Diagnostic radiographer

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: The importance of continuing professional development throughout own career. Back to Duty

K2: The importance of safeguarding, recognising signs of abuse and the relevant safeguarding processes. Back to Duty

K3: What is required of them by the Health and Care Professions Council, including but not limited to the standards of conduct, performance and ethics. Back to Duty

K4: The importance of valid consent. Back to Duty

K5: The importance of capacity in the context of delivering care and treatment. Back to Duty

K6: The scope of a professional duty of care. Back to Duty

K7: Legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice. Back to Duty

K8: The legislative, policy, ethical and research frameworks that underpin, inform and influence the practice of diagnostic radiography. Back to Duty

K9: The importance of own mental and physical health and wellbeing strategies in maintaining fitness to practise. Back to Duty

K10: How to take appropriate action if own health may affect own ability to practise safely and effectively, including seeking help and support when necessary. Back to Duty

K11: The need for active participation in training, supervision and mentoring in supporting high standards of practice, and personal and professional conduct, and the importance of demonstrating this in practice. Back to Duty

K12: Equality legislation and how to apply it to own practice. Back to Duty

K13: The duty to make reasonable adjustments in practice. Back to Duty

K14: The characteristics and consequences of barriers to inclusion, including for socially isolated groups. Back to Duty

K15: That regard to equality, diversity and inclusion needs to be embedded in the application of all HCPC standards and across all areas of practice. Back to Duty

K16: The emotions, behaviours and psychosocial needs of people undergoing diagnostic imaging, as well as that of their families and carers. Back to Duty

K17: When disclosure of confidential information may be required. Back to Duty

K18: The principles of information and data governance and be aware of the safe and effective use of health, social care and other relevant information. Back to Duty

K19: The need to ensure confidentiality is maintained in all situations in which service users rely on additional communication support, such as interpreters or translators. Back to Duty

K20: How concepts of confidentiality and informed consent extend to all mediums, including illustrative clinical records such as photography, video and audio recordings and digital platforms. Back to Duty

K21: The characteristics and consequences of verbal and non-verbal communication and recognise how these can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences. Back to Duty

K22: The need to support the communication needs of service users and carers, such as through the use of an appropriate interpreter. Back to Duty

K23: The need to provide service users or people acting on own behalf with the information necessary in accessible formats to enable them to make informed decisions. Back to Duty

K24: The principles and practices of other health and care professionals and systems and how they interact with own profession. Back to Duty

K25: The need to build and sustain professional relationships as both an autonomous practitioner and collaboratively as a member of a team. Back to Duty

K26: The qualities, behaviours and benefits of leadership. Back to Duty

K27: That leadership is a skill all professionals can demonstrate. Back to Duty

K28: The need to engage service users and carers in planning and evaluating diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions to meet own needs and goals. Back to Duty

K29: Information from other healthcare professionals and service users, in order to maximise health gain whilst minimising risks to the service user, such as from radiation dose. Back to Duty

K30: The need to involve service users in service design, service delivery, education and research. Back to Duty

K31: The need to engage service users and carers in planning and evaluating their diagnostic imaging and interventional procedures. Back to Duty

K32: The value of reflective practice and the need to record the outcome of such reflection to support continuous improvement. Back to Duty

K33: The value of multi-disciplinary reviews, case conferences and other methods of review. Back to Duty

K34: The value of gathering and using data for quality assurance and improvement programmes. Back to Duty

K35: The principles and regulatory requirements for quality control and quality assurance as they apply to their profession. Back to Duty

K36: The quality improvement processes in place relevant to their profession. Back to Duty

K37: The structure and function of the human body, together with knowledge of physical and mental health, disease, disorder and dysfunction relevant to their profession. Back to Duty

K38: Recognise the roles of other professions and services in health and social care and understand how they may relate to the role of radiographer. Back to Duty

K39: The structure and function of health and social care systems and services in the UK. Back to Duty

K40: The role of the diagnostic radiographer and other operators in the promotion of health and health education in relation to public health, healthy living and health screening for disease detection. Back to Duty

K41: The harms and benefits of population and targeted health screening. Back to Duty

K42: The radiobiological principles on which the practice of diagnostic radiography is based. Back to Duty

K43: The concept of risk vs benefit with regards to ionising radiation and non-ionising radiation, acknowledging this will differ depending on modality, and communicate this with service users, taking into consideration service user judgement. Back to Duty

K44: The philosophy and principles involved in the practice of their profession. Back to Duty

K45: The principles of ionising radiation production, interaction with matter, beam modification, administration of radionuclides and radiation protection. Back to Duty

K46: The physical and scientific principles on which image formation using ionising and non-ionising radiation is based. Back to Duty

K47: Radiation dosimetry and the principles of dose calculation. Back to Duty

K48: The theoretical basis underpinning service user assessment prior to and during their procedure. Back to Duty

