Junior Radiation Therapist

Positions: Permanent and 12 Month Contract

Overall Purpose of Job

To provide professional clinical skills in assessing, planning, and treatment delivery for assigned patients and to provide exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the centre of all we do.

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

• Provide direct care to assigned patients and to perform techniques and routines in the speciality service area.
• Follow policy for activating an individualised plan of care for newly referred patients.
• Execute physician's orders for all assigned patients; safely and properly administer medications and treatments.
• Ensure patient is educated in the treatment procedure and related side effects. Demonstrate ability to assess patient's understanding of and compliance with instructions and health care teaching
• Assess patients for radiation therapy side effects and provide appropriate interventions within scope of practice.
• Provides emotional support to patients and families and makes appropriate referrals to community and hospital support services, such as Medical Social Work, Home Care, ICS etc as needed.
• Uses effective communication techniques and interpersonal skills to provide explanations for treatment-related procedures. Responds effectively to patient concerns.
• Deliver radiation treatment according to written prescription and treatment plan.
• Provides safety in patient care through the consistent practice of Departmental Procedures for treatment administration. Recognizes deviation from prescribed treatment delivery and reports all deviations to the Consultant/ RTSM/Physicist.
• Assures the quality and consistency of treatment by taking and reviewing pre-treatment verification images according to departmental procedures for patients receiving treatment.
• Collects and documents data acquired during the simulation procedure. Accurately inputs treatment-related data into the patient management system.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the workflow patterns within the Radiotherapy Department
• Notify appropriate nursing, medical and allied health staff to changes in the patient's status.
• Independently perform duties and assume responsibility for care of assigned patients.
• Perform or assist others to perform proper aseptic techniques, isolation procedures, and infection control measures.
• Document patient care in all assigned patient records.
• Maintain patient's privacy and confidentiality of information and records at all times.
• Adhere to internal controls established for department.
• Attend MDT meetings as required.
• Conducts daily and weekly handover with MDT when required responsible for care of patients undergoing Radiotherapy treatment
• Perform related duties as required.
• Provides on-call coverage for the treatment of patients in emergency situations.

Clinical Responsibilities

The post holder will be familiar with and adhere to The Professional Scope of Practice IIRRT and Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for - Radiographers

The post holder will ensure:

• The patient’s needs are individually assessed.
• The patient’s families/significant others are involved as appropriate.
• Patients are cared for in the optimum clinical environment, adhering to all hospital wide policies and guidelines.
• Documentation is recorded in a professional, legible and timely fashion.

The post holder will partake in the Total Quality Management processes thereby contributing to:

• The identification of quality/policy/guideline issues.
• Performs and documents daily and weekly QA activity for assigned equipment. Documents findings outside the range established by Physics and informs Physics/ RTSM immediately of findings outside the normal range of operations.
• Attend Departmental QA Meetings.
• All hospital, regional and national audit processes.
• The Hospital Wide Accreditation Cycle.
• Health Promotion initiatives.

Personal & Professional Responsibilities

The post holder is expected to

• Attend in a timely manner all mandatory education sessions.
• Maintain a professional portfolio.
• Ensure their professional and personal persona positively reflects the profession of Radiation Therapy and Beacon Hospital.
• Utilise all practical opportunities to educate the patient and their families.
• Attend appropriate study days/courses.
• Be a supervisor to students.
• Participate in their performance review with their RTSM.

Educational Responsibilities:

Under the direction of the RTSM and Clinical Specialists the post holder will:

• Participate in the clinical induction of all new nursing, therapy and support staff.
• Assume responsibility for own learning and development needs.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Utilise effective time management skills.
• Maintain professional appearance and dress code.
• Comply with guidelines for absence or tardiness.
• Attend staff meetings, read email and other postings.
• Attend all required in-services.
• All employees are expected to remain flexible to meet the needs of the hospital, which may include floating to other departments to assist as the patient needs fluctuate.
• Wear TLD and Identification badge when working.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Completion of a formal radiation therapy technology program in an Irish/ EU/ or AMA-approved institution.
• CORU Registration

Experience

• This position is open to all relevantly qualified candidates

Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge

Teamwork

• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.

Planning and Organising

• Demonstrate flexible approach – to internal rotations, rostering, e.g. on call, attitude to work.

Knowledge

• Demonstrate knowledge of new developments in specialised area.
• Demonstrate knowledge of hospital policy

Patient & Customer Focus

• Demonstrate a focus on quality.
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.

Personal Competencies

All posts in Beacon Hospital require a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore, the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager or hospital management.