The Christie Charity
Jobs in the allied health professionals (AHPs) are varied and wide-ranging. Currently the third-largest workforce in the NHS, AHPs help manage patient care and improve patient outcomes
Radiotherapy
Working in radiotherapy services is highly rewarding. On the whole, the majority of our patients are on a cancer care pathway. They may be having radiotherapy as an isolated treatment, or more commonly combined with other treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.
Careers in radiotherapy are very varied and include clinical and non-clinical roles. Typical non-clinical roles may include:
- administration
- engineering
- medical physics
- patient reported outcomes and research
- strategic (for example: pathway management, technical leadership, education, clinical governance)
Clinical roles may include:
- clinical support workers
- radiographers (diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, ranging from novice to consultant practice)
- link workers
- oncology adult and paediatric nursing
- health play specialists
We offer a range of teaching and learning programs, including apprenticeships. We also support pre-registration students across many disciplines and promote careers development towards Masters degrees and beyond.
We welcome people from a diverse range of backgrounds who enjoy merging advanced and innovative technologies with outstanding patient care.
A career in radiotherapy develops many translational skills in clinical, technical, research and development, safety, governance and leadership.
Speech and language therapy
Speech therapists are specialists in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of developmental and acquired disorders of speech, voice and swallowing.
At The Christie, we see both inpatients and outpatients who are having difficulties due to cancer or the side effects of their treatment. We work with patients at any point along their treatment pathway.
The majority of our work involves helping those with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties) and helping them to achieve the best possible swallow function.
We also see patients with dysarthria (speech articulation difficulties), dysphasia (problems with the production or understanding of spoken or written language) and dysphonia (difficulties with producing clear voice).
We work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and also organise onward referrals to community speech therapy teams.
As part of a teaching hospital, we offer student placements to local universities and always strive to work using the latest research and evidence based guidelines.
You can also watch a video on what it's like being a speech and language therapist at The Christie.
Dieticians
The dietitians at The Christie are experienced dietitians who have specialised in oncology. The department provides a service to inpatients and some outpatients (those in head and neck and upper gastrointestinal and proton beam therapy).
Dieticians provide evidence-based expert advice on the diet required to optimise patient nutritional wellbeing and quality of life.
Working at The Christie enables you to use advanced communication skills and advanced nutrition support to support patients during any stage of the cancer pathway.
The department is involved in education and training of health care professionals locally and nationally. Oncology experience can be gained in the advanced cancer treatments.
The service supports P1 student placements from the local university.
Research and audit supports the work we do to improving outcomes and ensuring high quality patient care.
Occupational therapy services at The Christie
Occupational therapists assess and treat an individual’s functional problems as they arise irrespective of their illness or prognosis.
The occupational therapy service helps people achieve independence and life satisfaction through participation in activity. They work with people to identify therapeutic goals and a rehabilitation treatment programme. This is aimed at enhancing their functional ability and ensuring patients are safe and appropriately supported to be discharged from hospital.
The service is mainly for inpatients but there is an outpatient service for proton beam therapy patients.
See our video and hear about what being an occupational therapist at The Christie is like.
Operating department practitioner
Operating department practitioners (ODP) at The Christie work in the surgery team and have an important role in patients’ operations.
Working as an ODP, you’ll provide skilled care to patients before, during and after their surgery. This will cover managing the anaesthetic, supporting during the surgery itself and monitoring and assessing the patient during their recovery.
Watch our video and find out more about being an operating department practitioner at The Christie.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists at The Christie provide a vital role, both for inpatients and for outpatients.
Inpatient physiotherapy services
Physiotherapy provides a post-operative service for patients undergoing complex surgeries at the Christie. The physiotherapy surgical team works with the enhanced recovery service (ERAS+) to help patients recover sooner. This means patients can return to their normal function and independence as early as possible.
The physiotherapy medical team helps optimise patients’ physical and functional abilities. They also help patients manage the symptoms of their cancer, the side effects of cancer treatment and other non-cancer related conditions during inpatient stays. This includes reduced exercise tolerance, muscle weakness, reduced/loss of mobility, falls, neurological dysfunction, pain and fractures.
Outpatient physiotherapy services
We offer outpatient physiotherapy to sarcoma, breast, plastics and proton beam patients. This is to help with their rehabilitation needs pre and post-operation. It also helps during their radiotherapy, chemotherapy and proton beam therapy treatment.
Watch our video to find out more about being a physiotherapist at The Christie.
Why work at The Christie
Working in the NHS means you’ll receive a fair rate of pay. The pay system for the NHS, Agenda for Change, is for all directly employed staff except doctors and the most senior managers.
You can read more about Agenda for Change on the NHS Employers website.
You will receive at least 27 days' holiday each year plus bank holidays. You will also get a range of other benefits including:
- a generous pension scheme
- access to our complementary therapy service
- access to occupational health and counselling services
If you want to join a world-leading and innovative NHS trust, take a look at all our current AHP roles.