Job description

This role provides an exciting opportunity for an experienced MRI radiographer to take on a senior post within our specialist Perinatal Imaging Department - part of both King's College London's Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The Department has a dedicated imaging suite within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, as well as access to state-of-the-art MRI systems within our Imaging Clinical Research Facility. These include 7T, 3T, 1.5T, 0.55T and 0.064T systems, with dedicated RF coils, positioning systems and image acquisition methods used to facilitate in-utero fetal, neonatal and paediatric imaging. Our work includes providing a clinical fetal and neonatal MRI service for patients from across South East London, as well as national referrals from other UK centres. Equally important is our strong portfolio of clinical research studies with collaborators from the University, Hospital, and other institutions (  https://www.kcl.ac.uk/bmeis/our-departments/perinatal-imaging-health ).  

The post-holder will be responsible for leading the perinatal radiographer team in delivering high quality MRI expertise to clinical and research work undertaken by the Department. The post-holder will also support the Perinatal Academic Leads in co-ordinating a multi-disciplinary team of clinical scientists, physicists, clinicians, nursing and midwifery staff, researchers and external stakeholders, ensuring safe practice at all times. The post-holder will be responsible to the School Director of Clinical & Research Imaging Operations, and will help to ensure that perinatal imaging activities are aligned with clinical and research governance standards. The post-holder will be expected to promote excellence in Perinatal clinical and research imaging, contribute to the academic output of the Department, and raise the profile of work done to internal and external audiences. 

Key requirements for this post are experience of managing a team and utilising a variety of advanced MR imaging techniques. Applicants who also have experience of supporting imaging research studies, or who can demonstrate their own academic contributions will be strongly preferred. An important criterion for selecting the successful post holder will be their commitment to ensure excellence in all aspects of perinatal and paediatric imaging, and to lead by example in driving radiographer-led research activity. In doing so, they will be supported by very strong scientific and academic teams at the University and the Hospital.

The post will be based at St Thomas’ Hospital and the post holder will be required to work flexibly between 8:30am and 8:00pm, as requested.  Some weekend work will also be required. 

This full-time post will be offered on an indefinite contract.

