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Radiography assistant
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£13,600 + per year
If you are interested in science and want to work in a technical area within health care, this job could suit you.
As a radiography assistant, or imaging support worker, you would help qualified radiographers with their day-to-day duties.
In this job you would need to be empathetic with patients who could be worried. You would also need good 'people skills'.
There aren't any specific entry requirements to get into this job. However, many employers ask for some GCSE passes in subjects like maths, English and science. You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme.
WorkDesc
The work
Your work would often include:
- providing reassurance to patients using the department
- giving information to patients about their treatment
- transporting patients to and from other wards and departments
- helping to maintain image processing systems and accessory equipment
- reporting any faults with equipment
- providing emotional and physical support to patients during treatment
- assisting the radiographer with procedures, such as biopsies
- clerical tasks, such as booking appointments.
Your duties could also involve processing film images (to help diagnose ill or injured patients) and maintaining hygiene within the department.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work around 37.5 hours a week as a full-time assistant. Part-time hours and job sharing opportunities are also often available.
This work can be physically and emotionally demanding as you would be working with patients with a range of health conditions. You would wear protective clothing, such as an x-ray apron, when working with these machines.
You will be based within a hospital radiography department or outpatient clinic.
IncomeDesc
Income
Radiography assistants can earn between £13,600 and £18,500 a year. Assistant practitioners can earn up to around £21,800.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You may not need any specific qualifications to become a radiography assistant. However, you will usually need a good general standard of education and some employers may prefer you to have four or more GCSEs (A-C) including maths, English and a science subject. Check with your local NHS Trust for specific advice.
It could be an advantage to have some relevant paid or voluntary experience. For more advice about this, contact the voluntary services coordinator or manager at your local NHS Trust.
Another way to get experience of this work is through an Apprenticeship. Schemes vary between NHS Trusts, and in a few places they may still be referred to as Cadet Schemes. They usually include clinical placements and study towards a qualification. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.
You could also contact your local NHS Trust for details of schemes in your area.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are working as a radiography assistant, you will usually receive on-the-job training from your employer. You may also be encouraged to work towards a NVQ levels 2 or 3 in Health, including units specific to radiography support work.
With experience, you may be able to apply for an assistant practitioner post and study for a foundation degree in a subject such as radiography and oncology practice. This could give you access to year two of a degree leading to registration as a radiographer (this may be done as part of a secondment, with financial support from your employer).
As an assistant (or assistant practitioner) you could join the Society and College of Radiographers, which would give you access to networking opportunities and professional development activities.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a radiography assistant you should have:
- patience and empathy
- the ability to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds
- an interest and ability in science
- accuracy and attention to detail
- good communication and listening skills
- the ability to reassure patients who may be worried or distressed
- good teamworking skills and the ability to work on your own initiative
- an awareness of health and safety regulations.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Society and College of Radiographers 
207 Providence Square
Mill Street
London
SE1 2EW
Tel: 020 7740 7200
www.sor.org
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You will find most jobs in the NHS. You could also work in private hospitals or clinics.
With experience (as a radiography assistant or assistant practitioner) and with support from your employer, you could go on to study part-time to become a qualified radiographer. Check with the Society and College of Radiographers for further advice, and the Health Professions Council website for a list of approved full-time and part-time courses.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and further reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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