Society of Radiographers launches ‘one stop’ hub for clinical support workers and assistant practitioners

Why the hub is needed

Since the publication of the Radiography Skills Mix policy by the Department of Health in 2003, the radiography profession has been at the forefront of supporting and developing modern SWAP roles in the NHS. For example, the Society and College of Radiographers was the first professional body to formally allow assistant practitioners to join (initially in 2005). However, research suggests that SWAPs can sometimes experience barriers to their full deployment and career progression. A 2024 survey conducted by the SoR found that while SWAPs greatly value their work (90 per cent said they felt ‘enthusiastic’ about their job), 73 per cent believed they had the potential to contribute more to service delivery. According to the 2020 GIRFT Radiology National Speciality Report, a consequence of the inconsistent development and deployment is that “few trusts benefit from the full opportunities [of support workers] to increase capacity… [support workers] are underused even when the rest of the team are extremely busy”. 

The hub aims to provide services and SWAPs with the resources they need to optimise contribution and help ensure rewarding careers. Sue Johnson, SoR professional officer and project lead, explains: “We know that services investing in their unregistered workforce benefit in numerous ways, notably through improved patient flow, continuity of care, heightened patient satisfaction and the freeing up of registered staff time. Appropriately trained and supervised SWAPs can undertake non-complex projection radiography, fluoroscopy or DXA/CT/MR/NM scans, perform clinical tasks such as cannulation, or support students, apprentices and young people on work experience placements. 

“In recent years, the SoR has collaborated with the profession and stakeholders to create the resources needed to help all services, and those who utilise them, benefit from the contributions made by SWAPs. The hub consolidates these resources in one location. It is the first of its kind.”

The hub

The hub is divided into four areas: 

(scroll to reveal)

Additionally, the hub contains more general information relevant to this workforce, including a summary of recent academic research and other relevant strategies such as NHS England’s allied health profession’s support workforce strategy and the Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development cancer workforce programme. 

Profession led

Since its inception in 2021 the project has been guided by a profession-led expert group that has grown to around 120 members. Kate Knapp-Tabbernor, a radiographer, expert group member and South West London AHP education and workforce lead, says: “It’s been hugely rewarding being part of the expert group – working in collaboration with like-minded colleagues and offering steer and expertise towards the development of the brilliant new suite of resources available in the online hub to enable and empower our incredible support workforce in their roles. 

“Support workers are critical members of our teams, yet are still sometimes underutilised and undervalued because of uncertainty over what their roles and responsibilities can be. I urge service managers in both imaging and radiotherapy to review the roles and responsibilities guides, alongside the other available resources, and look at how they can better utilise their support workforce – to ensure they are progressing and developing within their roles, but also to effectively support our overstretched registered workforce, allowing them the time they also need to develop and progress and, critically, increase their retention in the profession.”

The project has also been supported by Professor Richard Griffin of King’s College London, Penny Owens FCR MSc HDCR DRNI CI cert (specialist adviser) and John Gale (consultant).

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Although commissioned and funded by NHS England, the hub contains information about developments in the other nations relevant to this workforce and most of the resources are applicable across nations.

The future

Commenting on future plans, Sue says: “The society will continue to champion the needs of all its members, including those of the supportive and assistive workforce. We hope the hub will help services maximise SWAP’s contribution as well as allowing staff to plan their careers, identify their developmental needs and have rewarding careers. Getting this right will benefit service users. The SoR is encouraging SWAPs who are not members to join; we plan to continue building these resources, develop a dedicated network and evolve the expert group into a community of practice.”

The SoR is encouraging feedback on the site and the sharing of good practice.