Key responsibilities

• To form part of the multidisciplinary perinatal leadership team, responsible for developing and implementing standards, practice and guidelines.
• To be responsible for the clinical and research imaging performed in the Perinatal Imaging MR suite, ensuring local and National guidelines and statutory requirements are adhered to, in keeping with the School’s accreditation to the UK Accreditation Service’s Quality Standard for Imaging.
• To ensure that research elements of the imaging service are facilitated without compromising patient care.
• To have excellent knowledge of data protection and clinical governance requirements pertinent to the duties of the post, and ensure compliance with them across the team, in conjunction with Governance leads.
• To work with the School management team to ensure that accurate and transparent data are available on Perinatal clinical and research imaging activity, to include knowledge of financial flows around scan and staff costs.
• To be responsible for the line management of the Perinatal radiographers, ensuring that all staff maintain training and competencies, and provide a professional service in accordance with criteria laid down by the School, Trust and relevant professional body, and to report any deviations to the management team.
• To provide educational and academic leadership to Perinatal and other imaging teams, promoting Continuous Professional Development and radiographer involvement and leadership in research.
• To be an effective clinical and academic role model within the department, and act as an advocate for excellence in Perinatal imaging to a wider audience.
• To prepare and present research papers, abstracts, talks and other forms of scientific communication, in conjunction with the wider team, and encouraging all to participate.
• To support the academic leads and School management team in appropriate staff recruitment for posts across the School.
• To maintain, disseminate and promote up-to-date knowledge of clinical, technical and radiographic developments, and apply them to fetal, neonatal and paediatric MRI.
• To work with the School Management team on updating local induction procedures as required.
• To ensure professional regulatory and accreditation requirements are maintained for self and the wider radiographic team.
• To link with imaging leads elsewhere in the School, and be responsible for further School management activities as agreed with the management team.
• To perform MR scans required as part of clinical or research programmes based in KCL or GSTT.  This will include physically positioning the patient for the full range of MR examinations, to ensure that image quality, patient comfort and patient safety are maintained at all times, whilst taking into account patient limitations and adapting standard techniques where necessary
• To assist clinicians and researchers in the collection of MR data from patients and volunteers for clinical and research purposes. To undertake analysis and review of data using appropriate software packages and to provide data in suitable formats (e.g. hard copy, storage media, electronic) to academics and researchers in-house, and to external collaborators
• To ensure the whole team understands the importance of consistency of technique and of following protocols in carrying out scans, particularly for cohort studies.
• To ensure the whole team understands the importance of accurate data recording, promoting a culture that ensures comprehensive accurate data reporting is maintained at all times.
• To lead in developing radiographic aspects of imaging methods to strengthen and enhance the research programme. This includes assisting in the implementation and testing of imaging protocols and QA procedures either developed in-house or provided by external collaborators or funders.
• To take part in discussions with external organisations regarding the planning of research projects and the suitability of protocols, reporting and data transfer arrangements.
• To review and comment on continuing appropriateness of imaging protocols.
• To communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their escorts prior to, during and after an examination. This will require an ability to assess specific communication needs of individual patients ensure that patient safety is maintained. To act as a point of advice for patient enquiries regarding their referral.
• To participate in the delivery of an out of hour’s service as required
• To have overall responsibility for the service, maintenance and fault reporting of the imaging equipment and documentation is in line with School procedures, appropriately delegating tasks as required.
• To have overall responsibility for ensuring safety systems are properly maintained, that valid test regimes are in place and that suitable records are kept. These tasks can be appropriately delegated as required.
• To participate in the Quality Assurance Program by undertaking MR scanner checks, to trouble-shoot where possible and report any equipment faults.
• To ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for booking patients for clinical and research scans. This will include liaison with patients, clinicians and administrative staff, and helping to coordinate bookings with availability of other members of staff as required.
• To ensure that all persons entering the scanner examination room have completed an MRI safety checklist and have removed all personal belongings, which might either be hazardous in the area of strong magnetic field or might be damaged by it.
• To ensure that research subjects have completed an appropriate Ethics Committee-approved consent form and that this is filed appropriately.
• To act as the MR responsible person for the Perinatal imaging suite and be responsible for assessing queries relating to patient safety before an MRI scan is undertaken (including checking and documenting the safety of implants).
• To be fully aware of the potential bio-effects of MRI and to ensure that the scanner is operated within safe limits at all times. To be familiar with safety procedures (quench, fire, cardiac arrest) which are specific to the MR environment.
• To be responsible for Health and Safety procedures, including being fully aware of the potential hazards of working in an area of strong magnetic field and familiarity with the safety guidelines issued by the Medical Devices Agency 2002.
• To ensure that all persons working within the Perinatal Imaging suite have had appropriate training to work safely and within the needs of their role. To document this training and to inform the MR Clinical Research Facility Manager when staff have not undergone the required training.
• To supervise non-authorised persons when they are in the MRI suite.
• To ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary, paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linen.
• To ensure correct documentation of patient/ volunteer attendance including scanner input, data systems and log book. To ensure accurate documentation of patient demographics, and recording and recall of images and procedures in accordance with departmental standards.
• To supervise and act as trainer for rotating radiographic staff including providing safety training for other Divisional staff and for staff from other departments e.g. anaesthetics.
• To undertake other duties as and when required by the demands of the clinical or research programme.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria 

1. BSc Radiography or Diploma of the College of Radiographers (DCR)
2. HCPC Registration and NHS experience
3. Post-graduate qualification in MRI or management
4. Experience of leading a radiographic team and supervising multi-disciplinary staff in an MR environment
5. Experience of advanced MRI techniques (e.g. fMRI, MRS)
6. Expert MR safety knowledge
7. Knowledge and experience of Good Clinical Practice
8. Demonstrable commitment to Clinical Governance and quality standards
9. Effective communicator in a wide range of situations in writing, person or by telephone

Desirable criteria 

1. Experience of paediatric, neonatal and/or fetal MRI
2. Evidence of research contribution and academic output
3. Excellent IT skills

  This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health clearance.