K49: The capability, applications and range of equipment used in their profession. Back to Duty

K50: The concepts and principles involved in the practice of their profession and how these inform and direct clinical judgement and decision making. Back to Duty

K51: The pharmacology of drugs used in their profession. Back to Duty

K52: The legislation, principles and methods for the safe and effective administration of drugs used in their profession. Back to Duty

K53: The mechanisms for the administration of drugs, including intravenous and oral contrast agents. Back to Duty

K54: The principles of the safe storage, transportation and disposal of medicinal products used in relation their profession. Back to Duty

K55: The different communication needs, anatomy and disease processes and their manifestation in children. Back to Duty

K56: The signs and symptoms of disease and trauma that result in referral for diagnostic imaging procedures and their image appearances. Back to Duty

K57: The structure and function of the human body in health, disease and trauma, as well as common pathologies and mechanisms of disease and trauma, including the:– musculoskeletal system– soft tissue organs– regional and cross-sectional anatomy of the head, neck, limbs, thorax, pelvis and abdomen– the cardiovascular, respiratory, genitourinary, gastrointestinal and neuroendocrine systems. Back to Duty

K58: A range of research methodologies relevant to own role. Back to Duty

K59: The value of research to the critical evaluation of practice. Back to Duty

K60: The need to maintain the safety of themselves and others, including service users, carers and colleagues. Back to Duty

K61: Relevant health and safety legislation and local operational procedures and policies. Back to Duty

K62: Appropriate moving and handling techniques. Back to Duty

K63: The correct principles and applications of disinfectants, methods for sterilisation and decontamination, and for dealing with waste and spillages correctly. Back to Duty

K64: The role of the profession in health promotion, health education and preventing ill health. Back to Duty

K65: How social, economic and environmental factors, wider determinants of health, can influence a person’s health and well-being. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Identify the limits of own practice and when to seek advice or refer to another professional or service. Back to Duty

S2: Recognise the need to manage own workload and resources safely and effectively, including managing the emotional burden that comes with working in a pressured environment. Back to Duty

S3: Keep own skills and knowledge up to date. Back to Duty

S4: Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct. Back to Duty

S5: Engage in safeguarding processes where necessary. Back to Duty

S6: Promote and protect the service user’s interests at all times. Back to Duty

S7: Respect and uphold the rights, dignity, values, and autonomy of service users, including own role in the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and/or therapeutic process. Back to Duty

S8: Recognise that relationships with service users, carers and others should be based on mutual respect and trust, and maintain high standards of care in all circumstances. Back to Duty

S9: Obtain valid consent, which is voluntary and informed, has due regard to capacity, is proportionate to the circumstances and is appropriately documented. Back to Duty

S10: Exercise a duty of care. Back to Duty

S11: Apply legislation, policies and guidance relevant to own profession and scope of practice. Back to Duty

S12: Recognise the power imbalance which comes with being a health care professional, and ensure it is not for personal gain. Back to Duty

S13: Practise in accordance with current legislation governing the use of ionising and non-ionising radiation for medical and other purposes. Back to Duty

S14: Identify own anxiety and stress and recognise the potential impact on own practice. Back to Duty

S15: Develop and adopt clear strategies for physical and mental self-care and self-awareness, to maintain a high standard of professional effectiveness and a safe working environment. Back to Duty

S16: Recognise that they are personally responsible for, and must be able to, justify their decisions and actions. Back to Duty

S17: Use own skills, knowledge and experience, and the information available, to make informed decisions and/or take action where necessary. Back to Duty

S18: Make reasoned decisions to initiate, continue, modify or cease treatment or the use of techniques or procedures, and record the decisions and reasoning appropriately. Back to Duty

S19: Make and receive appropriate referrals, where necessary. Back to Duty

S20: Exercise personal initiative. Back to Duty

S21: Demonstrate a logical and systematic approach to problem solving. Back to Duty

S22: Use research, reasoning and problem-solving skills when determining appropriate actions. Back to Duty

S23: Respond appropriately to the needs of all different groups and individuals in practice, recognising this can be affected by difference of any kind including, but not limited to, protected characteristics, intersectional experiences and cultural differences. Back to Duty

S24: Recognise the potential impact of own values, beliefs and personal biases, which may be unconscious, on practice and take personal action to ensure all service users and carers are treated appropriately with respect and dignity. Back to Duty

S25: Make and support reasonable adjustments in own and others’ practice. Back to Duty

S26: Actively challenge barriers to inclusion, supporting the implementation of change wherever possible. Back to Duty

S27: Adhere to the professional duty of confidentiality. Back to Duty

S28: Respond in a timely manner to situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public and recognise situations where it is necessary to share information to safeguard service users, carers and/or the wider public. Back to Duty

S29: Use effective and appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills to communicate with service users, carers, colleagues and others Back to Duty

S30: Communicate in English to the required standard for the profession Back to Duty

S31: Work with service users and / or own carers to facilitate the service user’s preferred role in decision-making, and provide service users and carers with the information they may need where appropriate Back to Duty

S32: Modify own means of communication to address the individual communication needs and preferences of service users and carers, and remove any barriers to communication where possible Back to Duty

S33: Use information, communication and digital technologies appropriate to own practice Back to Duty

S34: Formulate and provide information and support for service users about their treatment and / or imaging process and procedures, with regular reappraisal of their information needs as appropriate Back to Duty

S35: Advise other healthcare professionals about the relevance and application of imaging modalities to the service user’s needs Back to Duty

S36: Provide appropriate information and support for service users throughout their diagnostic imaging examinations Back to Duty

S37: Keep full, clear and accurate records in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines Back to Duty

S38: Manage records and all other information in accordance with applicable legislation, protocols and guidelines Back to Duty

S39: Use digital record keeping tools, where required Back to Duty

S40: Work in partnership with service users, carers, colleagues and others Back to Duty

S41: Contribute effectively to work undertaken as part of a multi-disciplinary team Back to Duty

S42: Identify anxiety and stress in service users, carers and colleagues, adapting own practice and providing support where appropriate Back to Duty

S43: Identify own leadership qualities, behaviours and approaches, taking into account the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion Back to Duty

S44: Demonstrate leadership behaviours appropriate to own practice Back to Duty

S45: Act as a role model for others Back to Duty

S46: Promote and engage in the learning of others Back to Duty

S47: Demonstrate awareness of the need to empower service users to participate in the decision-making processes related to their profession Back to Duty

S48: Demonstrate awareness of the need to encourage, support and mentor staff at all practitioner levels Back to Duty

S49: Demonstrate awareness of roles and responsibilities where work is delegated and how this applies in practice Back to Duty

S50: Interpret and act upon information from other healthcare professionals and service users, in order to maximise health gain whilst minimising risks to the service user (such as from radiation dose) Back to Duty

S51: Engage in evidence-based practice Back to Duty

S52: Gather and use feedback and information, including qualitative and quantitative data, to evaluate the responses of service users to own care Back to Duty

S53: Monitor and systematically evaluate the quality of practice, and maintain an effective quality management and quality assurance process working towards continual improvement Back to Duty

S54: Participate in quality management, including quality control, quality assurance, clinical governance and the use of appropriate outcome measures Back to Duty

S55: Evaluate care plans or intervention plans using recognised and appropriate outcome measures, in conjunction with the service user where possible, and revise the plans as necessary Back to Duty

S56: Demonstrate awareness of the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process Back to Duty

S57: Demonstrate awareness of the philosophy and the development of the profession of diagnostic radiography to inform understanding of current practice Back to Duty

S58: Apply the principles of ionising radiation production, interaction with matter, beam modification, administration of radionuclides and radiation protection Back to Duty

S59: Distinguish between normal and abnormal appearances on images Back to Duty

S60: Recognise and respond to adverse or abnormal reactions to medications used in relation to their profession Back to Duty

S61: Demonstrate awareness of the current developments and trends in the science and practice of diagnostic radiography Back to Duty

S62: Demonstrate awareness of the principles of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning technology, and its application to practice Back to Duty

S63: Change own practice as needed to take account of new developments, technologies and changing contexts Back to Duty

S64: Gather appropriate information Back to Duty

S65: Analyse and critically evaluate the information collected Back to Duty

S66: Select and use appropriate assessment techniques and equipment Back to Duty

S67: Undertake and record a thorough, sensitive, and detailed assessment Back to Duty

S68: Undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate Back to Duty

S69: Conduct appropriate assessment or monitoring procedures, treatment, therapy or other actions safely and effectively Back to Duty

S70: Critically evaluate research and other evidence to inform own practice Back to Duty

S71: Engage service users in research as appropriate Back to Duty

S72: Formulate specific and appropriate management plans including the setting of timescales Back to Duty

S73: Assess, monitor and care for the service user across the pathway of care relevant to their profession Back to Duty

S74: Undertake and record a thorough, sensitive and detailed clinical assessment, selecting and using appropriate techniques and equipment Back to Duty

S75: Use physical, graphical, verbal and electronic methods to collect and analyse information from a range of relevant sources including service user’s clinical history, diagnostic images and reports, pathological tests and results, dose recording and treatment verification systems Back to Duty

S76: Interrogate and process data and information gathered accurately in order to conduct the procedures most appropriate to the service user’s needs Back to Duty

S77: Appraise image information for clinical manifestations and technical accuracy, and take further action as required Back to Duty

S78: Manage complex and unpredictable situations including the ability to adapt planned procedures Back to Duty

