Diagnostic radiography support workers

HEE is working closely with The Society of Radiographers and partners to develop the role of diagnostic support workers in imaging services.

Supporting Success

The Supporting Success project has developed guidance on occupation-specific roles and responsibilities for diagnostic radiography support workers employed in the NHS. This builds on the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework and includes profession-specific competencies and progression routes linked to formal education and pre-registration degrees.

This work will support:

• growth of the imaging support workforce,

• task allocation, including the delegation from registered staff within the scope of practice of support staff,

• increased engagement with apprenticeships,

• development of supportive learning cultures, and,

• engagement with new sources of workforce supply.

Developing pathways for diagnostic imaging support worker roles

Across England, NHS trusts have been offered a one-off support for the first phase of the implementation of the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework as part of the national roll out in 2021/22.

Using guidance from HEE, diagnostic radiography services will be supported to review current deployment and education provision for support workers. This will allow greater consistency of roles and ensure services maximise workforce capacity and capability safely to meet increasing demands on services. There should also be clear plans locally on how to recruit the future diagnostic radiography support workforce.

HEE has published a suite of resources to support this work.

Developing career pathways for diagnostic imaging support worker roles: literature review and expert group survey

A rapid review of the literature was conducted by KCL. This paper summarises the results of that review. It briefly covers the historical development of support worker roles in the profession, recent reports, and issues that support workers and services can face when seeking to develop the roles and create progression pathways, including into pre-registration degrees.

Read the literature review and expert group survey.

Developing career pathways for diagnostic imaging support worker roles - guidance on roles and responsibilities

Health Education England (HEE) has published this guidance in collaboration with the Society of Radiographers to maximise the contribution of the diagnostic imaging support workforce to deliver safe and effective care. The guidance sets out the roles and responsibilities that diagnostic imaging support workers, including assistant practitioners, can perform at four career levels. It provides additional, profession-specific competencies that complement the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework.

Read the guidance on roles and responsibilities.

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