Assistant practitioner-Mammography

at  Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

You will be a qualified assistant practitioner in mammography and will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide routine mammography investigations in accordance with the NHS Breast Screening Program under the supervision of a senior radiographer, rotating to all static and mobile units in South East London.
In addition the post holder is expected to assist in the smooth running of the Breast Radiology department by performing non- specialised tasks including sorting, loading and unloading clinics. The post holder will assist the radiographers and nurses in all areas. The post holder will be expected to perform administration and clerical duties.
To carry out routine mammography examinations, under appropriate clinical supervision, to a high standard of technique.
To rotate to all of our static and mobile breast screening units.
To undertake quality assurance tests on equipment and report any issues to the management or manufacturers as required.
To work with the radiographers and other team members to assist them with diagnostic examinations and other procedures.
Be responsible for checking the personal details and updating the demographics for service users on the National Breast Screening System as appropriate.
To be familiar with and comply with all Trust and Radiology Directorate Policies, Procedures and Practices including; IR(ME)R 2017, Local Rules, Risk Management and Health and Safety at Work
To assist in the general preparation and cleaning of work areas, maintain stock levels etc.
To promptly complete appropriate paperwork for courses, reports etc, as required
On non clinical days to provide administration support alongside our radiography assistant. This would include the processing of imaging, ensuring that they available for reading. Troubleshooting when images are missing. Liaising with the staff and external couriers who transport items to the mobile vans. Contacting radiologists and film reading radiographers about clinics to be read.
To attend all mandatory course as required by the service and you are expected to be responsible for your own personal development and attend relevant courses.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.
The South East London breast screening service is part of the National NHS Breast Screening Programme. We provide both static and mobile locations for women and those assigned female at birth aged 50-70 who are eligible for screening.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus.
Our values at King’s, are that we’re a kind, respectful team;
The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we can take Team King’s to another level
Participate in multiple site rotations as and when necessary.
To undertake radiographic duties associated with the provision of a high quality breast screening service
To perform imaging techniques (to include tomosynthesis), for which adequate training will be given.
Act as patient and staff advocate minimising their exposure to radiation.
Have a knowledge of IR(ME)R regulations
As part of individual professional responsibility participate in the departmental Quality Assurance Programme including the completion of Equipment Competencies and reject analysis.
To participate in image review and adhere to the NHSBSP standards.
Provide timely, efficient and courteous provision of radiographic services to the agreed standards of the department taking account of the service users clinical, physical and cultural needs.
Monitor and adjust work priorities in conjunction with other professionals to take into account changing demands on the diagnostic services due to emergencies, ensuring that the Trust targets are met.
Accountable for own professional actions and work within codes of Practice and professional guidelines
Apply in-depth knowledge of anatomy, pathology and equipment to determine appropriate imaging techniques for the individual patient condition.
Responsible for the safe use and maintenance of complex, high capital cost specialist imaging equipment
Be responsible for ensuring the legal documentation on the Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) associated with each completed patient episode. Ensure timely provision of images to referrers.

Communication

• Receive and welcome service users and staff to the Breast Radiology reception areas and Breast Screening clinics and deal with any enquiries in a kind and courteous manner.
• Communicate with the referrer any changes to referrals after assessing the clinical justification for an x-ray examination against IR(ME)R and local protocols.
• Deal sensitively with service users or carers under emotional stress, including the terminally ill and bereaved.
• Deal with potentially aggressive service users
• Communicate complex information relating to conditions and procedures to staff, patients and carers and ensure informed consent for examinations.
• Communicates effectively on a daily basis with service users with communication difficulties and cognitive impairment
• Anticipate and interpret service user needs, defining the level of care required on an individual basis
• Communicate effectively with staff within and outside of the department to ensure the smooth operation of the service, including liaison with ward staff
• Give factual information to service users regarding examinations and understand the necessary preparations
• Work with Radiographers, Consultant Radiologists, Health Care Professionals to assist them with breast imaging examinations and other procedures.
• Ensure the safety and well being of service users, staff and visitors within the department
• Ensure service users receive timely and accurate information about their examination, and ensure urgent findings are communicated in the appropriate way to referrers.

Knowledge, training and Experience

• Position accurately for each examination, adapting techniques in accordance with individual needs
• Be competent in the utilisation of complex and specialised imaging equipment
• Operate advanced software on specialised radiological equipment requiring in-depth anatomical, pathological and technical knowledge
• Comply with the requirements of clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST)
• Demonstrate problem-solving approach to issues arising at a local level, evaluating the need to refer problems to the line manager
• Be accountable for own professional actions and working within codes of practice and professional guidelines, consulting senior staff as and when necessary
• Be responsible for ensuring the legal documentation on the Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) associated with each completed episode. Ensure timely provision of images to referrer

Be responsible for individual CPD, participate in the department’s CPD program. In accordance with an assessment of own professional needs, participating in both internal and external events as well as private study
Participate in clinical research within the department

Physical Skills and Effort

• Ensure the safe transferring of service users and equipment, following manual handling guidelines and using risk assessment
• Assist with changing and personal care as necessary including immobile and disabled service users
• Operate a wide range of radiological equipment requiring excellent hand-eye co-ordination. e.g. post processing of images
• Operate Modality and PACS equipment within a VDU environment
• Physically position accurately for each examination, adapting techniques in accordance with the individual needs
• Ensure appropriate infection control measures are utilised where necessary. Paying particular attention to personal protection as well as the management of equipment and linens contaminated by bodily fluids.

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountability associated with this post.

• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an ’nhs.net’ email account which will be the Trust’s formal route for email communication.

Safe Guarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust’s processes for reporting concerns
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB ) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
A genuine occupational requirement under the 1975 sex discrimination act section 7(ii) applies to this post, so we are only looking for female applicants

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and well being and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountability associated with this post.

• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an ’nhs.net’ email account which will be the Trust’s formal route for email communication

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust’s processes for reporting concerns
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriatel