Assistant Clinical Photographer

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Clinical Photographer to join our small, friendly Medical Illustration Team at The Christie.
We are a primarily oncology related service, covering colorectal, urology, gynaecology and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
This role involves working within strict protocol-driven non-invasive photography of patients as delegated by the qualified clinical photographers; this includes Clinical Photography of patients using standardised representational photographic techniques for diagnostic, record, teaching, publication and research purposes, ensuring patient safety and wellbeing whilst involved in their care.
You will be expected to hold a foundation degree, equivalent qualification or experience in photography.
We invite applicants who are enthusiastic to start a career in Clinical Photography and are dedicated to putting the patient at the centre of all their decisions during the working day.
You will be working as a valued member of our small team to provide comprehensive, standardised high quality clinical photography and administrative duties whilst following strict protocols and undertaking relevant training.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Clinical: Core Responsibilities
1. Working within strict protocol-driven non-invasive photography of patients as delegated by the qualified clinical photographers.
2. Undertake Clinical Photography of patients using standardised representational photographic techniques for diagnostic, record, teaching, publication and research purposes in the studio, ensuring patient safety and wellbeing whilst in their care.
3. Support with administration and team coordination as required
4. Ensures standardisation of images by accurately logging exposure and magnification details.
5. Assist with clinical videos of patients as necessary to illustrate their conditions
6. Carries responsibility for deciding the most appropriate photographic technique to best demonstrate the patient’s condition from the options available.
7. Produces images which represent the condition accurately so that they are both medically and legally valuable i.e. medico – legal.
8. Uploads images onto the image management/PACS system as required.
9. Ensures that the work passing through the department is of a highly professional nature and that the rules of confidentiality are adhered to at all times.
10. Undertakes non-clinical photography including production of teaching materials working closely with clients in the planning and production of their work ensuring deadlines are met and briefs are followed.
11. Undertakes all photography within Health and Safety requirements.
12. Follow the Trust’s control of infection and hand washing policies.
13. Carries responsibility for the safe use, maintenance and storage of valuable digital photographic equipment.
Management
1. Adheres to department protocols and policies.
2. Is aware at all times of the requirements to follow data protection and Caldicott requirements with particular awareness of sensitivity of the images being produced and works within trust guidelines and policies with regard to patient consent and confidentiality to clinical photography.
3. Provides advice and guidance in interpreting legislation and policy guidelines to Trust staff when required regarding consent, confidentiality and photography.
4. Ensures correct archiving and labelling of digital images on departmental server. Controls access to the information in line with the Data Protection Act.
Leadership
1. Supports the departmental manager to create a suitable, supportive and safe team environment.
Communication
1. Regularly interacts with patients, carers and relatives who may have varying levels of ability to understand or whose first language is not English.
2. Provides and receives complicated and sensitive information, and gives explanations and instructions clearly and concisely where barriers to communication may exist.
3. Uses tact and diplomacy when persuading distressed patients/relatives to co-operate with the photographic procedure
4. Communicates with and refers to other healthcare professionals as necessary.
5. Responds appropriately to all telephone and personal enquiries in a sensitive and helpful manner.
6. Attends and contributes to regular department meetings.
Policy and Service Development
1. Contributes to the identification of areas for change and development.
Administrative
1. Provides cover at department reception as necessary
2. Books in patient details on department database as required.
3. Answering telephone requests
4. Templating and printing images
Training and Education
1. Maintains a personal development plan and CPD record to keep in touch with appropriate technical and professional developments
Audit and Research
1. Assists with audits when necessary.
Personal and Professional Development
1. Is active in enhancing own personal knowledge and self-development.
2. Attends mandatory and statutory training as required.
3. Attends relevant education, training and study days as required.
Supplementary
1. Physical effort involving carrying heavy camera equipment (up to 8 Kilos) on a daily basis, when taking photographs or assisting with videos
This job description is not intended to be exhaustive but reflects the main responsibilities of the post holder. Other duties may be required from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the post. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification