How to become a member of the SoR
Return to Radiography: Free SoR membership for returners!
Subscription rates
The subscription year runs from 1 October to 30 September.
- UK full rate £237
- Overseas £114
- Reduced £165
- Radiographic Assistants £72
- Assistant Practitioners £108
- Retired £60
- First year students FREE
- 2nd, 3rd & 4th year students £48 per year, £4 per month by direct debit
The membership fees can be paid either fully in advance by cheque, credit/debit card or in monthly instalments by direct debit.
Payment by cheque
If you decide to pay by cheque, you must send the full amount for the period 1st October to 30th September together with the enclosed remittance advice form. Your cheque should arrive before 1st October.
Cheques should be made payable to ‘The Society of Radiographers Subscription Account’.
Payment by Credit/Debit Card
Payment by monthly Direct Debit
If you decide to pay by monthly direct debit a cheque for the first month’s subscription payment should be enclosed with your completed direct debit mandate and remittance form.
Reduced rate subscription
If your total earnings are less than £20,710.00 per annum, you may qualify for the reduced rate subscription of £165. If you believe you are eligible, please complete the appropriate form below.
Tax deductions
You should be able to claim tax relief for the full cost of your annual subscription. Contact Joel Wilkins on 020 7740 7228 or email joelw@sor.org for the tax form. When you have completed and signed the form, send it to your Tax Office. Your employer can tell you the address if you do not know it.
Also, you may be able to claim tax relief for the cleaning of your uniform. You can use the same form as for the annual subscription. There is an explanation of the circumstances in which SoR members are entitled to tax relief for laundry costs and how to go about claiming it.
The links below are to PDF documents that you can print. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader software please click the button below to download it.
Professional Liability Insurance Policy FAQ's PDF
Newly Qualified Radiographers Membership Form PDF
I am a new or rejoining member PDF
Meeting the requirements of the Health Professions Council PDF
If you would like to be posted copies of any of these forms please contact Joel Wilkins on 020 7740 7228 or email: joelw@sor.org.
If you require a membership pack, reduced rate form or direct debit mandate please contact Joel Wilkins on 020 7740 7228 or email joelw@sor.org
The Society of Radiographers Benevolent Fund
Return to Radiography
CURRENT SITUATION
There has been a sharp increase in the number of enquiries from radiographers wanting to return to the profession. If you have worked as a radiographer in the past and was registered with CPSM (Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine) or, more recently, with The Health Professions Council (HPC) it might be possible for you to come back to the profession after a break of some years. Experience has shown that as long as you have had a good grounding after qualification and before taking a break then it is possible to return even if the break is a long one. Of course, it also depends what you have been doing in the intervening period. The profession benefits greatly from the input from mature returners who bring other skills, qualities and experience into the workplace. Perhaps you could be one of these people.
Given that you are reading this and looking at this website, you are likely to be a radiographer considering returning to work after a break. This page should answer some questions and encourage you to take the first steps.
Recent articles in Synergy on the topic of returning to practice include:
A Positive Spin by Sarah Brothwood (December 2009)
Diary of a Serial Returner by Susan Doran (June 2009) and
Which Way for Returners? by Helen Riddell (April 2009)
Download this 9 minute audio podcast to hear Pam Shuttleworth and Sarah
Brothwood (right) say why and how they managed to return to practice. They are
both therapy radiographers who successfully returned to radiotherapy
after career breaks. They talk positively about both the academic and
clinical updating processes they went through and both agree that
whilst regaining the necessary knowledge and skills was hard work, it
was worth it.
Download the podcast mp3
Download this podcast to hear Jane Fawcett, who successfully returned to
radiography after a break, interviewing three returners; Moyra Isherwood
talks about the advantages and disadvantages of returning to practice in
the specialty of mammography, Jane Mackenzie-Bennett is a manager who
has supported returners in her department and she discusses the
expectations of the manager and the benefits of returning in a community
hospital, finally Georgina Lucas returned to radiography some years ago
and she gives her thoughts as she finally retires from the profession.
Georgina raises the need to lobby for workforce and facilities and would
encourage returners to take that all important step to come back to the
profession.
Download the podcast mp3
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| Jane Fawcett | Moyra Isherwood | Jane Mackenzie-Bennett | Georgina Lucas |
HEALTH PROFESSIONS COUNCIL
To work as a radiographer in the UK you must be registered with the regulatory body which is the Health Professions Council. See information on their website at http://www.hpc-uk.org/apply/readmission/.
