Clinical Practice

The clinical support worker role is the starting point of the diagnostic radiography workforce career structure.

While the bulk of the role’s duties are likely to be clerical, administrative and housekeeping, clinical support workers also support patient flow, working in clinical settings across diagnostic imaging examinations and modalities.

• Clinical Support Workers have a basic factual knowledge and understanding of diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy services, supported by the Care Certificate (in England) and an appropriate qualification.
• They take responsibility for completing their tasks and procedures, exercise autonomy and judgement subject to overall direction or guidance, and may collaborate with others, working closely with the diagnostic imaging team.

Senior clinical support workers carry out a range of administrative, clerical, housekeeping and clinical tasks, which often vary through the day to support 24/7 service need.

In this role, staff may greet patients and perform initial ID checks, register patient attendance on the radiology management system and prepare them for the examination, as well as providing a more clinical function during and after examinations.

• Senior Clinical Support Workers know and understand facts, principles, processes and general concepts in diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy services. They carry out a range of delegated duties, including clinical tasks, with supervision and guidance available when needed.
• They will hold a profession-appropriate qualification at FHEQ level 3 or equivalent to support this work.

Mammography associate practitioners require practical, theoretical and/or technical knowledge and understanding of the occupational area to address problems that are well defined, but complex and non-routine. They analyse, interpret and evaluate relevant information and ideas, and are aware of the nature and approximate scope of the area of work or study

• Mammography Associates operate specialist mammography equipment used to screen people for breast cancer. They perform routine two-view mammography in a hospital, mobile breast screening unit or medical centre under the supervision of a registered Radiographer with a postgraduate mammography qualification.
• They will hold an FHEQ level 4 qualification for Mammography Associates, such as the Mammography Associate Apprenticeship.

The main role of an assistant practitioner is to perform defined protocol-driven imaging examinations, carrying out tasks that might currently be undertaken by a registered practitioner.

• They work under the supervision of a registered radiographer although the supervision model will vary depending on the assistant practitioner’s area of work, experience and competence.
• They may also support patients during minimally invasive procedures, including aseptic scrub support.
• Assistant practitioners are primarily patient-facing, undertaking the roles and responsibilities of senior clinical support workers such as:
  - Cannulation and positioning of patients
  - Moving and changing MRI coils during MRI sessions
  - Checking pathology results, and chaperoning 
• They also take responsibility for planning and developing courses of action including, where relevant, responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources.
• Exercise responsibility, autonomy and judgement within broad parameters, and are accountable for analysis and diagnosis, design, planning, execution and evaluation within their role.
• They perform imaging on a range of non-complex patients where there are minimal barriers to communication, recognising the  need for, and accessing, more experienced assistance when required. Paediatrics is considered a specialist area and assistant practitioners should have specific training for paediatric imaging where it is to be within their scope of practice.