Assistant Practitioner/Trainee

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a motivated Assistant Practitioner in Mammography to join the Breast Imaging team. The role involves routine radiographic examinations under supervision and supporting a high quality breast service.

The post offers a pathway from Band 3 training to Band 4 upon competency completion. The post requires a relevant Assistant Practitioner qualification or NVQ Level 3 in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Support, a current driving licence,

Qualifications

• Higher Certificate of Education or Foundation Degree with radiography modules.
• NVQ Level 3 in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Support or related radiographic experience.
• Current driving licence and car owner.
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a team.
• Knowledge of NHS Breast Screening Programme.

Responsibilities

• Undertake screening mammography examinations under indirect supervision of a State Registered Radiographer.
• Assist radiology and clerical teams to deliver a high quality mammography service.
• Act as chaperone and support breast clinics as directed by radiographers/advanced practitioners.
• Learn skills to undertake mammography imaging under supervision for Band 3 training.
• Work 37.5 hours per week, potential mobile unit duties across the North East with driving responsibilities.

Skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Higher Certificate of Education or Foundation Degree with radiography modules

NVQ Level 3 in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Support

Job description

Job summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Assistant Practitioner in Mammography to join our Breast Imaging team in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust. Our aim is to provide a high quality, timely, multi-disciplinary breast diagnostic service. We do this in a supportive environment, whilst embracing new technologies and always putting our patients at the heart of what we do. As well as qualified Assistant Practitioners, we also welcome applications for a training post whereby the successful candidate will be paid Band 3 during the training period and at Band 4 upon successful completion of training and all competencies within a 12 month period. The Breast Unit is a busy department working within both the National Breast Screening service and a Symptomatic Breast service. Therefore, the ability to work both in a team and independently and to communicate in a wide variety of settings is essential. You should have a relevant Assistant Practitioner qualification, or, for the training post, you should have NVQ Level 3 in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Support or equivalent or similar certification or evidence of personal development or previous experience as a Radiographic Assistant. A basic knowledge of the NHS Breast Screening Programme would be an advantage, together with some experience of working in this environment. Due to the sensitive nature of this post, only female applicants will be considered (this provision applies under Section 7(2)(b) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975).

Main duties of the job

The role involves undertaking routine specified radiographic examinations as per achieved competency under the supervision of a registered practitioner, and to assist in the delivery of a high quality and accurate breast service. A high level of professionalism and technical standard of work is required. The hours are 37.5 per week working Monday-Friday. Although based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary you will be required to work on our Mobile Breast Screening Units on a rotational basis at sites across the North East region and therefore a current driving license and access to a car is essential.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you. With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Cramlington Manor Walks
• Urgent treatment centres
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS. We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites. Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'. For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Details

Date posted: 16 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 317-2026-42-20-DR
Closing date: 02 November 2026

Job responsibilities

• Band 4: To undertake screening mammography examinations under the indirect supervision of a State Registered Radiographer
• Assisting the radiographic, radiology and clerical teams in delivering a high quality efficient and effective mammography imaging service and demonstrate a professional, caring and responsible approach to patients
• Act as chaperone and assist in breast clinics as directed by the radiographers and radiologists
• Band 3: To learn the skills and undertake the appropriate underpinning theoretical knowledge in order to undertake mammography radiographic imaging under the direct supervision of a State Registered Radiographer. Assisting the radiographic and clerical teams in delivering a high quality efficient and effective mammography service and demonstrate a professional, caring and responsible approach to patients
• Act as chaperone and assist in breast clinics as directed by radiologists/advanced practitioners
• Interview Date Wednesday 11 November 2026
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week

Person Specification

Meets All Band 4 Criteria

Essential

• Higher Certificate of Education or a Foundation Degree both with relevant radiography modules (mammography)
• NVQ level 3 in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Support or experience as a radiographic assistant
• Previous health care experience
• Knowledge of NHS Breast Screening Programme
• Current driving licence and car owner
• Good communication skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP)
• Knowledge of organisational and health and safety policies
• IT skills with knowledge of data protection and patient confidentiality

Meets All Band 3 Criteria

Essential

• NVQ 3 in Diagnostic & Therapeutic Support or equivalent or similar certification or evidence of personal development or previous experience as a Radiographic Assistant
• Good educational background
• Knowledge of the data protection act and patient confidentiality
• Understanding of the importance of working to agreed standards/protocols
• Current driving licence and car owner
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a team
• Basic IT skills

Desirable

• Previous health care experience
• IT skills
• Basic knowledge of the National Health
• Knowledge of radiation protection
• Knowledge of organisational and health and safety policies

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.

Employer details

Employer name: The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Victoria Infirmary, 317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary, NE1 4LP, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://careers.nuth.nhs.uk/why-us