Radiology Sister/ Charge Nurse

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave—a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Job overview

• The post holder is responsible for supporting the Manager /Senior in providing leadership and effective management of patient activity, staffing and utilisation.
• To take an active role in planning and providing a high standard of care to all patients requiring invasive and non-invasive radiological investigations and thus contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Radiology department.
• Promoting high quality standards of clinical skills and education, to promote a patient centred approach in line with professional and Trust values.
• To support the delivery of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare service, all staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspect of their work and demonstrate the Trust values.

Main duties of the job

• To maintain a high clinical competence and act as a resource to the team members.
• Ensure that optimum care is given to all patients and is appropriately documented in accordance with Trust’s policy and NMC Code of conduct.
• Act as a role model and be credible practitioner within the clinical area.
• Facilitate the induction of new staff within the department and support the education of the learners – ensure high standards of clinical competency are maintained within the group.
• To allocate and supervise junior staff/students and healthcare/radiology assistants in the care of patients during radiological procedures/examinations.
• To ensure that the patient’s privacy and dignity are preserved at all times.
• To respect confidential information obtained and refrain from disclosing it inappropriately in accordance with trust policy, Data protection act and Health record act.
• To act always in such a way as to promote and safeguard the wellbeing, and the interests of patients, their families and carers.
• To explain tests, procedures, and examinations and post procedure instructions to all patients, carers in accordance with trust policy.
• To ensure the custody and administration of drugs and therapeutic substances in accordance with NMC, Trust and departmental policy.
• To maintain stock levels, and work with the Radiology Nursing Manager/Lead nurse in purchasing of specialist equipment in the department.
• To be actively involved with new developments and innovations within the speciality of radiology and promote change.
• Participate in audit of practice to evaluate clinical outcomes.
• To comply with the trusts policies and procedures, particularly fire, cardiac arrest and health and safety.
• To check emergency equipment and demonstrate competence in its use in the department.
• To effectively communicate with all disciplines of staff, patients, carers and relatives in the preparation of patients. To ensure that all patients are prepared correctly according to the departmental policy.
• Assist with the preparation of patients who may require investigations prior to their procedure being performed i.e. blood tests and initiate a response if they are abnormal informing the Consultant Radiologist or specific team.
• Communicate with specific medical/surgical teams and the bed manager when a bed is required for a patient post interventional procedure.
• To effectively communicate with all disciplines of staff in the post care instructions of the patient following a radiological procedure, ensuring continuity of care.
• To ensure own practice is up-to-date and evidence based, with the ability to demonstrate an awareness of current and relevant practice with the requirement to demonstrate professional development.
• To ensure that procedures for the control of infection are carried out in accordance with local trust policy.
• Undergo an annual performance assessment and agree a personal development plan which will ensure that the objectives of the individual, the unit and the Trust are achieved.
• To exercise leadership by personal example, fostering good interpersonal relationship and encouraging high staff morale.
• Accept continuing responsibility for the day to day management of patient activity ensuring the service provided is maintained at a high standard.
• Able to deal with changing situations on a daily basis and out of hours, e.g. organisational changes/ other occurrences that may directly affect patient care.
• To attend mandatory, in-service training and staff development.
• To comply with the Trust’s complaints procedure
• To report all incidents, accidents and near misses to the senior nurse or departmental manager and initiate actions appropriately.
• To observe the Ionising Radiation Regulations (2000)
• Using aseptic technique, take on the scrub role during an interventional procedure with competence and experienced knowledge.
• To participate in the mentorship of nursing/radiographic students during their allocation.
• To actively take part and initiate resuscitation in the department during cardiac arrest and anaphylaxis.
• To undertake specific training enabling the individual the ability to give and monitor sedation, this being after training and competence has been assessed.
• To undertake immediate life support and Alert training, enabling the individual to act quickly and respond to emergency situations.
• Represent staff interests and concerns as required at Directorate level.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To maintain a high clinical competence and act as a resource to the team members.
• Ensure that optimum care is given to all patients and is appropriately documented in accordance with Trust’s policy and NMC Code of conduct.
• Act as a role model and be credible practitioner within the clinical area.
• Facilitate the induction of new staff within the department and support the education of the learners – ensure high standards of clinical competency are maintained within the group.
• To allocate and supervise junior staff/students and healthcare/radiology assistants in the care of patients during radiological procedures/examinations.
• To ensure that the patient’s privacy and dignity are preserved at all times.
• To respect confidential information obtained and refrain from disclosing it inappropriately in accordance with trust policy, Data protection act and Health record act.
• To act always in such a way as to promote and safeguard the wellbeing, and the interests of patients, their families and carers.
• To explain tests, procedures, and examinations and post procedure instructions to all patients, carers in accordance with trust policy.
• To ensure the custody and administration of drugs and therapeutic substances in accordance with NMC, Trust and departmental policy.
• To maintain stock levels, and work with the Radiology Nursing Manager/Lead nurse in purchasing of specialist equipment in the department.
• To be actively involved with new developments and innovations within the speciality of radiology and promote change.
• Participate in audit of practice to evaluate clinical outcomes.
• To comply with the trusts policies and procedures, particularly fire, cardiac arrest and health and safety.
• To check emergency equipment and demonstrate competence in its use in the department.
• To effectively communicate with all disciplines of staff, patients, carers and relatives in the preparation of patients. To ensure that all patients are prepared correctly according to the departmental policy.
• Assist with the preparation of patients who may require investigations prior to their procedure being performed i.e. blood tests and initiate a response if they are abnormal informing the Consultant Radiologist or specific team.
• Communicate with specific medical/surgical teams and the bed manager when a bed is required for a patient post interventional procedure.
• To effectively communicate with all disciplines of staff in the post care instructions of the patient following a radiological procedure, ensuring continuity of care.
• To ensure own practice is up-to-date and evidence based, with the ability to demonstrate an awareness of current and relevant practice with the requirement to demonstrate professional development.
• To ensure that procedures for the control of infection are carried out in accordance with local trust policy.
• Undergo an annual performance assessment and agree a personal development plan which will ensure that the objectives of the individual, the unit and the Trust are achieved.
• To exercise leadership by personal example, fostering good interpersonal relationship and encouraging high staff morale.
• Accept continuing responsibility for the day to day management of patient activity ensuring the service provided is maintained at a high standard.
• Able to deal with changing situations on a daily basis and out of hours, e.g. organisational changes/ other occurrences that may directly affect patient care.
• To attend mandatory, in-service training and staff development.
• To comply with the Trust’s complaints procedure
• To report all incidents, accidents and near misses to the senior nurse or departmental manager and initiate actions appropriately.
• To observe the Ionising Radiation Regulations (2000)
• Using aseptic technique, take on the scrub role during an interventional procedure with competence and experienced knowledge.
• To participate in the mentorship of nursing/radiographic students during their allocation.
• To actively take part and initiate resuscitation in the department during cardiac arrest and anaphylaxis.
• To undertake specific training enabling the individual the ability to give and monitor sedation, this being after training and competence has been assessed.
• To undertake immediate life support and Alert training, enabling the individual to act quickly and respond to emergency situations.
• Represent staff interests and concerns as required at Directorate level.