Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

·         Demonstrate the Trust values, respect, dignity and privacy of all staff and patients and act with kindness and courtesy.

·         Effectively liaise with medical, nursing and administrative staff and other departments to allow timely management of client/patient care and treatment.

·         Communicate effectively with clients, patients, their carers and co-workers utilising a variety of communication styles where barriers to communication may exist and where there may be varying levels of ability to understand.

·         Assess the emotional needs of the patient through non-verbal means of communication – facial expression, body language, tone of voice, and other subtle reactions to the screening environment.

·         Negotiate with consultant radiologists during assessment procedures to consider a range of positioning techniques necessary to optimally demonstrate an area within the breast and also to evaluate images for diagnostic quality (Assessment and Symptomatic clinics).

·         Ability to communicate complex information and negotiate in a calm and professional manner with clients who may be extremely angry or distressed.

·         Attend regular staff meetings to ensure effective communication of departmental standards and issues.

·         Ability to confidently discuss patients’ clinical history and clinical findings.

·         Ability to deal with difficult and complex questions from patients, in particular the reason for recall for further assessment.

·         Provide appropriate information and support to patients and carers keeping them fully informed and smoothing the patient’s journey.

·         Ability to communicate various to groups of health professionals when required, for educational or informational purposes, in the form of presentations.

·         Deal with verbal complaints at a local level, and refer unresolved or written complaints to the Superintendent Advanced Practitioner.

·         Provide advice and knowledge to other imaging staff who require educational guidance.

·         Communicate effectively and empathise with anxious and distressed patients and clients providing accurate information about contentious or sensitive issues.

·         Act as an advocate for the Trust and its contribution to the Health Service arena through creating and maintaining effective partnerships and relationships with staff, patients and the general public.

·         Communicate contentious and sensitive and sometimes complex issues to staff and patients requiring tact and sensitivity.

·         Encourage and participate in active feedback of ideas, concerns and suggestions to the appropriate level and in an appropriate forum.

·         Communicate with other professionals and team members to ensure a high quality service is maintained for the patients and screening clients.

Service Delivery and Improvement

·         Analyse, interpret and make decisions about variable physical characteristics of a client’s anatomical and breast shape in order to achieve the best possible mammogram.

·          Work appropriately as an autonomous practitioner and use own initiative to problem solve equipment faults and address the women’s significant concerns with regard to cancer or radiation dangers.

·           Report and take appropriate action where necessary/possible, to deal with all undue events with a potentially adverse outcome in keeping with the Department and Trust Safety and reporting policy.

·          Use knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to determine appropriateness of referrals and breast imaging requests and communicate sensitive information to patients.

·          Use clinical reasoning skills to adapt techniques and examinations according to individual needs to help provide a diagnosis.

 · Knowledge of breast diseases and cancer pathways.

·         Monitor radiation safety and take appropriate action when any issues/problems are identified, in accordance with statutory and organisational policies and procedures.

·          Plan ways to identify and solve problems taking a collaborative approach with other departmental staff.

·         Identify and document any significant signs and symptoms of early breast cancer on clients’ screening sheet. Specialist knowledge and skills are required to observe and interpret any asymptomatic changes whilst handling the breast.

People Management and Development

·         As an expert in breast imaging, work with the Superintendent Mammographer in providing training and education to trainee mammographers and assistant practitioners.

·         Demonstrate breast imaging techniques to medical staff, radiographers and other health professionals requiring this knowledge, i.e. to act as a resource of education and training to others

·           Promote a fair and consistent approach for supervision of staff.

·         Participate in the development of an acceptable learning environment within the department

·         Motivate and instruct on methods of learning and provide opportunity for others to gain experience.

·         Manage conflict across a range of situations.

·         Actively encourage innovation and improvement from others.

·         In conjunction with the Superintendent mammographer, actively promote a culture of openness, transparency and candour contributing to processes that lead to improved staff health and well-being.

·         In conjunction with the Superintendent mammographer, monitor standards of performance, staff conduct and standards of behaviour to ensure any matters are dealt with effectively in accordance with Trust policy and legislation.

·         Ensure statutory and mandatory training requirements are achieved.

·         Provide professional leadership and act as a role model to all staff that maximises their effort and potential. Work in close collaboration and co-operation with other health care professionals.

·         Promote an operating framework that supports staff to be kind, respectful, friendly, and professional in accordance with the values and behaviours expected by the Trust.

·         Promote staff compliance with infection control standards.

·           In conjunction with the Superintendent mammographer, deal with problems, incidents and complaints in a friendly, helpful, timely and conciliatory manner.

·          Responsible for the supervision and training of assistant practitioners and trainee mammographers.

Patient Care Delivery

·         Maintain the Client / patient’s respect, dignity and privacy, and act with kindness and courtesy to all members of the public.

·           Act as an advocate for the patient / client in ensuring provision of appropriate information and support.

·          Deliver high quality and safe care and encourage a culture in which we see everyone passionate about delivering excellent quality every time.

·          Take ownership and responsibility for the control and prevention of infection.

·         Deliver on all Quality measures to ensure safe and excellent care to patients.

·          Monitor clinical working practice within the unit to ensure an efficient and effective service is provided according to the NHSBSP Guidelines. 

·         Provide an exceptionally high level of expertise in the specialist clinical field of breast imaging in a screening and symptomatic environment, contributing to the diagnosis, advice and care of patients and clients.

Learning and Development

·    Attend mandatory training updates as required.

·  Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.

• Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.

· Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager

·  Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the department and the organisation.