Mammography Advanced Practitioner

at  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Participate in the delivery of a high quality, timely and efficient Breast Symptomatic & screening service imaging for the East Lancashire on both static and mobile sites in a multidisciplinary environment.
The post holder will be an experienced mammographer who will be able to work autonomously within their specialist area/s, consulting senior staff as and when necessary. They will be able to assess, manage and prioritise their workload, giving appropriate advice and guidance to patients, carers, colleagues and other health care professionals. They will be accountable for their own professional standards and actions.
The post holder will ensure the provision of the highest standard of patient/client care, and be actively involved in the daily operation of the department. The Advanced Practitioner will work closely within a multidisciplinary team, demonstrating a high level of competency. Will be engaged in relevant continuing professional development. The nature of the advanced practice role demands that the individual is actively involved in career-long learning to support the continuing acquisition of the necessary depth of knowledge.
A post graduate award in Mammographic Imaging, and an MSc module in Advanced Medical Imaging in Breast Ultrasound, Image Interpretation, or Interventional Procedures is essential. The post holder must be willing to work towards a minimum of two of these areas of advanced practice depending on service needs.
Main Responsibilities
Provide timely, efficient and courteous provision of radiographic service to agreed national and local standards.
Maintain an efficient workflow.
To work as an autonomous practitioner performing advanced practice duties in the trained specialty, with the ability to make clinical judgements/decisions using knowledge, skills and experience.
To provide high quality diagnostic imaging, ensuring that the patient/client episode is performed and documented according to the departmental protocols.
Adhere to all relevant trust and departmental policies, protocols and procedures.
Act as an Operator, Practitioner and where appropriate a Referrer, under the Ionising Radiation Medical exposure Regulations (IRMER2017).
Actively participate in the departmental QA programme, undertaking daily, weekly and monthly quality control tests of all equipment, reporting any equipment faults or tests out of limits to the QA Radiographer, Deputy or Breast Imaging manager recording any actions taken.
Communicate effectively demonstrating sensitive and consideration to ensure the provision of diagnostic services according to national and local protocols.
Be an active member of the breast team, liaising with multi-disciplinary team to ensure efficient provision of diagnostic services according to national and local protocols.
Actively participate in the department’s annual audit schedule.
To adhere to and maintain a professional code of conduct at all times.
Established in 2003 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is a large integrated health care organisation providing high quality acute secondary healthcare for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
Our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 700,000 patients a year from the most serious of emergencies to planned operations and procedures. We employ over 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work and achievements.
Our organisation is driven by our strategic objectives and organisational values and we look for people who are strongly aligned with them to join us.
We have a clear vision to be the leading provider of imaging services across East Lancashire, delivering the highest standards and providing safe, personal and effective care to all our patients.
Our staff are friendly, supportive and dedicated professionals who will make you feel very welcome. Our service is committed to encouraging staff to develop and widen their scope of practice, with continuous professional development actively encouraged and supported by expert clinical leads.
Clinical Responsibility
To competently perform advanced duties in the trained area of specialty.
To perform mammography with speed and precision at the base unit and on the mobile screening unit as required.
To perform assessment mammography, assist in interventional procedures, adhering to the departmental protocol on handling of specimens.
Adapt communication skills, being sensitive to the different emotional needs of distressed patients, relatives and carers or those with barriers to understanding.
Use specialist x-ray equipment safely and for the purpose of which it was designed.
Prepare individuals, environment, equipment and materials appropriately prior to each procedure
Act as a supervisor/mentor to new staff, trainees, and students.
Apply knowledge and experience to a variety of working situations to facilitate problem-solving.
Responsible for the safe and efficient use of equipment and resources ensuring a high standard of care to all patients/clients.
Responsible for accurate completion of all documentation of Radiology Information Systems (CRIS), National Breast Screening System (NBSS) and Picture Archiving Communications Systems (PACS) followed every patient/client completed episode. Ensuring timely provision of both images and reports to referrers.
Advanced Practice
B reast Ultrasound
Hold a relevant Post Graduate certificate in Breast Ultrasound.
To work as an autonomous practitioner demonstrating a high degree of professional/personal autonomy with the ability to make clinical decisions using relevant knowledge, skills and experience.
Provide specialist in-depth information and support to patient/clients in both screening and symptomatic services.
Attend and actively participate in multidisciplinary meeting to discuss further management of patients/clients.
Perform all ultrasound guided breast intervention, keeping a log of all cases and undertake regular self-audit to demonstrate competency.
