Health Education England (HEE) has published guidance in collaboration with the Society of Radiographers to maximise the contribution of the diagnostic imaging support workforce to deliver safe and effective care.

Developing career pathways for diagnostic imaging support worker roles - guidance on roles and responsibilities

This guidance sets out the roles and responsibilities that diagnostic imaging support workers, including assistant practitioners, can perform at four career levels. It provides additional, profession-specific competencies that complement the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework.

This work will support:

• growth of the imaging support workforce,
• task allocation, including the delegation from registered staff within the scope of practice of support staff,
• increased engagement with apprenticeships,
• development of supportive learning cultures, and,
• engagement with new sources of workforce supply.

A rapid review of the literature was conducted by King's College London. It briefly covers the historical development of support worker roles in the profession, recent reports, and issues that support workers and services can face when seeking to develop the roles and create progression pathways, including into pre-registration degrees. To read the literature review and expert group survey click here.

To find out more about HEE's wider work developing the role of AHP Support Workers, visit the HEE website - HEE | Developing the role of AHP Support Workers