Senior Radiotherapy Technologist-Radiation Therapy

JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Radiotherapy Technologist is a highly experienced radiographer responsible for managing a treatment unit and supervising a team of radiographers to provide safe and accurate highly specialized ionizing radiation treatment for patients. The post holder, as a Team Leader, will manage a clinical workload ensuring that all treatment and pre-treatment procedures are delivered safely and correctly whilst maintaining high standards of technical and patient care. There is a requirement to work at an advanced level promoting best practice, giving expert advice, support, supervision and guidance to junior staff and the multidisciplinary team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Managerial

• Undertakes the management of a treatment unit and its staff supervising a team of radiotherapy technologists, allocating individual tasks and measuring performance and addressing any issues regarding competencies, punctuality and performance.
• Takes responsibility for all aspects of the day to day operation of the treatment/pre-treatment unit, planning and prioritizing the workload and ensuring the treatment workload is managed effectively and that quality is not compromised.
• Ensures effective time management of the clinical workload to facilitate the timely throughput of patients.
• Assists in the induction and orientation of new staff.
• Supports the accurate collection and presentation of departmental statistical data.
• Ensures accuracy of recorded data in the patient management software
• Ensures maintenance of adequate supply levels and stock control for the unit to which assigned.
• Assists in the development and developing Policies and Procedures and SOPs for departmental use and their maintenance.
• Ensures appropriate skill mix and staffing levels appropriate to caseload and assist in the reorganization of staff at times of crisis.
• Supervises and monitors the work of subordinate colleagues.
• Reports complaints, incidents, accidents and grievances according to Department policy.
• Participates in the selection and induction of staff as required.
  
  
  

Technical

• Ensures that the team assesses the health of patients on treatment each day, regarding their physical, mental and social health and actions are taken regarding any change. Takes the lead on decision making within the team when problems occur regarding patients’ suitability and fitness for their devised care package.
• Ensures gaps in patient’s treatment schedule due to routine machine services, bank holidays and unplanned machine breakdowns are minimized and treatment protocols are adhered to.
• Leads a team using autonomy to devise contingencies during machine breakdowns to organize shifts with appropriate staffing requirements and skill mix for the complexity of workload to maximize the number of patients treated.
• Sets high standards of technical expertise and acts as a role model. Supervises and develops the skills and competencies of staff providing leadership and support. Troubleshoots to determine effective solutions as required.
• Ensures daily quality assurance checks of dosimetric and geometric accuracy are undertaken on radiotherapy equipment, according to local protocols and ensures all equipment are safe and fit for clinical use and reports any variances immediately.
• Deputizes for more senior staff in their absence and represents the department at meetings and conferences.
• Works clinically to deliver radiotherapy treatment as part of the treatment team by participating in all procedures relating to the treatment, pretreatment and imaging of patients within radiotherapy.
• Ensures a high standard of patient care, respecting confidentiality, applying appropriate procedures and promoting good communication, maintaining a patient focused service.
• Ensures all patients have been given all the necessary advice regarding diet, skin care and after treatment care, liaises with Oncologist or relevant Health Care Professional if appropriate.
• Works together with other health care professionals to provide a smooth and efficient flow of work through the department.
• Ensures that the treatment has been planned in accordance with the clinicians’ treatment request.
• Provides guidance and advices to junior staff with regard to the feasibility of proposed treatment plans/requests and, in the absence of precedents and protocols, makes ethically based decisions in the best interests of the patient.
• Uses highly developed clinical expertise and experience to determine whether treatment can proceed or further action is required when there are discrepancies against agreed tolerances and justify actions taken when these are not part of existing protocols.
• Reports and document any treatment incidents or errors as per department policy. Supports investigations.
• Undertakes treatment calculations by manual or computer means from the measurements and images provided. Identifies any errors in treatment plans associated with operator error or computer error, taking corrective action and reporting such incidents using relevant documentation.
• Strives to improve treatment techniques continuously by involvement with technical innovations and developments within the department, participating in trials of new equipment, treatment techniques and audits within the department.
• Provides support to the team on a professional and personal basis and respond initially to any
  
  
  

issues or conflicts between members of the team.