In order to return to the register, you will need to meet the following requirements,
depending on how long you have been out of radiography:
- 0-2 years - no requirements
- 2-5 years - 30 days of updating their skills and knowledge
- 5 years or over - 60 days of updating their skills and knowledge
This is only a guide, and are minimum requirements in order to re-register. However, every radiographer has an obligation to ensure that they practise safely and effectively within their scope of practice and you or your supervisor may feel that you need spend longer updating your skills and knowledge before you are able to return to practice in a certain area or in a certain role.
When you apply to return to the register you will be signing to say that you meet the standards set down by the HPC. These standards are set out in Standards of proficiency: Radiographers and also Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics. Both these documents can be downloaded from the HPC website.
You will need to keep a record of activities during the updating period so that you can complete the HPC return to practice form. The form will ask for a summary of the activities that have been undertaken, including the number of days spent on each area. It will need to be countersigned by a radiographer to confirm that the information is correct. The updating period can comprise a combination of supervised practice, formal study and private study. Private study can only make up a maximum of half of your total period.
An example of how to record your activities during your 30/60 days is given here. This returner came back recently and SCoR would like to
thank her for sharing this:
Record of formal courses attended MsWord
Record of hours, topics and resources used for private study MsWord
Record of locations, and time spent doing clinical practice MsWord
10 days example of diary entries during clinical practice at Victoria Hospital MsWord
Relating how I spent my time since practising and demonstrating how the experience I gained was beneficial to my return to radiography MsWord
Reflections and reports of visits to Worthing Hosp imaging depts - CT MRI and US MsWord
Which modalities are used for different investigations. Justification of exposures MsWord
Report and reflections of visit to Chailey imaging dept - a centre for severly disabled children MsWord
In addition to the above the returner also researched and wrote on
various other topics such as Agenda for Change, Adult Protection,
Brighton Breast Cancer Day, visits to other imaging depts, the breast
screening programme, ksf, etc etc. She also kept a log book of all
examinations undertaken, and recorded unfamiliar medical terminology and
abbreviations. Much use was made of the internet. The mentor suggested
recording knowledge she had gained on topics that had changed the most
since and those which are most relevant now. These included
Radiographic Technique, PACS and DR/CR, IRMER, Health and Safety,
Infection Control and Data Protection/Confidentiality.
SUPERVISED PRACTICE
Returners need to find a clinical department willing to take them on for a period of supervised practice. The returner and service manager need to decide how best to facilitate the required experience in order that the returner can meet the necessary standards. This will involve providing clinical experience across the range of services. Occasionally, returners express a wish to return to a specific area of practice (for example, mammography). If this is the case, then it is reasonable that a period of supervised practice be focused on that specific area, but it is preferable to include at least some time in general radiography so that there is an opportunity to gain insight into the broad scope of practice of the profession.
Returners need to keep a daily log of activities and should agree a system with their supervisor. The daily log should include date, patient identification, examination and name of supervisor. Other information may also be deemed relevant. There should also be opportunity for recording reflections.
The returner and the service manager also need to consider a system whereby competency can be signed off. This summary should include all aspects of the profession as set out in Standards of proficiency: Radiographers.
Click here and for an example of a completed summary sheet.
FORMAL STUDY
See RETURN TO PRACTICE COURSES UPDATE below.
There may be opportunities for you to attend study days and meetings run by your clinical department, hospital and/or local radiography education provider and if so you can count these towards your period of academic updating
PRIVATE STUDY
See RETURN TO PRACTICE STUDY PROGRAMME below.
In the absence of formal courses, returners have to devise their own programmes of
study. The service manager and staff in the department will help with this but here are a few suggestions:
a) Journals: The main journals for Radiographers are Synergy News,
Synergy and Radiography all of which are a benefit to members of The Society of Radiographers. To gain access to these you must be a member. The Society of Radiographers offers 3 months free membership to Returners, talk to Vicki Howlett,
Membership Services Manager on 020 7740 7210 to claim yourthree months free membership.
b) The World Wide Web: There is a vast amount of information out there, some good, some not so good and information gleaned from the internet needs to be treated with some caution. The members section of the website of the Society of Radiographers www.sor.org has a lot of information including all of our professional documents and advice. You have to have a membership number to access the members section of the website.
c) Books: Your nearest radiography education provider may allow you access to library facilities. Also your local lending library would be able to borrow books for you. The clinical department will also have some textbooks and journals.
d) Study days, conferences and meetings: Attendance at events can count towards your period of updating skills and knowledge. You should write a report describing what you learned from the event.
