Radiographer (Mammography)

An opportunity has opened for radiographers with an interest in breast imaging to come & join our friendly multi-disciplinary breast team based at the Nottingham Breast Institute. Ideally, you will hold a UK recognised mammography qualification, but training can be provided for the right person. After successful completion, you will undertake mammography practice within the NHS Breast Screening Programme & the Symptomatic Breast Service, meeting the needs of our patients by delivering high-quality care. Both full-time and part-time hours are available.

You will hold a BSc. in Radiography or equivalent, have current radiographic experience and be registered with the Health Care Professions Council. A full UK driving license and use of a vehicle for work purposes is essential.

Mammography posts have a gendered protected character, due to the nature of the work. This is an occupational requirement, as a result the post is exempt under section 9; part 1 of the Equality Act 2010 and therefore only female applicants should apply.

Main duties of the job:

• Rotate between static and mobile sites completing high quality mammography examinations for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
• Complete specialised mammography techniques including contrast enhanced spectral mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis.
• Analyse the quality of both your own and the mammograms of junior staff making appropriate adjustments as necessary.
• Plan and prioritise your own workload, and the workload of junior staff to maintain service and clinic workflow.
• Complete quality assurance tests for digital mammography equipment analysing the results and acting appropriately according to local rules and NHSBSP guidelines.
• Provide a high standard of patient care and communication to your patients and their relatives and communicate effectively across a wide range of health care professions.
• Supervise and support Assistant Practitioners.

Our breast screening service operates over 2 static and 2 mobile sites. You will rotate to each of these locations whilst supporting and supervising our assistant practitioners. As a Training Centre, we train mammographers as part of the Post Graduate Award in Breast Imaging Practice and provide a variety of study days which our staff have opportunity to attend. We actively encourage and support CPD activities and have won "Best Poster" at the Symposium Mammographicum on multiple occasions. The Nottingham Breast Institute provides outpatient symptomatic services and delivers breast screening to a screening population of over 100,000 women. You will work alongside our experienced team of advanced practitioners, radiographers and assistant practitioners in both screening and symptomatic mammography. You will also contribute to our family history, breast cancer follow-up and screening assessment clinics and will perform Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis.

Job responsibilities:

• Mammography examinations on symptomatic and asymptomatic patients at both static and mobile sites.
• Specialised mammography techniques including stereotactic localisation, contrast enhanced spectral mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis.
• To consistently carry out mammography examinations to a standard which meets the NHSBSP Quality Assurance Guidelines for Mammography.
• Analyse the quality of own and others mammograms on a day to day basis and make appropriate adjustments or actions.
• Plan and prioritise own workload in order to maintain service and clinic workflow.
• To adhere to Breast Service Clinical Protocols and Guidelines and Local Rules of Practice with particular regard to IR(ME)R.
• To be a fully participating member of the multi-disciplinary breast team including attending multi-disciplinary team meetings.
• To participate in peer review activities to measure, monitor and maintain high mammography standards.
• Other duties as required to maintain the mammography service to a high standard of delivery.

Quality Assurance:

• To perform regular quality assurance tests on direct digital mammography equipment at mobile and static sites, analyse the results and act appropriately according to local rules and NHSBSP guidelines.
• Assist the Quality Assurance Lead Radiographer as required.

Patient/Client Care /Communication:

• Provide high standard of patient care and communication.
• Be aware of individual client and patient needs and demonstrate empathy and sensitivity in sometimes highly emotive situations.
• Communicate effectively across a wide range of health care professions.
• Communicate effectively with clients and patients from different backgrounds, or who may have challenging behaviours, learning or physical disabilities or who have just received bad news.

Supervisory and Support Duties:

• To supervise and support Radiographic Assistants in their role.
• To supervise and support Assistant Practitioners in their role, particularly when undertaking mammography examinations and quality assurance activities.
• To support Assistant Practitioners and others to maintain service and clinic workflow.
• To supervise and support newly qualified staff and radiographers undergoing training in the Postgraduate Award in Mammography.
• To assist and train junior staff in own subject.
• To provide theoretical and practical training and support to the Assistant workforce in continuing professional development activities.
• To provide advice and support to visiting students and other health professionals.
• Providing support to radiologists and advanced practitioners during clinical and radiographic procedures.

Research and Development:

• Undertake research and development activities as required including radiographic and clinical audit.
• Assisting with equipment evaluation as required.

Continuing Professional Development:

• Maintain own CPD file.
• Maintain up to date knowledge and skills appropriate for the role.

Service Development/Implementation:

• Undertake activities as required to support the development of the service and to support the implementation of service improvements.

Physical and Financial Resources:

• Responsible for safe use of expensive, highly complex specialist equipment.

Information Resources:

• To maintain accurate and legible handwritten records.
• To enter patient data onto computer based systems to maintain accurate records.
• Use of NBSS (national breast screening computer system), CRIS, (the Trust radiology information system) and PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System).
• To maintain confidentiality, security and integrity of patient information all times in accordance with Trust policy.

Physical Skills/ Effort:

• Developed physical skills will be required to manipulate objects and machines and to position patients accurately.
• Frequent moderate physical effort for short periods throughout the day will be required to undertake duties and maintain workflow.
• Drive own car to and from mobile sites.

Mental and Emotional Effort:

• High levels of concentration required for frequent short periods of time throughout the day and sometimes for longer periods during imaging and clinical procedures.
• Ability to act appropriately under distressing or emotional circumstances.

Person Specification:

• BSc in Diagnostic Radiography or equivalent or Diploma of the College of Radiographers.
• UK recognised Postgraduate Award in Breast Imaging Practice (or equivalent UK recognised qualification) or willingness to complete the required masters level training.
• HCPC Registration.
• Experience supervising and supporting junior staff.
• Current radiography experience.
• Desirable: Current experience in mammography practice.
• Essential: Ability to analyse quality of own work and make appropriate adjustments and actions.
• Essential: Able to plan and organise own workload.
• Essential: Holds full UK driving license and has access to own car for work purposes.