultant radiologists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals. The role is busy, varied, and rewarding. Your day-to-day duties will include:
* Providing reassurance to patients
* Carrying out patient safety screening checks
* Preparing patients for examination and accompanying them to and from scanner rooms
* Ensuring the working environment is clean and hygienic
* Helping to maintain equipment and reporting any faults
* Assisting with procedures
* Clerical tasks such as data input, image transfer, and ordering stocks of consumable items
* Patient reception services
Main duties of the job
Shifts will involve working variable days over a 7-day week (3 x 11.5 shifts with a 30-minute unpaid break) currently based at St Georges Hospital London. Enhancements apply to weekend and bank holiday working.
Full time 34.5hpw and part time (minimum 23hrs per week). This is not considered a mobile worker role.
The skills, experience, and knowledge required for this role include a sound demonstrable educational background and qualifications, good IT skills, and experience of working or volunteering in a public service sector. Experience of working or volunteering within a healthcare setting would be beneficial.
You will be committed to providing safe, caring, and accessible care to patients. You will enjoy being part of a highly professional and diverse team. Flexibility and adaptability to change in a fast-paced working environment are essential. You will have a good understanding of health and safety, patient confidentiality, discretion, and trustworthiness. Physical dexterity, coordination, and sensory skills will be essential in supporting radiographers with positioning patients for their scan. You will be reliable and have a good attitude towards attendance and punctuality.
About the benefits and rewards
* Company salary sacrifice pension scheme
* 27 days holiday plus public holidays rising with service
* Life assurance cover at 4 x annual salary
* Support for professional and personal wellbeing
* Employee benefits programme
* Complementary healthcare scheme
* Service recognition
About us
Cobalt Health is a medical charity pioneering innovation in medical imaging diagnosis by investing in equipment, integrated research, and education to improve outcomes for patients now and in the future. Each year it provides diagnostic imaging for over 140,000 patients at its imaging centres and on mobile scanners located across the UK. The Charity is the leading provider of ultra-low dose CT lung cancer screening services in the UK, working in partnership with the NHS.
I CARE our values - our culture - our purpose
Patient care is at the heart of all we do. We carefully select people who can show us how they share these same values and can contribute to a culture of respect, diversity, vision, and a commitment to continuous learning and development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title: Clinical Imaging Assistant
Main Place of Work: Work will be based in London, currently at the St Georges Hospital. This role is not considered a mobile role due to no requirement for travel outside the nominated region.
Responsible to: Deputies to Head of PET/CT & CT
Accountable to: Chief Executive, Cobalt Health
Line management
There are no line management responsibilities associated with this role.
Job Purpose:
* To work as part of the team within the mobile diagnostic imaging services, including clerical, technical, and caring duties as allocated under the direction and supervision of the manager or superintendent in charge.
* To provide support for patients and relatives attending the TLHC units for imaging examinations.
Key Relationships
Cobalt staff team, mobile site staff, logistics, support engineers, and patients.
Key areas of responsibility will include:
Operational Duties
* Assisting radiographers and radiologists in imaging procedures
* Chaperoning patients for intimate examinations and procedures
* Patient cannulation (training will be provided)
* Undertaking clinical audits
* Stock control and ordering
* Preparation of clinical areas
* Managing busy patient lists
* Responding to patient queries
* Providing physical and emotional support to patients throughout their attendance on the mobile units
* Supporting, welcoming, and assisting friends and relatives accompanying patients to the department
* Providing information and support to patients about their examination including undressing, reassurance, explanation, and portering duties to those in wheelchairs or on stretchers
* Conducting screening safety checks with patients prior to examination to ensure their suitability for imaging examinations or procedures and to ensure that any contraindications are brought to the immediate attention of the supervising radiographer or line manager
* Escorting patients to and from mobile scanners at locations in the UK where Cobalt provides mobile diagnostic imaging services
* Supporting the radiographers with the positioning of patients on the scanners and setup of equipment under the supervision of radiographers, operating safely in accordance with all health and safety policies
* Data entry using radiology administration systems, data sharing, and image transfer using Picture Archive (PACS), Imaging Exchange Portal (IEP), and other associated information systems ensuring accurate, legible, comprehensive medical records are maintained
* Ensuring a clean, safe, and appropriate environment that facilitates the prevention and control of infections in compliance with regulatory requirements
* Undertaking, following appropriate documented competency training, IV cannulation for the safe administration of contrast agents if deemed appropriate
* Undertaking annual self-audit for IV insertion accuracy and providing audit data to clinical managers for review at appraisal
* Removing IV cannula in accordance with departmental procedures and policy and infection control practice
Specific Duties
* Understanding and supporting the duties of the clinical department managers, superintendents, and senior radiographers through regular communications and/or meetings and using this knowledge effectively in planning daily responsibilities.
* Assisting the clinical department managers, superintendents, or senior radiographers with the development and implementation of workflow/processes within the TLHC service and the clinical imaging assistant team.
* Assisting in clinical audits, collating data, and generating KPI reports with accuracy and attention to detail.
* Supporting the service during external visits by Trust or industry stakeholders including CQC and QSI inspectors.
* Participating in clinical imaging assistant team meetings and when requested providing update reports in the area of work.
* Supporting the delivery of induction, education, and clinical training to colleagues within the team.
