The post-holder will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the Radiotherapy Support and Information Service. In addition, it is essential that the post-holder has, and retains, clinical skills by practising regularly in the treatment areas of radiotherapy. Establish and maintain effective communication with individuals and multidisciplinary groups about complex matters, overcoming any problems in communication. Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others. Play the major contributory role in the implementation of the Support and Information service. Assess patients support needs and wellbeing when those needs are complex and variable. Establish and maintain effective communication with individuals and multidisciplinary groups about complex matters, overcoming any problems in communication Communication of highly complex information requiring empathy and reassurance where there are likely to be barriers to understanding. Communicates condition related and specialist radiotherapy information to patients and or relatives appropriate to their needs and in a timely fashion. Communicates information relating to changes in practice, requiring cooperation from other healthcare and medical practitioners. Educate and advise the Community, Hospital and other Nursing staff, in liaison with other Trust personnel on matters relating to cancer patients and radiotherapy treatment. Make time available during the day to answer queries from patients and their relatives/carers and make a home visit if appropriate, assessing each case individually. Maintain contact with other Macmillan information/support radiographers representing the region at national level, and with the regional Nurse Consultant. Act on patient referrals from healthcare professionals and patient self-referral who require specialist advice and support. Maintain Continuing Professional Development in relation to all aspects of cancer treatment, including competence on the radiotherapy treatment units. Ensure effective personal coping strategies due to the emotional and sensitive nature of the role. Participate in the training of staff, students (including BSc therapy radiography students), and visitors to the Trust. Maintain contact with other Macmillan information/support radiographers through the regional and national network, and with the regional Nurse Consultant. Participate in further education and training as required for Continuing Professional Development. Participate in individual performance review and appraisal, in line Trust policy. Undertake formal teaching as required. Maintain accurate and confidential records of all patients and carers seen or contacted by telephone. Interpretation of highly complex facts re radiotherapy and other options of treatment, to assist in patient decision making. Facilitate problem solving, including participation in the decisions re method of treatment and range of options available in collaboration with the medical practitioner. Take the lead for co-ordinating a team approach to the management of patients side effects, symptoms and anxieties before, during and if necessary, after completing a course of treatment, utilizing the principals of evidence based practice. Establish effective work within the multi-professional team to maximise the use of resources and expertise available to patients and their careers. Provide an expert clinical technical service. Obtain competency for gaining informed consent from radiotherapy patients and practising this when required. Lead in the provision of the information and support service. To respond appropriately to these needs by giving the required support and communicating those needs to the appropriate healthcare or medical professional. Ensure the adequate provision of a patient care pathway after the radiotherapy. Contribute to the development and implementation of treatment programmes and patient pathways. To provide patients, carers and staff with accurate verbal and written information appropriate to their needs, and in a timely fashion. Liaise effectively with other Trust personnel and support agencies, Hospices and the wider Macmillan team. Regularly review and update information given to patients and carers, ensuring research and evidence based practice and create new information, disseminating any changes to all staff levels. Carryout audits of the information and support service in order to continue to develop best practice. Research into improvements and developments to information and support services within the wider arena and implement change. First line management (appraisals, objective setting, operational direction) of specialist radiographers and reception staff. Health and Safety/Risk Management All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system. Infection Control The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment. Equality and Diversity The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. Patient and Public Involvement The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback. Training and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role. Respect for Patient Confidentiality The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS An ability to provide and receive complex and sensitive information to/from patients and others in an empathetic, reassuring and professional manner. Assess potential communication barriers and demonstrate where necessary persuasive, motivational and negotiating skills, referring to more senior staff where appropriate. To recognize the potential for conflict in relationships and seek to minimize this, and contribute to effective communication and team working. To promote and maintain effective communication and relationships with immediate colleagues, the multi-disciplinary team, patients and visitors. Ability to use and justify professional judgment when problems arise, recognizing when solutions may be outside of the jobholders scope of practice and referring to appropriate staff for advice SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS This post requires dexterity and highly developed co-ordination and sensory skills in order to speedily and accurately manipulate equipment with a high degree of precision, as well as finely manipulating the patients body to align the relevant anatomy with the radiation beam to accuracy within 1 mm. They should also be able to accurately apply permanent patient skin marks (tattoo) with needles and ink. This is a physically demanding post with constant manoeuvring of patients and equipment, which can often be heavy and / or awkward. The postholder will need to exert intense physical effort by reaching over and twisting heavy patients at height (approx 5 feet from the ground) for short periods of time (5 minutes), several times a day (15-20), when working clinically. The postholder will also need to lift accessory equipment (some weighing 6-10Kg) and position these at head / shoulder height onto other equipment. There are postural constraints involved in this due to limitations in work design. These risks have been assessed by the Trust Back Care Lead and physio. Postholder works in pairs so lifting of accessories is recommended as a two person lift. MENTAL EFFORT: A high level of concentration is required constantly in order to undergo patient assessment and maintain a high level of care. A lapse in mental concentration could result in compromising patient safety. Ability to view patient set-ups in both 2D and 3D. Excellent psychomotor and spatial awareness to accurately position patients (to within 1mm). For this post when not treating patients, periods of prolonged concentration are required when undertaking development work. EMOTIONAL EFFORT: To recognize and act upon the emotional and psychological needs of cancer patients and carers, visitors, colleagues, team and ones self due to the exposure to highly distressing and emotional circumstances, e.g. working with patients with terminal illness. Dealing empathetically with patients, families and carers with challenging behaviour, caused by either the physical and/or emotional effects of diagnosis or the disease, impacts on the emotional effort required for this post.