You should keep a record of your private study to include date, times, activity (be specific; include name of article read and proper reference) and summary of what you have learned.
Click here for an example of a study log
FREE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY OF RADIOGRAPHERS
The Society of Radiographers is offering three months free membership for those seeking re-admission to the Health Professions Council (HPC) register. This will give you access to the members side of this website which has an extensive library of guidance and advice documents and access to back issues of journals during the 30 or 60 day period of updating of skills and knowledge which is required by the HPC before allowing readmission.
To claim your period of free membership contact Vicki Howlett, Membership Services Manager on 020 7740 7210 or email vickih@sor.org.
RETURNING TO RADIOGRAPHY UNDER THE CURRENT JOB MARKET
Having had a period of a national shortage of radiographers the situation is now changing and we are experiencing some job shortages especially at Band 5 which is the band used for newly qualified radiographers. In the current recession it is natural that there is concern about redundancies and because radiography is seen as a safe job to have we are also finding that radiographers are remaining in post There are shortages of radiographers in ultrasound and mammography and, of course, it depends on the local situation.
The Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) is of the opinion that this is a temporary glitch and that overall there is a need to increase the radiography workforce further:
1. In some cases, there are temporary job freezes in place because of local financial
overspending which prevent Service Managers recruiting to radiography positions
2. Unfortunately where Service Managers have been unable to recruit radiographers and the
remaining staff have "soldiered" on, those posts have been lost and managers are having
to argue for their re-instatement
SCoR has good reason to think that the problems are temporary:
1. Government initiatives about reducing waiting lists mean that imaging services are under
pressure to provide fast access to diagnostic services. To achieve this, the NHS will need
to employ more radiographers
2. Initiatives, such as extending the working day, will require an increase in radiographers
and therefore Service Managers are arguing for increases in the staffing establishment to
achieve this
3. There will be a large increase in the number of therapy radiographers needed to meet the
demands made in a recent report on cancer services. See information on Cancer Reform Strategy at http://www.cancerimprovement.nhs.uk/View.aspx?page=/cancer_reform_strategy.html
RETURNERS SEEKING JOBS
In the short term, you will probably be competing for jobs with newly qualified radiographers; The SCoR Returners Support Network would like to offer you the following advice:
Returners have a lot to offer! Returning radiographers very often bring other skills and qualities to the department. You may have gained experience in a different working environment, i.e. in paid employment, as a volunteer or during a career break, perhaps to look after children. You would return with the skills gained through your experience. Returning radiographers tend to have a maturity which is valuable in the workforce, and once back in employment they tend to stay and be a valuable and flexible member of staff.
You will need to stress that you have these very useful transferable skills; communication,
management, logistical skills which come with a certain maturity and life experience.
DO NOT PUT YOURSELF DOWN!! Emphasise all the extra knowledge and skills that you would offer the imaging or radiotherapy department.
THE RETURN TO PRACTICE SUPPORT GROUP
The Return to Practice Support Network is comprised of radiographers who have successfully returned to the profession after a break. The group has three functions;
1. To operate as an advisory group with a special interest in return to practice,
2. To oversee the writing of return to practice guides for both returners and managers
3. To act as a support group for returners. This group can be contacted through Christina Freeman, Professional Officer responsible for returners and lead for the Return to Practice Support Network, e-mail her on christinaf@sor.org.
The Return to Practice Support Group produces regular newsletters which can be accessed here PDF and here PDF.
Phil Edwards from the Return to Practice Support Group encourages radiographers to return to the profession, click here.
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| Phil Edwards | Diane Fox | Members of the Return to Practice Support Group - Linda Johnson, Jane Mackenzie-Bennett and Jane Fawcett |
THE RETURN TO PRACTICE SUPPORT GROUP would like to invite anyone with an interest in returning to radiography and also managers and mentors who are interested in supporting returners during their period of updating skills and knowledge prior to registration with the Health Professions Council to an OPEN HOUSE at the headquarters of The Society of Radiographers, 207 Providence Square, Mill Street, London SE1 2EW on Tuesday 22nd June 2010 anytime between noon and 3pm. Christina Freeman, Professional Officer lead for returning and members of the support group will be there to answer any questions and provide practical help and advice. Register your interest by emailing Christina on christinaf@sor.org or phone her on 020 7740 7245.
RETURN TO PRACTICE COURSES UPDATE
There is currently a shortage of return to practice courses, although courses are approved they are not running because of lack of demand.
For an up to date list of return to practice courses click here MsWord.
