Assistant Practitioner

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a reliable individual to join the BreastScreening Unit to provide expert mammography support across assessment centres and mobile units. The role requires good communication, initiative and the ability to adapt to evolving service needs.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team, perform screening mammography to NHSBSP standards, and be prepared to extend imaging techniques after training.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of NHSBSP and Quality Assurance in NHSBSP.
• Knowledge of breast anatomy and physiology.
• Knowledge and experience of radiation protection, Health & Safety, Data Protection and Clinical Governance.
• HE cert in mammography is required to operate in the service.

Responsibilities

• Manage usage of supplies and equipment.
• Monitor stock levels and reorder as needed.
• Assist professionals from the multi-disciplinary team with clinical and administrative tasks.
• X-ray breast specimens and ensure images are adequate for reporting.
• Audit own work to NHSBSP standards and document patient information accurately.
• Support MECC and promote healthy lifestyle choices.

Skills

NHS Breast Screening knowledge

Mammography knowledge

Radiology safety

Education

HE cert in mammography

UK driving license

Assistant Practitioner training readiness

Job description

In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM.

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.

All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.

Job overview

If you are a reliable individual with initiative and a positive approach to work an exciting opportunity has arisen within our friendly team to work for the Breast Screening Unit. We provide a screening and symptomatic breast imaging service for the population of Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Durham, predominantly working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as well as in 3 static units and 2 mobile trailers. This would be a fantastic development opportunity for the right person. You must have good communication and organisational skills and be able to adapt to developing service needs. A qualification as an Assistant Practitioner would be desirable but not essential as full training could be given to suitably qualified applicants. The main responsibility of the role will be to provide excellent technical expertise in all aspects of the service including assessment and symptomatic clinics. Core working hours are from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and Saturdays 8am-4pm. A current driving license and a car available for use are an essential requirements. Anyone applying for a position which involves a regulated activity will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and that the disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children or working with adults or both.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of a multi disciplinary team providing an efficient and effective BreastScreening Service to patients/clients within the assessment centre and on mobile andstatic screening units.To carry out screening mammography to the standard required by the NHS BreastScreening Programme and provide a high level of patient care within the symptomatic andassessment services.To work at all screening venues as well as in the base hospital, and to be prepared to workflexible hours to suit the need of the service.To provide support to medical staff during clinics.To x-ray breast pathological specimens after appropriate training.To work in a flexible manner and be willing to adapt to the changing needs of the serviceincluding extending their role to incorporate further imaging techniques after appropriatetraining actively engage in the “Make every contact count” (MECC) process, promoting healthylifestyle choices.

Working for our organisation

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Will take responsibility for managing own usage of supplies and equipment.
• Monitor stock levels and report to the appropriate person when reordering is required.
• Assist and support professionals from the multi-disciplinary team with agreed clinical,administrative activities.
• Have the ability to concentrate and manage multiple tasks within a busy environment. I.e. managing interruptions and queries.
• Adhere to good practice and Trust policy when assessing and implementing manual handling techniques.
• Use initiative to maintain work flow and ensure minimum waiting times, liaising with senior staff if problems/ potential problems arise.
• X-ray breast specimens both from theatre and those generated in the unit, ensuring images are adequate for purpose.
• Will handle breast specimens in the appropriate manner observing trust infection control procedures and ensuring specimens are correctly identified and transported to pathology correctly.
• Will be able to work with PACs and digital images ensuring all images are correctly downloaded and presented correctly for reporting.
• Must audit own work according to NHSBSP standards for mammography.
• Will have the knowledge to provide clients/patients with accurate information on current women’s health issues.
• Will actively promote “Make every contact count” agenda providing advice and signposting for clients/patients on health lifestyle choices.
• Accurately document client clinical information in line with NHSBSP standards.
• Take part in radiographic quality assurance duties both in the assessment centre and at remote screening sites.
• Must work in accordance with Gateshead Health NHS FT and Department policies and protocols.

Person specification

HE cert in Mammography

• HE cert in mammography

UK driving license

• UK driving License

Qualifications

• Willing to undertake training to be a qualified Assistant Practitioner

Skills

• Knowledge of NHSBSP and the Quality Assurance in NHSBSP
• Knowledge of breast anatomy and physiology
• Knowledge and experience of radiation protection, Health & Safety in the Workplace, Data Protection and Clinical Governance

Experience

• Recent experience of achieving specific objectives/competence, audit procedures, and working in a multi disciplinary environment
• Mammography experience

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.