The Department of Health, in its guidance on the setting up of non medical consultant roles, stated that these posts should have a minimum clinical element of 50%.
Allowing for the fact that expert clinical practice will be core to all the domains of practice, clinical practice within the context of these posts may consist of part or all of the following. It is not confined to direct patient contact sessions.
- Direct patient contact, eg, clinic sessions, examining patients, undertaking imaging tests on a 1:1 basis, portal imaging review, breaking bad news to patients;
- Reporting and administrative work associated with these sessions;
- Active participation in, or chairing, Multi Disciplinary Team meetings where patient diagnosis and treatment is discussed;
- Case discussion on individual examinations/fractionations;
- Support and advice to other staff, including supervising other practitioners whilst they are providing direct patient care;
- Advice to carers;
- Collaboration and discussion with colleagues to enhance an individual patient's journey.
- Arbitration of cases in mammography
- Diagnostics serious case reviews.
The career framework for the radiography workforce is available via this link https://www.sor.org/learning/document-library/education-and-career-framework-radiography-workforce
The Scope of Radiography practice is available via this link https://www.sor.org/learning/document-library/scope-practice-2013
and The Code of Professional Conduct is available via this link https://www.sor.org/learning/document-library/code-professional-conduct
The above links are relevant for both the development of yourself and the future imaging workforce.
There is also national work in relation to advanced and consultant practitioner level practice taking part in the four countries Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Wales has published a framework available at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/documents/490/National%20Diagnostic%20Imaging%20Framework.pdf
England is developing a framework: https://hee.nhs.uk/our-work/developing-our-workforce/advanced-clinical-practice
Scotland have produced a range of useful resources to guide practice:
- http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-discipline/allied-health-professions/resources,-publications-and-useful-links/publications/supporting-ahp-career-and-role-development-across-the-career-framework-for-health.aspx
- http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-discipline/allied-health-professions/resources,-publications-and-useful-links/publications/national-guidance-for-clinical-academic-research-careers-for-nmahps.aspx
- http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/home.aspx
- http://www.advancedpractice.scot.nhs.uk/media/618/sg-consultants-guidance-march10.pdf
In addition to the career framework for the radiography workforce (2013), The College of Radiographers have also produced the following infographic:
