Radiographer (Qualified)

Service:Surface Fleet
Branch:Medical
Level:Rating
Hands on
Healthcare
Technology
Medical
Radiographer working on equipment
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The role at a glance

What you’ll do

Offshore, onshore, close to home, or on the other side of the world, our personnel need the best medical treatment. This can only happen if they get the best medical diagnoses, and that’ll be your job. As a Royal Navy Radiographer you’ll contribute significantly to the overall care and treatment of our casualties. You could find yourself on a Role 2 Afloat team responding to a humanitarian crisis or as part of the Commando Forward Surgical Group which provides a surgical capability for 3 Commando Brigade. You could also find yourself on our Maritime Role 3 capability on board RFA Argus responsible for the provision of Ultrasound, X-ray or CT scans to ensure our clinicians can quickly and accurately assess and treat our patients. You will be working as part of highly specialist multidisciplinary team delivering cutting edge care using the latest in medical innovations and you’ll directly contribute to the outcomes of our patients.

There will be plenty of opportunities to develop and enhance your career in line with your ambitions. When not on Operations you you’ll be based at a Joint Hospital Group South in Plymouth or The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham. Both are military units embedded into the NHS trusts where you’ll work in multi-disciplinary teams of military and NHS colleagues. You’ll develop and maintain your clinical skills and take advantage of the Post Registration training opportunities available to you.

If you have questions, talk to us

Your role

  • Gain your qualification, and then apply and develop your clinical skills in diverse environments
  • Work within a Joint Hospital Group Unit and be deployed all over the world when needed
  • Tailor your career to your ambitions, whether that’s further professional training in ultrasound and CT scanning, or serve with more specialised forces like the Royal Marines.
  • Be part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces
 

What you’ll get

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Working as part of a Multi-disciplinary Medical Team providing and managing the radiology services including CT scanning, X ray and ultrasound
  • Opportunity to gain level 6 - 7 Degree qualifications in Diagnostic Imaging and management specialisations
  • Leadership and management qualifications 

Skills you'll develop

  • How to provide a world-class diagnostic service, wherever you are in the world
  • Opportunity for further training in CT and ultrasound
  • Learn to be adaptable, flexible and disciplined
 

 

Career progression

What you'll need

Eligibility

  • You must be aged 20 to 39
  • BSc or MSc in Diagnostic Radiography
  • Health and Care Professions Council Membership
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     

Skills and interests

  • An ambitious medical professional
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Quick thinking and calm under pressure
  • Caring and compassionate nature
  • A team player
  • An adventurous spirit
 

 

Check Eligibility

Starting your career

Joining process

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

  • Submit an application
    Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form

  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)
    You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
    To prepare, you can practise the DAA

  • Interview
    A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform

  • Medical and eye tests
    These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

  • Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)
    This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

  • Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
    This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and a fitness assessment, is a pass or fail course

  • Start training
    Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

  • Qualified Radiographer Assessment Board
    This is a 1 day selection board where you will be asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation on a clinical subject, participate in a team working task and sit a 30-40 minute competency based interview. 

  • Royal Navy Acquaint Course (RNAC)
    This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy is a pass or fail course
  • Start training
    Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

 


Initial training

Your Royal Navy career begins with 10 weeks’ basic training at HMS Raleigh, a shore base in Torpoint, Cornwall. The discipline, teamwork, organisational, firefighting and weapon handling skills you learn here will stay with you right through your career.

Aim to get yourself as fit as possible before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.


Professional training

After you’ve passed out of HMS Raleigh your professional training will begin at Joint Hospital Group (South West) in Plymouth or The Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham. As an Acting Leading Medical Technician Radiographer, you’ll spend at least a year working alongside other military radiographers, having access to CT scanning, and completing courses in first aid and radiography. 

Once you’ve completed your mandatory competencies and relevant pre-deployment training you will be nominated to participate in medical exercises for clinical training and validation or be deployed around the globe on operations as required.