• Actively participates in policy development and review and advises on changes in practice with regard to written guidelines and protocols adapting clinical practice as necessary.
• Follows department treatment verification protocols and ensures staff within team is appropriately trained in treatment image assessment.
• Stays fully conversant with all major pieces of available equipment including, but not limited to, the Linear Accelerators, CT Scanner & Virtual Simulation, the Radiation Oncology Information System, Portal Imaging System and Planning system.
• Works as part of the treatment and pre-treatment team by participating in all procedures relating to the treatment, immobilization and imaging of patients within radiotherapy. Works together with other health care professionals to provide a smooth and efficient flow of work through the department referring to more senior staff for approval on actions taken when these are not part of existing protocols.
• Takes responsibility for ensuring patients receive safe, accurate and appropriate treatment and pre-treatment imaging procedures, setting high standards for practice.
• Ensures that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken in line with facility health and safety policies
• Provides the patient with all the necessary advice regarding diet, skin care and after treatment care, referring to Oncologist or relevant Health Care Professional if appropriate.
• Uses the Radiation Therapy computer management system to schedule patients’ appointments, plan workload and locate patient records. Schedules treatment appointments at a time convenient to the patient but still ensuring that the workload is planned efficiently and waiting times are minimized.
• Continuously strives to improve treatment techniques by focusing on technical innovations and developments, participating in trials of new equipment, treatment techniques and audits within SSMC where appropriate.
• Assists in all aspects of Pre-treatment to enable the patients to be planned in accordance with the Clinical Oncologists requirements.
• Operates all Pre-treatment equipment/software, including virtual simulation software.
• Works on call for emergency duties and public holidays in accordance with departmental policy and any planned/unplanned overtime resulting from machine breakdowns and changes in service demand to keep treatment waiting times to a minimum.
• Undertakes routine dosimetric and geometric quality assurance checks on radiotherapy equipment, according to local protocols, to ensure that such equipment is safe and fit for clinical use and reporting any variances immediately.
• Ensures that the treatment has been planned in accordance with the clinicians’ treatment request.
• Determines whether treatment can proceed or further action is required when there are discrepancies against stated tolerances, acting as a resource for junior staff.
• Complies with the Local Rules of the department in accordance with FNAR regulation.
• Safely and efficiently manipulates all complex, specialized equipment associated with the treatment of cancer patients undergoing treatment with ionizing radiation.
• Evaluates images by using both on-line and off-line review tools.
• Programs and reports faults and breakdowns to the Manager/Supervisor.
• Ensures compliance with the Health and Safety regulations of the department, which includes the Radiation Safety regulations.
• Ensures orderliness and cleanliness of the patient areas and equipment.
• Undertakes further training as may be requested by superiors.
• Attends conferences, lectures etc. to maintain awareness of current trends in the profession and to obtain CME credits for professional registration.
• Adheres to clinical audit processes within the service and reports on these as agreed. Supports the promotion of audit and Quality Improvement programs on service implementation, in line with national policy, statutory requirements and service requirements within the facility.
  
  
  

Training and development

• Maintains an up-to-date highly specialized knowledge of radiotherapy and disseminate this knowledge widely within the department and participate in the education of other groups in the field of radiotherapy.
• Provides mentorship to junior staff by using professional knowledge and experience to improve their understanding and compliance with SSMC policies and departmental QA protocols.
• Supports and develop each member of the team, especially when new techniques are introduced, ensuring high standards of patient positioning are adhered to and that the team have the relevant underpinning knowledge to support any changes in technique.
• Assesses and evaluates each team member’s work performance with ongoing responsibility for carrying out all teaching/training that is required to ensure that each member of the team meets, maintains and develops their relevant level of competency.
• Contributes to the professional development of all junior staff on an ongoing by continuously training and teaching on all core elements of treatment and radiotherapy imaging including specialist techniques implemented within the department.
• Sets high standards for less experienced staff and takes an active part in the clinical training of junior staff within the team.
• Takes an active part in SSMC Personal Development Review System setting and achieving annual personal objectives and appraising junior staff.
• Maintains a personal CPD portfolio containing reflective practice and evidence of personal and professional development.
  
  
  

The post holder will undertake other duties as may be required to achieve SSMC’s objectives, commensurate with the grading of the post.

Accountabilities

• Takes responsibility for the safe and accurate delivery of therapeutic doses of radiation to patients in accordance with the prescription.
• Takes responsibility for ensuring patients receive safe, accurate and appropriate treatment and pre-treatment imaging procedures, setting high standards for practice.
• Maintains treatment records and be responsible for their accuracy using the Oncology Information Management System.
• Checks the health of patients on treatment each day ensuring that the physical, mental and social welfare of all patients is constantly monitored and any change is reported to Oncologist or appropriate Health Care Professional.
• Takes responsibility for the supervision and performance of Radiation technologists under your supervision.
  
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience :-

Required:

• Minimum 6 years of experience as a Radiotherapy Technologist in a hospital/clinical setting
  
  
  

Desired:

• Experience in a large healthcare facility
  
  
  

Educational Qualification: Required:

• Bachelor degree in Radiotherapy from an accredited college/university
• Home Country/practicing country License.
  
  
  

Desired:

• License holder of one of the following authorities
• Department of Health (DOH) Abu Dhabi o Dubai Health Authority o Ministry of Health, United Arab Emirates o Working towards Postgraduate Education
  
  
  

ABOUT US

At SSMC, we firmly believe that the human touch is a fundamental part of care. We understand that health care is both an art and a science, running deeper than simply diagnosing and treating those who rely on us. Our SSMC Model of Care puts our patients at the forefront of our purpose and at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that the needs of our patients come first. Every one of our patients receives individualized attention from a multidisciplinary team of experts who collaborate closely to deliver trusted and compassionate care. From the very first point of contact with SSMC, to the moment patients are back home, we ensure speciality-specific care at every stage and in every interaction. As one of the largest tertiary hospitals in the UAE, SSMC provides access to specialist medical treatments and advanced diagnostics, with a commitment to becoming a Destination Medical Center in the UAE and wider region.

ABOUT THE TEAM

About Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC)

SSMC is the largest tertiary hospital in the UAE and serves to elevate the provision of health care services in the nation under the mandate of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.

Supported by the latest diagnostic and treatment modalities available, SSMC offers care in 44 specialties. A team of locally and internationally trained medical, clinical and admin professionals work seamlessly together, which promotes comprehensive interdisciplinary learning, allowing SSMC to become a leading hub for integrated patient-centric medical services in the region.

As the region’s leading tertiary facility, SSMC has 742 patient beds, 18 operating theatres, and includes a hybrid operating room, 26-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and the UAE’s largest pathology lab.