Job summary
We have vacancies within the Breast Units on the Aintree and Royal sites for radiographic assistant roles. You will be working alongside clinicians to support patients during ultrasound examinations and assist during a range of aseptic procedures under ultrasound control such as biopsies, aspirations, pre-operative skin marking and localisations.
The role may be cross site, split between the Breast Unit at the Royal Liverpool Hospital and the Marina Dalglish Unit at Aintree University Hospital. Both Units provide a range of clinics for patients with breast symptoms, or for women with a significant family history of breast cancer. You will be working in busy clinics, alongside a multi-disciplinary team of radiographers, radiologists, surgeons, and nurses.
To be part of this team, you will need to demonstrate excellent communication skills and have the ability to multitask in often demanding circumstances. We need you to show that you are enthusiastic about providing high quality patient care.
Previous applicants need not apply.
Main duties of the job
You will bea pivotal part of the Breast Imaging team, providing help and emotional support for patients. This includes anxious patients being investigated for breast cancer or having just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and patients with communication difficulties.
You will report to Consultant Radiologists and Advanced Radiographic Practitioners during ultrasound examinations. You will be expected to set up and support during a range of aseptic procedures under ultrasound control such as biopsies, aspirations, pre-operative skin marking and localisations which may involve exposure to body fluids.
The Trust also provides Breast Screening as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme. All images are reported within the Breast Unit on the Royal site. The radiographic assistants are responsible for handling electronic and paper records/images returned from Mobile and Static Screening Units, ensuring images are correctly uploaded and verified in PACS, ready for reporting. This is a substantial task involving 26,000 examinations per annum requiring manipulation and verification of approximately 200,000 images.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit theircareers page
Job description
Job responsibilities
KeyResponsibilities
To assist radiographers/radiologists within the Breast Unit.
To provide help and emotional support for patients during their time in the department. This includes anxious patients being investigated for breast cancer or having just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and patients with communication difficulties.
To assist radiologists/radiographers during ultrasound examinations and a range of aseptic procedures under ultrasound control including cyst, abscess, seroma drainage, biopsies, pre-operative skin marking and saviscout insertion which may involve exposure to body fluids.
To undertake and be responsible for handling electronic and paper records/images returned from Mobile and Static Screening Units, ensuring that images are correctly uploaded and verified in PACS, ready for reporting. This is a substantial task involving 26,000 examinations per annum requiring manipulation and verification of approx 200,000 images.
Provide clinical technical services including dispatching specimens to pathology
Work with and dispose of sharps in a darkened room.
To assist radiographers/radiologists during stereotactic procedures.
Excellent communication is needed with patients at all times using tact, sympathy and overcoming any barriers to understanding e.g. language difficulties, learning difficulties, hearing impairment.
To perform general housekeeping duties within the Unit and help to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.
To assist in the review of departmental policies and procedures within boundaries of their competence.
Enable clients to make use of available services and information.
Radiation Protection
An awareness of protocols and policies as required under the ionising regulations to comply with IRR 17, IR(ME)17
Clerical Requirements
Frequently requested to retrieve case notes or mammography films.
Answer the telephone, using the agreed departmental standard and referring messages to the appropriate person/area.
Update patients records, electronically and manually.
Maintain records of examinations performed under ultrasound and of screening films loaded and unloaded.
General Requirements
To participate in regular Audit and staff meetings.
Co-operate with the orientation of all staff.
The jobholder may be required to work in a variety of areas.
Due to the configuration of the Unit the post holder maybe required to work across sites.
TRAINING
In service training is provided.
CONFIDENTIALITY
During the course of your duties you will become aware of information concerning patients medical or personal details, all such information must be treated in the strictest confidence.
The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.
The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.
For additionalresponsibilities please refer to the full job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KeyResponsibilities
To assist radiographers/radiologists within the Breast Unit.
To provide help and emotional support for patients during their time in the department. This includes anxious patients being investigated for breast cancer or having just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and patients with communication difficulties.
To assist radiologists/radiographers during ultrasound examinations and a range of aseptic procedures under ultrasound control including cyst, abscess, seroma drainage, biopsies, pre-operative skin marking and saviscout insertion which may involve exposure to body fluids.
To undertake and be responsible for handling electronic and paper records/images returned from Mobile and Static Screening Units, ensuring that images are correctly uploaded and verified in PACS, ready for reporting. This is a substantial task involving 26,000 examinations per annum requiring manipulation and verification of approx 200,000 images.
Provide clinical technical services including dispatching specimens to pathology
Work with and dispose of sharps in a darkened room.
To assist radiographers/radiologists during stereotactic procedures.
Excellent communication is needed with patients at all times using tact, sympathy and overcoming any barriers to understanding e.g. language difficulties, learning difficulties, hearing impairment.
To perform general housekeeping duties within the Unit and help to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.
To assist in the review of departmental policies and procedures within boundaries of their competence.
Enable clients to make use of available services and information.
Radiation Protection
An awareness of protocols and policies as required under the ionising regulations to comply with IRR 17, IR(ME)17
Clerical Requirements
Frequently requested to retrieve case notes or mammography films.
Answer the telephone, using the agreed departmental standard and referring messages to the appropriate person/area.
Update patients records, electronically and manually.
Maintain records of examinations performed under ultrasound and of screening films loaded and unloaded.
General Requirements
To participate in regular Audit and staff meetings.
Co-operate with the orientation of all staff.
The jobholder may be required to work in a variety of areas.
Due to the configuration of the Unit the post holder maybe required to work across sites.
TRAINING
In service training is provided.
CONFIDENTIALITY
During the course of your duties you will become aware of information concerning patients medical or personal details, all such information must be treated in the strictest confidence.
The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.
The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.
For additionalresponsibilities please refer to the full job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE or NVQ level II standard or equivalent
- Clinical Healthcare Support Level 3 or Equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience in patient care
- Proven ability of keeping accurate records with good attention to detail
- Previous experience of working as part of a hospital clinical team
Desirable
- Experience within an NHS health care setting
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of patient confidentiality
Desirable
- Knowledge of breast screening programme
Skills
Essential
- Computer/ keyboard skills
- Ability to work well in a team
- Able to effectively communicate verbally and non-verbally with people at all levels
- Demonstrates ability to be tactful and diplomatic.
- Ability to work on ones own initiative
Other
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable
- Recognises own limitations
Desirable
- Basic understanding of anxiety and fears of patients undergoing procedures
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE or NVQ level II standard or equivalent
- Clinical Healthcare Support Level 3 or Equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience in patient care
- Proven ability of keeping accurate records with good attention to detail
- Previous experience of working as part of a hospital clinical team
Desirable
- Experience within an NHS health care setting
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of patient confidentiality
Desirable
- Knowledge of breast screening programme
Skills
Essential
- Computer/ keyboard skills
- Ability to work well in a team
- Able to effectively communicate verbally and non-verbally with people at all levels
- Demonstrates ability to be tactful and diplomatic.
- Ability to work on ones own initiative
Other
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable
- Recognises own limitations
Desirable
- Basic understanding of anxiety and fears of patients undergoing procedures
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