If you are a therapy radiographer you should contact Gillian Thompson, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Sheffield Hallam University. You can contact her by email at G.Thompson@shu.ac.uk and/or see information at http://www.shu.ac.uk/radiotherapy/returntopractice
Diagnostic radiographers should contact their local radiography education provider to ask if they provide any support for returners; they may be willing to allow you access to library resources. To find your nearest university which provides radiographer education click here PDF.
Returners in Scotland should click here and below for more information http://www.sor.org/public/pdf/ahp_returners_infopack.pdf
RETURN TO PRACTICE STUDY PROGRAMME
In the absence of a return to practice course you may need to create your own study programme and record what you have studied to meet the requirements of the Health Professions Council (HPC). Given below is a list or resources that members of the Return to Practice Support Network can recommend. Also, if you are updating clinical skills at the same time the staff in the department will have ideas to help and the department itself will have resources that you can use.
Take advantage of Society of Radiographers period of free membership for returners, members section of www.sor.org is packed with information and gives access to back copies of Synergy and professional advice and guidance documents under "publications"
For basic understanding of CT and MRI
- Ball and Moores Essential Physics for Radiographers
- Physics for Medical Imaging by Farr and Allisy-Roberts (pub Saunders).
- Chesneys Equipment for student radiographers
- Kitty Clark for positioning in radiography
- J. Begg Abdominal X-rays Made Easy
Also borrow some good anatomy books from the library.
www.e-radiography.net (after the SOR website, probably the most helpful site for a wide range of topics)
www.mritutor.org (MRI)
www.ctisus.com (CT)
http://www.cancer.gov (National Cancer Institute)
http://www.learningradiology.com
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk (PACS, records etc)
http://www.dh.gov.uk (a wide variety of info confidentiality, freedom of info, guidelines, healthcare etc)
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk (health advice service)
http://www.hpa.org.uk (Health Protection Agency provides advice on infectious diseases, radiation protection etc)
http://www.online-medical-dictionary.org
http://www.vh.org/adult/provider/radiology/NormalRadAnatomy/index.html (this is an American site that explains various radiological examinations)
http://www.xray2000.co.uk (if you search under 'anatomy' on this site it takes you to numerous links to do with anatomy and also positioning)
Series of lectures available as Vodcasts and Podcasts on a variety of topics, see: http://www.ctisus.com/vodcasts/index.html
With regard to quality control and assurance:
Term Quality often still refers to clinical effectiveness and linked with evidence based practice (both terms can be googled). Audit in clinical setting much written about plus evidence of audits done in local hospital. Physiotherapy web sites very good too on these subjects. Good book:- Evidence based healthcare A practical guide for therapists Tracy Bury and Judy Mead. Good web sites:- http://cebm.jr2.ox.ac.uk (centre for evidence based practice)
Imaging and Radiotherapy departments will have resources for staff and copies of all local policies and procedures.
UPDATING SKILLS IN CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS
Depending on how long you have been off the register, you will need to
spend some time in an imaging or radiotherapy department updating your
skills and knowledge. You need to find a department willing to take you
on. You can find your local hospital at http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/homepage.aspx
Some departments have expressed an interest in supporting returners; Mid
Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust, East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT and
Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust. NOTE TO SERVICE MANAGERS: please
let Christina Freeman if you want to be added to this list!
Managers wishing to encourage returners may wish to download posters
that have been made by members of the Return to Practice Support Group,
download them here and here
If you are working as a "volunteer" whilst updating your skills and
knowledge prior to getting back on the HPC register, we suggest that you
might ask to have an "honorary contract," which would make your position
as a supernumerary member of staff clear. An honorary contract, or a
letter to you from the supervisor/manager, should make your situation
clear and define what you can and cannot do. We suggest that you should
ask for this if you intend to do any voluntary work. Just because you are not getting paid it does not mean you can just
walk into a department. There are procedures to be followed that protect
you, the hospital and, most importantly, the patient. To give you some
idea what to expect, click here for an example of an Application for
Honorary Contract and click here for a form for Identity checks which are required from
candidates for an honorary contract.
Financial support for returners is difficult to find because any funds
for them go into the general budget and are not earmarked specifically
for returners. However, if you are a returner in Wales you might find
some support, contact Anne Duggan, Recruitment and Careers Officer,
Workforce Development Unit, her email is anne.duggan@nliah.wales.nhs.uk
Comments and questions should be directed to Christina Freeman,
Professional Officer responsible for returners and lead for the Return
to Practice Support Network, e-mail her on christinaf@sor.org
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