Job summary
Quality Assurance within Radiotherapy is an important aspect of the service that carries the responsibility of ensuring the departments operating practices match the national care standards. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in maintaining the highest standards of radiotherapy quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance while supporting continuous service improvement and ensure we are operating to ISO 9001:2015 standards.

As the demand on the department increases with more patients, and techniques becoming ever more advanced. to ensure the continuity of an excellent service provided by our Quality Assurance Lead Practitioner we are looking to recruit a Quality Assurance Practitioner who will work alongside the Quality Assurance Lead Practitioner for 2 days per week (initially). The rest of the week you will work clinically in the capacity of a Senior Therapeutic Radiographer.

You will need to be confident, highly motivated, forward thinking and have a passion for Quality Assurance that matches your passion for patient care. You will be joining a team of circa 120 staff that deliver one of the highest percentages of IG-IMRT treatments in the U.K and treats a large number of SABR patients for all commissioned indications. Our breast patients are treated with SGRT, & DIBH is offered to all appropriate patients who have left sided breast cancer.

Main duties of the job
The Quality Assurance Practitioner will support the QA Lead Practitioner in managing the Quality Management System, provide specialist advice on quality systems and national radiotherapy care standards to senior clinicians, radiographers, physicists, and departmental managers.

You will develop, review, and implement QA policies, protocols, and standard operating procedures and produce reports for governance and regulatory purposes. You will support the QA Manager in delivering training to radiographers on QA processes and best practice. You will participate in clinical audits, support service improvement initiatives and accreditation programmes. You will translate and interpret complex national and organisational policies into meaningful operational guidance for staff, ensuring that quality requirements, protocols and associated changes are communicated effectively.

This will all be done with the training and support of the Quality Assurance Lead Practitioner, who you will also cover for when they are away from the department.

To work clinically you will be an experienced therapeutic radiographer used to working on a busy treatment unit providing safe and accurate highly specialised radiotherapy treatment.

You will need a flexible approach to working hours to be able to cover extended day working Monday to Friday between 7.30am to 8pm, occasional bank holidays and some weekend working requirements.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join Radiotherapy at UHB.

About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Qualified Radiographer (e.g. Diploma of the College of Radiographers - Therapy / Degree in Therapeutic Radiography)
• Specialist course or equivalent level of short specialist courses in Therapeutic Radiography/Radiotherapy to post-graduate diploma level
• Current state registration
• Attendance of recent relevant post graduate courses and study days including assessment of undergraduates
• Evidence of interest and commitment in working towards further professional development and qualification relating to quality

Desirable

• Evidence of relevant MSc level study
• Quality System Auditor Training
• Electronic Quality Management System Database training

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working clinically at a senior radiographer grade with evidence of leading and organising a team of radiographers
• Extensive Knowledge of Quality Standards ISO9001:2000 or equivalent
• Knowledge of research governance issues
• In-depth knowledge of policies, regulations and guidelines related to quality system operation and clinical procedures within the Radiotherapy field including the use of ionising radiation
• Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation within Radiotherapy
• Experience in assessing and teaching radiographers and trainee radiographers
• Experience of developing staff clinically and professionally
• Specialist knowledge of cancer pathology and disease patterns
• Specialist knowledge of clinical radiotherapy including potential radiation risks, acute patient side effects and their effective management
• An active awareness of relevant legislation, national cancer standards and professional guidelines
• Knowledge of national developments in radiotherapy techniques
• Able to manage clinical risk issues and develop action plans

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking clinical audits and surveys

Additional Criteria
Essential

• Ability to communicate articulately (written, verbal and non-verbal) and provide information across professional boundaries
• Very good technical and manual dexterity skills required to physically operate equipment in a field of rapid technological change
• Excellent computer skills with proven ability of interrogating the oncology management system
• Proven leadership, organisational and decision-making skills
• Demonstrable reasoning skills and an ability to use initiative and judgement in situations where there is a variance from routine/expected
• Able to assimilate information and formulate ideas / projects / developments
• Flexibility and the willingness to undertake a wide range of duties with the ability to work in all areas of the department
• Able to demonstrate skills in undertaking research / audits
• Possess excellent reasoning skills and an ability to use initiative and judgment in situations where there is a variance form routine
• Proven ability to accurately interpret simulator films/CT scans and radiotherapy prescriptions
• Approachable
• Professional
• Reliable and punctual
• Team worker
• Ability to participate in extended hours and bank holiday working

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.