S79: Operate diagnostic imaging equipment safely and accurately Back to Duty

S80: Check that equipment is functioning accurately and within the specifications, and to take appropriate action in the case of faulty functioning and operation Back to Duty

S81: Select and explain the rationale for radiographic techniques and immobilisation procedures appropriate to the service user’s physical and disease management requirements Back to Duty

S82: Position and immobilise service users correctly for safe and accurate procedures Back to Duty

S83: Authorise and plan appropriate diagnostic imaging examinations Back to Duty

S84: Calculate radiation doses and exposures and record and understand the significance of radiation dose Back to Duty

S85: Perform a broad range of standard imaging techniques, including examinations requiring contrast agents for relevant modalities across a variety of diagnostic or screening care pathways Back to Duty

S86: Assist with a range of more complex diagnostic imaging techniques and interventional procedures providing radiographic support to the service user and other members of the multidisciplinary team Back to Duty

S87: Provide appropriate care for the range of service users and their carers before, during and after imaging examinations, minimally invasive interventional procedures and contrast agent examinations Back to Duty

S88: Perform a range of imaging examinations where the service user’s individual characteristics require examinations to be carried out using nonstandard techniques Back to Duty

S89: Perform a range of techniques using mobile imaging equipment outside of a dedicated imaging room Back to Duty

S90: Manage and assist with imaging techniques performed on anaesthetised or unconscious individuals Back to Duty

S91: Adjust ionising radiation exposures and image recording parameters to achieve required image quality at optimal dose for children and adults Back to Duty

S92: Perform a range of imaging techniques and interventions on children Back to Duty

S93: Use to best effect the processing and related technology supporting imaging systems Back to Duty

S94: Manage and assist with fluoroscopic diagnostic and interventional procedures, including those that are complex and involve the use of contrast agents Back to Duty

S95: Perform a broad range of computed tomographic (CT) examinations, including standard head CT examinations, and assist with CT examinations of the spine, chest and abdomen in acute trauma, and to contribute effectively to other CT studies Back to Duty

S96: Perform standard magnetic resonance imaging procedures Back to Duty

S97: Assist with ultrasound imaging procedures Back to Duty

S98: Assist with imaging procedures involving the use of radionuclides including PET tracers and particle emitters Back to Duty

S99: Critically analyse clinical images for technical quality and suggest improvement if required Back to Duty

S100: Distinguish disease trauma and urgent and unexpected findings as they manifest on diagnostic images and take direct and timely action to assist the referrer Back to Duty

S101: Demonstrate awareness of relevant health and safety legislation and comply with all local operational procedures and policies Back to Duty

S102: Work safely, including being able to select appropriate hazard control and risk management, reduction or elimination techniques in a safe manner and in accordance with health and safety legislation Back to Duty

S103: Select appropriate personal protective equipment and use it correctly Back to Duty

S104: Establish safe environments for practice, which appropriately manages risk Back to Duty

S105: Apply appropriate moving and handling techniques Back to Duty

S106: Ensure the physical safety of all individuals in the imaging/ therapeutic work environment, especially with regard to radiation safety and high-strength magnetic fields Back to Duty

S107: Use basic life support techniques and deal with clinical emergencies Back to Duty

S108: Empower and enable individuals (including service users and colleagues) to play a part in managing own health Back to Duty

S109: Engage in occupational health, including being aware of immunisation requirements Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Demonstrate a calm demeanour with empathy, compassion and underpinning emotional resilience to manage day-to-day pressures in unpredictable, emergency and distressing situations, e.g. individuals in cardiac arrest, suffering life changing injuries and/or disease diagnosis. Back to Duty

B2: Confident, flexible and adaptable within own scope of practice. Back to Duty

B3: Demonstrate emotional intelligence. Back to Duty

B4: Act with professionalism, honesty, integrity and respect in all interactions. Maintain good character as outlined in their professional Code of Conduct and not bring their profession or organisation into disrepute. Back to Duty

B5: Reflect on own impact on others, take responsibility and be accountable for own actions. Sensitively challenge others and raise issues when appropriate. Back to Duty

B6: Actively reflect on own practice and accept and respond to constructive criticism. Be proactive in implementing improvements in order to improve service delivery and patient care. Back to Duty

B7: Be aware of and take responsibility for their own fitness in context of physical and/or mental health issues which may affect performance. Seek help and/or guidance as appropriate. Inform Health and Care Professions Council and employer of any change of circumstance that may affect the right to practise. Back to Duty

Qualifications

English and Maths

English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

Other mandatory qualifications

Additional details

Regulated standard

This is a regulated occupation.

Regulator body:

Health and Care Professions Council

Training Provider must be approved by regulator body

EPAO must be approved by regulator body

Occupational Level:

6

Duration (months):

36

Review

this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.