Mammographer

Countess of Chester; Chester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a radiographer to work in mammography, providing high-quality imaging for symptomatic and screening clients. You will supervise trainees and stay current with screening advancements while contributing to a supportive, patient‑centred team.

The role requires staying compliant with IRMER and related regulations, maintaining safety standards, and working within a multi‑disciplinary team to ensure accurate, timely results.

Qualifications

• BSc Degree in Radiography or Diploma of The College of Radiographers.
• State Registration with Health Professions Council
• Post-Graduate Certificate of Mammography Practice
• Introduction to Communication and Counselling Certificate

Responsibilities

• Maintain high professional standards of technical ability, efficiency and care under the mammography certificate.
• Assist consultant radiologist/radiographer with diagnosis by performing additional radiographic procedures, including stereo-tactic biopsies and Magseed insertion.
• Perform examinations to the highest quality following departmental protocols and relevant laws including IRMER/IR(M)R 2017.
• Validate and justify imaging requests under IRMER and plan workload with the multidisciplinary team.
• Highlight suspect clinical history or appearance to the film reader.
• Work under pressure with an unpredictable workload to provide optimum diagnostic service.
• Assess a woman's suitability for screening physically, mentally and psychologically.

Skills

Patient care

Teamwork

Mentor juniors

Education

BSc Radiography or Diploma of The College of Radiographers

HPC Registration

Mammography Certificate

Communication Certificate

Job description

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide the highest professional standards of technical ability, quality assurance and patient/client care in the field of mammography for both symptomatic and breast screening clients.

To provide supervision and guidance to trainee mammographers and junior members of staff.

To keep up to date with current issues in all aspects of screening and breast.

Main duties of the job

1. To maintain the highest professional standards of technical ability, efficiency and care under the terms of the mammography postgraduate certificate. Maintaining consistent physical effort and manual dexterity to produce specialist radiographic images demanded by the service with precision and speed.

2. Assist consultant radiologist/ radiographer with diagnosis by undertaking additional radiographic procedures as requested for women returning for assessment, including using digital systems for stereo-tactic biopsies and Magseed insertion procedures.

3. To perform all examinations to the highest quality with adherence to departmental protocols and procedures including British and European Law, Ionising Radiation regulations (2018) and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017.

4. To validate and justify imaging requests under IRMER, and assess urgency to plan workload for department and to discuss problems within the multi-disciplinary team.

5. To highlight to the film reader any suspect clinical history or appearance.

6. The ability to work under pressure with an unpredictable workload, requiring prolonged periods of concentration in order to provide the optimum diagnostic service.

7. Assess a woman’s suitability for screening physically, mentally and psychologically.

Please refer to job description for further information

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc Degree in Radiography or Diploma of The College of Radiographers.
• State Registration with Health Professions Council
• Post-Graduate Certificate of Mammography Practice
• Introduction to Communication and Counselling Certificate

Knowledge and experience

• Experience of a variety of client types
• Sound knowledge of imaging and imaging equipment.
• Understanding of IRMER
• Mandatory training
• Understanding of N.H.S.B.S.P
• An up to date knowledge of breast disease and treatments.

Skills and abilities

• High standard of patient care
• Strong team playerMotivate junior members of staff
• Empathy
• Unconditional positive regard.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.