Bank Mammographer - Band 7 in Wickford

Overview

The post holder will be responsible for providing a safe, efficient and effective imaging and Breast Mammography service for the Trust and South Essex Screening service in accordance with Screening and Trust protocols. They will ensure a high-quality Mammography service is maintained at all times.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest Trusts in the country, serving a population of 1.2 million people. Our newly formed Trust comprises acute hospital sites at Broomfield in Chelmsford, Basildon, and Southend. We are a well-led, high-performing, and innovative organisation, striving to provide the best health services for our local population. We have a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff and aim to deliver excellent local and specialist services while supporting staff development and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Support the superintendent in organising staff and workload to maintain adequate staffing in each area and respond to changes in demand positively and constructively.
• Demonstrate expertise in Breast Imaging techniques, promote high standards of diagnostic radiography through best practice and education, and maintain high standards of patient care and practice among peers, student colleagues and users of the breast imaging service.
• Take an active role in development of the breast mammography service to continuously improve patient safety and experience; organise and coordinate staff rotating through the mammography rooms.
• Support the breast unit senior team in achieving department and trust objectives; supervise and advise newly qualified/junior radiographers, undergraduate students and assistant practitioners.
• Undertake screening responsibilities; manage justification of imaging clients over the current upper age limit for screening as self-referrals.
• Work on mobile screening vans with ability to work under own initiative, make clinical decisions when necessary, act on QA information, and liaise with host mobile site staff for supplies.
• Relay important, detailed information to patients and other health service professionals; rapidly assess patient personality type and elicit relevant clinical history within time limits while explaining procedures, obtaining consent and advising patients.
• Operate in accordance with NICE Guidelines and Quality Standards in line with Trust policy; maintain a high-quality experience across a broad range of imaging techniques.
• Provide senior level professional responsibility for compliance with IRR99 and IR(ME)R 2000 and local radiation rules; lead radiographic technique for stereotactic biopsy and guidewire localisation prior to surgery; be competent at assessment clinic techniques.
• Prepare for, and manage, daily operations of the mammography rooms to maximise patient care; supervise training of students and junior staff and ensure HCPC Code of Conduct compliance.
• Maintain professional credibility with awareness of current research and information; assist in policy/protocol formulation and updates; implement national guidance and changes to practice; participate in departmental audits and QA programmes.
• Manage financial and physical resources: safe use and maintenance of expensive x-ray equipment; accurate input to computer records; ensure safety, COSHH, infection control, incident reporting, stock control and resource optimisation.
• Ensure high standards of hygiene and cleanliness; maintain records of equipment maintenance and QA; work to advanced clinical skill level and adhere to policies.
• Provide supervision, guidance and training to junior staff; maintain CPD portfolio and promote a learning environment within the division.
• Comply with information governance: computerised dose recording, RIS/Soloton competency, data accuracy, data protection, Caldicott principles and patient confidentiality.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Experience as an autonomous radiographer producing mammograms of optimum quality, including specialist mammography services; ability to work across a broad range of imaging techniques and maintain patient care within time constraints.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to patients and colleagues; empathy for the vulnerable patient; ability to obtain informed consent and explain procedures.
• Ability to work under own initiative and make clinical decisions; ability to act on QA information; willing to work off-site on mobile vans; familiarity with QA and maintenance of equipment.
• Ability to liaise with radiologists, radiographers, nurses, requesting doctors and clerical staff to maximise resources; support the work of assistants and check mammograms; comply with HCPC code of conduct.
• Competence in Radiology Information System (RIS) and knowledge of the National Breast Screening Service database; ability to maintain high standards of patient care and respond to feedback.

Additional Information

• (We are not able to offer sponsorship on any bank vacancies at MSE so all applicants must possess unrestricted right to work in the UK).
• Band 7