Breast Imaging Consultant Radiographer

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES

· To be an expert practitioner with extensive knowledge and skills in all aspects of breast imaging and diagnosis.

· To provide clinical leadership, consultancy, and professional education as part of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

· Provide and facilitate an expert level of care to patients presenting with or who are at risk of breast disease including the assessment and diagnosis of patients.

· Exercise a high degree of personal and professional autonomy, acting as a consultant practitioner demonstrating advanced clinical competence and decision making.

· Experienced in review of multimodality radiological imaging and reports related to breast imaging.

· Create and develop Consultant Radiographer Protocols relating to area of expertise in breast imaging.

· To deliver services which promote East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as a centre of excellence in breast imaging.

· To work within and adhere to, Standards and Operational policies relating to provision of a quality breast imaging service.

· To actively participate in the NHSBSP QA programme to follow the National Guidelines and meet the specific Key Performance Indicators relevant to the role.

· Contribute to the Quality Management System in Breast Screening.

· Contribute expertise in the development of the service’s Quality Assurance Programme.

· To provide flexible ad-hoc clinical cover for Consultant Radiologists, Consultant Radiographer or Advanced Practitioner Radiographers.

· To be aware of the implications of the Health & Safety at Work Act and the Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR17) and the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R 2017) and ensure compliance with such legislation.

EXPERT CLINICAL PRACTICE

· To act as a clinical expert within the field of breast imaging at ELHT.

· Manage an independent and autonomous caseload of patients referred for screening assessment, acting as a Responsible Assessor (NHSBSP).

· Autonomously manage a caseload of symptomatic patients within one stop clinics, providing triple assessment.

· Independent percutaneous breast procedures under free hand, ultrasound, or stereotactic guidance to include cyst aspiration, abscess or seroma drainage, FNA, core biopsy, vacuum assisted core biopsy and localisation wire insertion.

· Independent clinical breast examination.

· Undertake administration of local anaesthetic in accordance with an agreed Patient Group Directive.

· To be responsible for patient management decisions, including recommending patients for further related investigations, advising on additional imaging, intervention and/or MDT referrals.

· To act as a clinical lead when required for one-stop symptomatic breast clinics.

· To ensure your own clinical competencies and those of team members under your supervision are documented and upheld within the service.

· To provide expert advice on the appropriateness of imaging requests in line with agreed protocols, and act as an authorised radiographer responsible under IR(ME)R for the justification and authorisation of medical exposures.

COMMUNICATION AND KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

· Deal with highly complex and sensitive information which requires the highest level of communication skills. 

· Advanced Communication skills trained.

· Communicate complex radiological information at Multi-Disciplinary Meetings (MDT). 

· Alongside the Breast Radiologists, undertake an active role in clinical governance, initiating, monitoring, evaluating, and revising clinical practice, analysing complex and contentious information to inform change.

· To assist the Director of Breast Screening and the Breast Imaging Manager in the delivery of Screening and Symptomatic guidelines for clinical practice.

· Active participation in networks relevant to the Consultant Radiographer. 

· Attend Trust, regional and national meetings as required.

· To promote good working relationships between all staff within the Radiology Directorate.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

· Effective clinical leadership, communicating and encouraging others to deliver best practice and evidence-based care to patients within the Trust.

· Support and influence the quality of the clinical practice of other staff through leadership and as a role model.

· To interpret clinical, professional, and national policies in the breast specialist field and provide expert input within the team regarding service delivery, service improvement and service redesign.

· Contribute a source of expertise to the strategic planning process for relevant service developments, liaising with the Director of Breast Screening and Breast Imaging Manager in the local implementation of national polices, affecting clinical delivery of service.

· To be involved in the development of breast service specific operational plans in line with Trust Objectives.

· To lead in working parties that impact on policies and practice within the breast imaging service as well as those which impact on service users.

· Will demonstrate leadership whilst implementing service development, policy implementation and innovative practice across the breast imaging service.

· Provide a key role in the development and provision of an evidence-based service, utilising standard operating procedures, guidelines, and protocols for breast service delivery.

· Provide leadership in the development of breast services through review of research and evidence-based practice not rooted in a uni-professional approach.

· To contribute to the service planning function of the department and support any changes that become necessary.

· Provision of expert clinical radiographic input into the clinical governance of the service, to include the development of policies, standard operating procedures, risk management and audit.

· Involvement in complaints relating to the review of imaging and contributing advice as an expert within the specialty as delegated by Breast Imaging Manager, Director of Breast Screening or Consultant Radiologists.

EDUCATION, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

· To be responsible for clinical supervision and education of staff in training.

· To take a prominent role in the development of breast imaging teaching and learning, including the delivery of specialist training as a major part of this role.

· Annual completion of the ‘PERFORMS’ film reading education tool in performance for film readers supporting participation in personal performance review with audit of breast interventional skills (competency audits).

· To participate in the NHSBSP interval breast cancer review process, contributing to discussions and decisions concerning duty of candour, patients’ outcomes, and opportunities for shared learning.

· Participation in Personal Development Review and audit of breast interventional skills (competency audits). Maintain personal commitment to extensive Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

· Promote and facilitate a learning culture and environment that identifies learning needs, encourages reflection, evidence-based practice, and work-based learning so that others may develop to their full potential within the breast specialist field.

· Provide specialist post-graduate training. 

· To create/maintain partnerships with higher education institutions to be fully involved in the development of the 4-tier structure.

· Promote a positive environment for radiographers through support, mentorship and sharing knowledge so they may reach their potential and benefit the service.

· Provide supervision and guidance for junior staff.

· To undertake Personal Development Reviews of certain staff groups when required, as delegated by the Breast Imaging Manager.

· Contribute when required to the recruitment, retention and mentorship of Advanced Practitioners, Practitioners and Assistant Practitioners to ensure that a sustained workforce is in place for service delivery.

· Undertake educational events for staff to support professional and personal development requirements.

· To support the development of the service by ensuring the appropriate information is cascaded from training, conferences, or other resources.

· Enhance the links between practice, professional bodies, and academic institutions, establishing new partnerships with higher education institutions.

· Work in conjunction with the Breast Imaging Manager to update and develop the educational/training policy for pre and post qualified practitioners.

· Participate in teaching within the Trust to multidisciplinary colleagues.

RESEARCH, AUDIT AND SERVICE EVALUATION

· To participate in the audit of breast services to identify, design, implement and evaluate service changes to improve patient care.

· To identify opportunities for service improvement to overcome professional barriers which may limit/inhibit services.

· Will demonstrate ability to deliver expert knowledge in the development and provision of cross boundary working.

· Initiates and participates in research projects proposing, publishing, and sharing results at a local and national level which may inform changes to clinical practice and service delivery.

· Involvement and leadership in research and practice development opportunities within the Breast Imaging Service. Initiate research projects based on evidence-based practice.

· Collate and compile statistics from information resources for audit and research projects.

· To benchmark services where applicable and advise of any changes to be considered in respect of improvement and development of services.

· To ensure that quality standards and effectiveness of patient care is continually improved by means of Clinical Audit, Outcome Measures and service review and evaluation.

· To participate in an audit programme which involves other disciplines such as surgery, and according to agreed standards as agreed by the Directorate Audit Lead.

· Attend clinical effectiveness audit meetings.