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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:
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growth of the imaging support workforce,
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task allocation, including the delegation from registered staff within the scope of practice of support staff,
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increased engagement with apprenticeships,
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development of supportive learning cultures, and,
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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.
Webinars and Events
This webinar took place on Tuesday 22nd February 2022 - Slides from which are available to view here. Watch the recording of this webinar now.
This webinar builds on the implementation phase of our AHP support workforce journey, with the published AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework and the guidance on roles & responsibilities for the diagnostic imaging support workforce and diagnostic radiography support workforce literature review
The webinar covered:
· The aims, objectives and support offer of HEE’s national AHP support workforce programme and the role of the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework for radiography support workers.
· The commitment of HEE, The Society of Radiographers, and other partners to develop the role of the diagnostic radiography support workforce.
· The roles and responsibilities guidance for the diagnostic radiography support workforce in providing additional, profession-specific competencies that complement the AHP Support Worker Competency Framework.
· Apprenticeships for the radiography support workforce across England.
· Our collective roles and contributions in recognising, celebrating, developing, and expanding the radiography non-registered workforce.
Speakers:
· Richard Griffin, Professor of Healthcare Management, King’s Business School, King’s College London
· Patrick Crook, Diagnostic Radiographer, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
· Sue Johnson, Professional Officer Clinical Imaging, Society of Radiographers
· Penny Owens, Specialist Advisor, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
· Gemma Hall, Talent for Care Relationship Manager (Apprenticeships) – North West, Talent for Care, Health Education England
· Gaby Ford, AHP Clinical Fellow, National AHP Support Workforce Programme, Health Education England
· Naomi McVey, National Lead for AHP Support Workforce, Health Education England