Adhere to the departmental protocol for handling of all breast specimens.
Adhere to national and local guidelines and protocols specific to breast ultrasound.
Perform and oversee the daily, weekly and month QC tests to ensure all the ultrasound equipment is maintained at optimum working condition. Take appropriate actions if ultrasound is faulty or results of QC tests fall outside accepted limits.
Film Reporting & Imaging Interpretation
Hold a relevant Post Graduate Certificate in Film Reporting and Image Interpretation.
To work as an autonomous practitioner demonstrating a high degree of professional/personal autonomy with the ability to make clinical decisions using relevant knowledge, skills and experience.
Perform regular reporting or image interpretation of all mammographic examinations for either or both the breast screening and symptomatic services.
Attend and actively participate in multidisciplinary meetings to discuss further management of patients/clients.
Comply with NHSBSP guidelines and interpret a minimum of 5000 mammographic examinations annually.
Participate in PERFORMS (Personal Performance in Mammographic Screening) every 6 months.
Participate in interval cancer review meetings.
Adhere to national and local guidelines and protocols specific to film reporting and image interpretation.
Stereotactic Breast Interventional Procedures
Hold a relevant Post Graduate Certificate in breast interventiaonal techniques.
To work as an autonomous practitioner demonstrating a high degree of professional/personal autonomy with the ability to make clinical decisions/judgements using relevant knowledge, skills and experience.
Perform all stereotactic interventional procedures adhering to all departmental protocols.
Adhere to the departmental protocols for handling of all breast specimens, and labeling of all images.
Attend and actively participate in multidisciplinary meeting to discuss further management of patient/clients.
Adhere to trust infection prevention policy.
Ensure all relevant documentation associated with stereotactic intervention is accurately completed.
Perform regular audit of procedures in accordance with NHSBSP guidelines and departmental protocols to assess competency to ensure agreed targets are achieved.
Communication
Demonstrate effective communication skills to gain informed consent from patient/clients undergoing interventional procedures.
Communicate with all referrers to ensure imaging requests are justifiable and the clinical information provided facilitates the appropriate imaging techniques being employed in accordance with IRMER2017.
To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide the highest standards of patient care.
Ensure the screening examination is acceptable to clients by communicating effectively and demonstrating sensitivity and consideration at all stages of the process, ensuring that individuals are well prepared for the examinations they undergo, whilst gaining their willing co-operation.
Encourage re-attendance for subsequent screening rounds by using interpersonal skills and offering support and advice, particularly to agitated and anxious clients.
Communicate effectively with those patients/clients who do not have English as their first language.
To continually participate in the promotion of the Breast Screening Service, breast awareness and general health promotion, empowering clients through support and education.
Provide the highest level of care and support to all users of the service, including relatives and carers.
Ability to communicate sensitively and empathetically results of biopsies to screening clients who are returning for results following an assessment clinic attendance.
Professional Responsibilities
Ensure professional registration is renewed in appropriate timescales.
Maintain an awareness of current issues, views, research and policy changes in all professional and relevant health associated issues.
Act as a clinical role model/advocate for developing and delivering care that is responsive to changing requirements, informed by an understanding of local population health needs.
Engage in self-directed learning, critically reflecting to maximise clinical skills and knowledge.
Evidence the underpinning subject-specific competencies i.e. knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role.
Practice in compliance with respective code of conduct and within own scope of practice, being responsible and accountable for own decisions, actions and omissions.
Act as a role model, educator, supervisor, coach and mentor, seeking to instill and develop the confidence of others.
Assist with the development of breast imaging protocols and policies in line with NHSBSP, national and local guidelines using best practice and research evidence to implement improvements in patient/client care and service delivery.
Training and Development
Undertake all mandatory and relevant trust training when required.
Participate in the trust appraisal system as both a reviewer and reviewee.
Identify own developmental needs and those of the wider team, facilitating and supporting them to address these.
Provide support, guidance and leadership to other less experienced staff.
Provide and assist with informal and formal teaching and learning activities for all students and trainees in the department.
Research and Audit
Disseminate best practice research findings and quality improvement projects through appropriate media (e.g. presentations and peer review research publications).
Evaluate and audit own and other’s clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, than acting on the findings.
Participate in any clinical research which the department is involved.
Other Duties
Post holders are expected to work flexibly within their pay band. They should be expected to carry out activities for which they are competent. Alternatively they may carry out the additional duties if they are receiving support or training in order to obtain the recognised level of competence

Please refer the Job description for details