* Maintaining up-to-date and accurate personal CPD records and participating in appraisal and mandatory training.
* Liaising with the Infection Control Lead to monitor and maintain environmental and patient equipment cleanliness and completing necessary checklists in accordance with the infection prevention and control program.
* Responsibility for stock checking consumables and ensuring correct levels are maintained, including items on the resuscitation trolley/bag and maintaining accurate monthly records.
* Dispensing drugs as a designated practitioner under the direction of the medical practitioner or appointed practitioner (line manager) and maintaining accurate records in accordance with medicine management legislation.
* Removing IV cannula in accordance with departmental procedures and policy and infection control practice [if relevant to the service].
* Any other duties in accordance with the level of the role.
Management of Resources
* Monitoring and maintaining laundry supplies and clinical consumables.
* Monitoring and maintaining beverage/refreshment supplies.
* Responsible for maintaining adequate supplies of stationery and marketing literature on the TLHC units.
Teamwork
To work collaboratively with other departments within Cobalt, taking an active part in team meetings, championing the professional integrity of the organisation, adhering to corporate policy and procedure, and advising and mentoring staff members, particularly junior staff members.
Confidentiality
Under no circumstances, either during or after the end of your employment (however it is terminated), may you divulge to any unauthorised person confidential information relating to the Charity. This includes, but is not limited to, information covering patients, individual staff records, industrial relations, financial affairs, contract terms and prices, or business forecasts.
Data Protection
If required to do so, to obtain, process, and/or use information held on computer or other IT systems in a fair and lawful way. To hold data only for specific registered purposes and not use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such purposes. To disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed.
DBS Disclosure
All appointments are subject to a satisfactory initial DBS check by the Disclosure and Barring Service and satisfactory repeat checks, carried out in line with the policy in force at the time. Failure to disclose any convictions or cautions may result in the withdrawal of the post or termination of contract.
Equality and Diversity
It is the responsibility of all employees to support the Charity's vision of promoting a positive approach to diversity and equality of opportunity, to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support, or comply through the implementation of Equality & Diversity Strategies and Policies.
Health & Safety
In addition to any responsibilities specified within your job description above, it is your duty to take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and of other people who may be affected by actions and omissions at work and to cooperate with the employer in ensuring that all statutory and other requirements are complied with.
Infection Control
Make yourself aware of your responsibilities for infection prevention and control. Cooperate with the employer in ensuring that all infection prevention and control policies and procedures are complied with. Conduct hand hygiene in accordance with Cobalt policy, challenging those around you who do not.
Information Governance
You should be aware of all information governance policies and procedures, in order to ensure necessary safeguards are upheld for the appropriate use of patient and personal information. You are required to undertake the Data Protection training included in the NHS IT Governance Toolkit as instructed.
Personal Development
You are required to participate in the organisation's annual appraisal scheme. The end-of-year appraisal will include a personal development review where progress made over the last year is discussed and agreed. Focus on the following year's departmental and personal objectives will be identified, discussed, and agreed. You are expected to maintain competency, learning new techniques and technology as required and retain records of continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure continuity of membership to your professional organisation. All staff are encouraged to participate in training/activities that will help develop their wider skills and assist them in managing their personal welfare and be attentive to the welfare of colleagues. Completion of Cobalt Health's mandatory training programme.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Minimum of five GCSEs (Grades A-C), to include English language, Maths, and a Science subject or demonstrable relevant experience.
* Basic Life Support Certification.
Desirable
* First Aid at Work Certification.
* Fire Marshal Certification.
* Care certification.
* NVQ Level II in Health and Social Care or Level 2 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support or equivalent experience.
Skills and abilities
Essential
* Strong customer service skills.
* Confidentiality, discretion, and trustworthiness.
* Ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds.
* Work well with other members of the team including communicating effectively, being kind and considerate, reliable, and enthusiastic.
* Ability to work on your own initiative and be responsible for your own actions or decisions.
* Excellent listening skills.
* Help others in the team achieve their objectives and deliver safe, effective care.
* Ability to prioritise workloads.
Desirable
* Full driving license to enable travel to various locations (depending on work location and public transport infrastructure, this may not be essential).
* An understanding and application of health and safety regulations and infection control policy relating to a healthcare environment.
* Ability to use IT systems to a high level, gather data, compile complex information, and prepare reports.
* Ability to develop, plan, and implement goals.
Experience
Essential
* Proven experience in healthcare and patient-focused services.
* Experience dealing with members of the general public, relatives, and carers.
Desirable
* Experience working with unwell patients and assistance with their personal care.
Personal attributes
Essential
* Well organised with excellent interpersonal and communication and literacy skills.
* Flexible temperament towards working hours.
* Caring for the people who use our services, their families, and carers, and other staff.
* Compassion, patience, and empathy and the ability to offer reassurance to anxious or distressed patients.
* Respectful of others and genuinely treating them how you would want to be treated.
* Physical dexterity, coordination, and sensory skills required for the positioning of or handling patients safely.
* Motivated commitment to continuing professional development and self-improvement.
* Able to deal with bodily fluids, faeces, vomit.
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Cobalt
Address
Linton House Clinic
Thirlestaine Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL53 7AS
Employer's website #J-18808-Ljbffr