Assistant Radiographic Practice (Clinical Imaging) (CertHE)

Our one-year programme is the only course of its kind in South Wales, accredited by the Society of Radiographers. It offers an exciting opportunity for NHS support workers to extend their role and become an Assistant Practitioner - a valued member of the radiography team.

The CertHE Assistant Radiographic Practice (Clinical Imaging) programme is an in-service, full-time block-release course designed for NHS support workers who wish to develop their skills and role as a member of the radiography team. It runs over one calendar year and comprises approximately 50% academic-based and 50% work-based learning.

On successful completion, students are awarded a Certificate of Higher Education. Assistant practitioners perform protocol-limited tasks (working within a defined scope of practice and adhering to IR(ME)R 2024, IRR 2024, and other relevant UK legislation) under the direction and supervision of a qualified radiographer. The course is managed as a single programme in Clinical Imaging, with students embedded within the Level 4 cohort.

As a clinical imaging assistant practitioner, you will provide care for patients ranging from newborns to the elderly and produce diagnostic images to support the diagnosis of injury and disease. By the end of the programme, you will have a thorough understanding of the professional and clinical aspects of assistant radiographic practice, including an awareness of the wide range of imaging technologies in use today.

The programme aims to produce clinical imaging assistant practitioners who:
• recognise the importance of knowledge and understanding to their current and future professional practice.
• develop the skills necessary to deliver high-quality care to service users.
• integrate academic and clinical learning effectively.
• develop their knowledge and understanding within an evidence-based framework.

On successful completion of the programme, you will be able to:
• select and use appropriate static and mobile x-ray equipment, and static image intensifier equipment for projection imaging.
• accurately perform routine radiographic examinations of the chest, abdomen, appendicular and axial skeleton in a safe and effective manner while working within your defined scope of practice.
• produce images in accordance with local and national protocols, IR(ME)R 2024, IRR 2024 (and any subsequent changes to the legislation) using radiation doses that are as low as reasonably practicable.
• assess the quality of final images and, if necessary, suggest means of improvement.
• achieve the level of competence as detailed in the Clinical Progress Record.

People are at the heart of our practice, and the development of skills to support individualised patient care is a central focus of the programme. The School provides an interdisciplinary environment, promoting shared learning and inter-professional education. This includes opportunities to learn with and from other healthcare students, especially regarding person-centred care.

You will receive close academic support from experienced personal tutors and be taught and supported by experienced staff whilst sharing ideas within a close-knit class. You will also benefit from placements supported by experienced radiography placement educators while undertaking clinical practice in your employing organisation.

Assistant practitioners perform protocol-limited tasks under the direction and supervision of a radiographer. This programme will prepare you to work in clinical imaging, but you may work in other radiographic imaging areas in accordance with the NHS Health Board’s agreed protocols.

Careers

Career prospects

On completion of the course, Assistant Practitioners will be able to seek employment in Clinical Imaging areas of radiographic practice.

Assistant Practitioners in Clinical Imaging perform non-complex diagnostic radiographic procedures on ambulant adult patients. Their work is mainly based in General X-ray rooms where they perform many of the basic radiographic examinations. They may work in other radiographic imaging areas in accordance with the NHS Health Board’s agreed protocols.

Placements

Students will undertake required clinical placement learning with a minimum number of 460 attendance hours required by all students, which will be monitored through your clinical professionalism records. Placement lengths allow students sufficient opportunity to develop the required skills but also provides some flexibility should they need to pay back hours.