Band 8a Lead Mammographer

Job responsibilities

1. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Perform mammograms, including mammography support for stereotactic procedures, and guidewires on a regular basis.

Accountable for own professional actions and working within codes of conduct and professional practice.

Work closely with radiologists to provide a high-quality service.

Communicate effectively with challenging patient groups and those who may be physically and/or cognitively impaired, or those whose first language is not English.

Deal sensitively with patients and carers under emotional stress, including the terminally ill and bereaved.

Work alongside the consultant radiologist to tailor each examination to the individual patient, including decision making on the need of additional imaging.

Physically position patients accurately for each examination, adapting techniques in accordance with the patients needs.

Ensure the safe transfer of patients and equipment following manual handling guidelines and using relevant risk assessments.

Operate advanced software on specialised radiological equipment requiring in-depth anatomical, pathological and technical knowledge, e.g., post processing of images using advanced software, tomosynthesis.

Responsible for the provision and maintenance of high professional standards for patients, visitors and staff.

Responsible for measuring and monitoring patient experience surveys and taking action as required.

Assess the needs of patients and plan the delivery of imaging and care around these needs within a specialist area.

Support the process to ensure that patient information leaflets are in place and up to date.

Apply in-depth knowledge of anatomy, pathology and equipment (scanners etc.) to determine appropriate imaging techniques in line with modality protocols for the individual patients condition.

Be aware of Trust policy on the protection of vulnerable children and adults and know how to implement these if required.

Complete advanced imaging, reporting and interventions in relation to symptomatic breast disease.

Provide expert advice to colleagues regarding breast imaging techniques, image interpretation, and assessment, supporting clinical decision-making while working within the scope of imaging practice.

Work collaboratively and negotiate with other professions in the imaging and management of complex cases.

Act as the expert point of contact for symptomatic breast imaging, providing guidance on imaging techniques, quality, and workflow.

Assist in the one-stop clinic for patients on a weekly basis, working alongside consultant radiologists and surgeons to perform mammograms for patients who are highly anxious where cancer must be ruled out or diagnosed.

Assist with highly skilled, interventional invasive breast procedures, stereotactic core biopsy or VAB biopsy.

Assist with ultrasound and stereotactic-guided wire and marker clip localisation prior to surgery.

Handle and X-ray breast tissue specimens during core biopsies as well as surgical biopsy specimens which are brought to unit for imaging.

Report on mammograms for elective patients.

Communicate complex information about imaging procedures to a broad range of patients which involves navigating highly distressing circumstances that must be handled sensitively and supportively.

Demonstrate clinical effectiveness using evidence-based practice to develop protocols in relation to breast imaging services.

Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients, use of equipment and all written documentation.

Maintain own continuing professional development portfolio and keep abreast of research and development within service specialty.

Participate in routine quality assurance of breast imaging equipment and procedures, ensuring high diagnostic standards and patient safety, and apply imaging protocols correctly, adapting techniques to meet individual patient needs.

Quality assurance of breast imaging equipment and procedures, ensuring high diagnostic standards and patient safety.

Identify, escalate, and document out-of-range results, imaging artefacts, or equipment issues, collaborating with radiologists and medical physics to resolve technical or clinical challenges.

Ensure compliance with Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17) as well as quality assurance and undertake Radiation Protection Supervisor duties.

2. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

Understand the Trusts organisational structure, departmental protocols, and policies for delivering high-quality symptomatic breast imaging services, following guidance from the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR), NICE, and, where relevant, the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP).

Exercise a high degree of personal and professional autonomy, making sound clinical judgements and critical decisions to safeguard patient welfare during diagnostic and interventional breast procedures.

Work in accordance with professional and clinical standards, including NICE guidance, ensuring safe, effective, and patient-centred care specific to breast imaging.

3. RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

Lead on the development, implementation, and review of local breast imaging policies, protocols, and standard operating procedures, ensuring alignment with national screening and symptomatic breast imaging guidance (e.g., NHSBSP, NICE, Royal College of Radiologists).

Contribute to trust-wide and network-wide policy development, ensuring breast imaging services are safe, effective, and responsive to patient need.

Identify service gaps or risks and propose evidence-based improvements to optimise patient pathways and outcomes.

Lead on the introduction and evaluation of new techniques, technologies, and service models, ensuring they are embedded into clinical practice with appropriate governance and training.

Actively participate in trust, regional, and national forums related to breast imaging and screening to influence policy, share best practice, and benchmark NMUH against peers.

Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and professional requirements (e.g., IR(ME)R, CQC, GDPR), updating local policies and training staff accordingly.

Monitor the effectiveness of service changes and policies, incorporating audit, research, and patient feedback into continuous quality improvement.

Support divisional and trust strategies (e.g., recovery and transformation, digital innovation, workforce sustainability) through service redesign and policy input.

4. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

Lead the procurement process for new breast imaging equipment when existing machines reach end-of-life, ensuring service continuity and alignment with departmental needs.

Monitor and manage service contracts, ensuring timely renewals, compliance with manufacturer requirements, and value for money.

Engage in tender processes and liaise with procurement teams to evaluate vendor proposals and select appropriate equipment and services.

Advise on the upgrades or replacement options based on clinical demand, technological advances, and patient safety considerations.

Contribute to Divisional Business Plan.

Supporting procurement in provision of clinical advice by reviewing quality of consumables used against best value for money, as required.

Monitor and maintain adequate stock levels of consumables and supplies required for breast imaging procedures.

Coordinate replenishment of stock to ensure interrupted service delivery, following budgetary and procurement guidelines.

Review usage patterns and plan future stock requirements, supporting cost-effective and efficient resource management.

5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

Assist the Radiology Management Team with the supervision, support, training and development of Radiographers, Radiographic Department Assistants and Assistant Radiographic Practitioners as required.

Assist the Radiology Management Team with recruitment and selection of Radiographers, Radiographic Department Assistants and Assistant Radiographic Practitioners as required.

Effective staff communication both within the Radiology Department and the wider Trust.

Responsible for the safe use and maintenance of complex, high capital cost specialist imaging equipment.

Perform the local induction of new/locum mammography staff.

Operationally manage the day-to-day delivery of the service ensuring effective co-ordination and allocation of resources.

Assist in the adaptation of the service to respond to short-term and long-term demands, training staff to ensure the daily workload is organised in line with clinical priorities, rearranging work lists in the event of incidents that may occur with no or little notice.

Work closely with the radiologists and surgical team to provide a responsive and high-quality service ensuring that changes in service provision, patient requirements and clinical practice are recognised, planned for, implemented, and monitored.

Lead on the staffing strategy and recruitment of mammographers to enable the provision of a robust, high-quality service.

Manage the staff rosters, ensuring adequate service cover.

Refer to job description for full details of the role.

Values

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education and professional qualifications

Essential

• oBSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography.
• oPostgraduate qualification in Mammography.
• oCurrent HCPC registration.

Desirable

• oAdditional specialist training in 1) Image interpretation and reporting and 2) Image-guided interventional procedures
• oLeadership/management qualification.

Experience

Essential

• oExperience of operational management.
• oA minimum of 3 years' postgraduate experience in mammography including specific additional mammographic views.
• oAbility to perform all standard mammographic procedures including assisting with interventional procedures and imaging specimens.
• oExperience of obtaining tomosynthesis views.
• oExperience of managing equipment maintenance.
• oEvidence of participation in clinical audit.
• oExperience of completing service evaluation and/or quality improvement projects.
• oExperience of training radiographers for a mammography role.

Desirable

• oAbility to interpret and report mammograms.
• oAbility to report mammograms.
• oAbility to independently perform stereotactic/tomography biopsies.

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

• oWorking knowledge of radiation governance and legislation.
• oAble to supervise the work of others and sensitively communicate areas for improvement.
• oAbility to write clinical guidance.
• oGood understanding of National regulations and MHRA safety guidelines.
• oRPS course.
• oUse of PACS and RIS systems.

Desirable

• oParticipation in research or education.
• oActive in research and delivery of education.

Personal qualities and attributes

Essential

• oAble to work under pressure and co-ordinate a complex workload.
• oGood communication and interpersonal skills, able to share ideas, information, and feedback.
• oAble to demonstrate empathy and to communicate with people from all backgrounds.
• oAble to explain complex matters in simple terms.
• oEnthusiastic and able to teach others to reach a high level of autonomous practice.
• oWillingness to collaborate and to work as part of an MDT.

Others

Essential

• oWillingness to work flexibly.
• oFriendly, caring and approachable to patients and staff.

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.

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had 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 dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).