Apprenticeship training course

Mammography associate (level 4)

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Information about Mammography associate (level 4)

Operating specialist equipment used to screen people for breast cancer.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Principles of person-centred care.
  • Normal breast anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
  • Types of abnormalities of the breasts that need to be observed and recorded.
  • Principles of informed consent and the actions to take if consent is withdrawn.
  • Effective positioning and immobilisation of individuals.
  • Adapt techniques to optimise image quality.
  • The role of other imaging and treatment modalities including ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
  • The relationship between anatomy, pathophysiology and the imaging process.
  • The basic design, function and operation of mammography image acquisition and display equipment.
  • Processes for recording, storing and sharing personal information securely, including the safe use of technology complying with organisational and legal requirements.
  • Relevant legal, ethical, professional, and local frameworks and protocols in the mammography context.
  • Maintaining health and safety in the workplace.
  • How radiation is produced and its interaction with matter.
  • The radiobiological effects of radiation - short and long-term risks.
  • Radiation protection of self and others.
  • The application of ionising radiation regulations.
  • The meaning of risk in the workplace, ways to raise concerns and own responsibilities in relation to incidents, errors and near misses.
  • Principles of infection control.
  • Basic life support techniques.
  • Principles of safe moving and assisting individuals and moving and handling equipment.
  • Operate within your own scope of practice, legislation, and policies.
  • Responsibilities and professional values of a mammography associate.
  • When it is necessary to refer to an appropriate member of the multi-disciplinary breast care team, including the supervisory radiographer, for concerns and queries outside scope of practice.
  • Standards and criteria for assessing the technical quality of images.
  • Systems for image acquisition, storage, and retrieval.
  • Individual and unit performance targets relating to the quality of mammography images.
  • Principles of effective interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Advise individuals of the results process and give additional information within the scope of your responsibility.
  • Meet the care needs of individuals and their accompanying companions with sensitivity and respect.
  • Principles of confidentiality, duty of candour and disclosure.
  • Principles of equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • The purpose, principles and methods of quality control and quality assurance in mammography.
  • Relevant national standards and local guidelines for quality control and assurance.
  • The responsibility of mammographers to identify individual clinical mammography learning needs to ensure breast screening programme standards are met.
  • Value of appropriately timed health promotion interventions.
  • National and local strategies, priorities, and initiatives for promoting and improving public health.
  • Wider determinants of health such as the contribution of social influences, health literacy, individual circumstances, behaviours and lifestyle choices on health and wellbeing.
  • The role and function of the multi-disciplinary breast care team.
  • Principles of effective team-working.
  • Techniques for managing challenging situations, unsafe work practices, addressing comments, compliments, conflict, and complaints.
  • Importance of personal health, resilience, and wellbeing.
  • Purpose and value of supervision, appraisals and personal development planning.
  • Reflective practice and how to use it effectively.
  • Importance of continuing personal and professional development.
  • Principles of audit and research applied in mammography services.
  • How audit and research lead to the maintaining standards and improving the quality of mammography services.

  Skills

  • Prepare equipment and environments appropriately for mammography.
  • Identify individuals attending for mammography appropriately.
  • Prepare individuals appropriately for mammography.
  • Employ effective positioning and immobilisation to achieve images of high quality.
  • Operate mammography equipment safely and effectively within protocol.
  • Maintain required and accurate records of the procedure complying with quality, confidentiality and data protection requirements.
  • Use information management systems effectively.
  • Comply with, and practise safely within, relevant legal, ethical, professional, and local frameworks and protocols for the delivery of clinical mammography.
  • Maintain the radiation safety of all individuals in the working environment in line with current legislation.
  • Work in accordance with ionising radiation regulations.
  • Take appropriate action in response to concerns, risks, incidents or near misses arising in the workplace.
  • Safeguard individuals in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
  • Use techniques for infection control.
  • Provide basic life-support techniques, when required.
  • Move and handle equipment or other items safely and assist individuals as appropriate.
  • Manage self and own work effectively
  • Recognise and respond appropriately to strengths and limitations in own knowledge, skills, and attributes.
  • Refer to an appropriate member of the multi-disciplinary breast care team where required for concerns and queries outside scope of practice.
  • Assess the technical quality of images produced against required standards for breast screening programmes.
  • Adhere to quality standards of performance for breast screening programmes.
  • Transfer and store images using appropriate systems.
  • Apply effective interpersonal and communication skills to engage with individuals.
  • Report and share information related to individuals securely in line with local and national policies, maintaining confidentiality.
  • Ensure own actions promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Work individually, collaboratively and in partnership to deliver person-centred care.
  • Advise individuals of the results process and give any necessary additional information within the scope of your responsibility.
  • Participate in quality control tests of mammography equipment and accurately record results.
  • Report any failed equipment tests to a senior member of staff.
  • Participate in image assessment and peer review to adhere to breast screening programme standards.
  • Engage in effective health promotion by actively seeking out and acting on opportunities to support individuals to maximise their health and well-being within the scope of the role.
  • Promote preventative health behaviours and support individuals to make informed choices to improve their health and wellbeing within the scope of the role.
  • Work effectively within the multi-disciplinary breast care team.
  • Promote a positive, safe, and effective working environment.
  • Make use of supervision and pastoral care.
  • Make use of reflective practice to engage in continuing professional development.
  • Participate in training and development activities and evaluate the impact of learning on own practice.
  • Seek out and respond to feedback and engage in appraisals.
  • Identify opportunities to improve the quality of the mammography service provided and contribute to local, regional, and national quality improvement initiatives.
  • Participate in and support others with quality improvement activities in the workplace.
  • Act as a role model for others within the scope of own role.

  Behaviours

  • Treat individuals with dignity, respecting their beliefs, culture, values and preferences.
  • Adopt an empathic approach and demonstrate discretion.
  • Demonstrate courage to challenge areas of concern.
  • Be adaptable and responsive to changing service needs.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Health and science
• Qualification level: 4; Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
• Course duration: 12 months
• Maximum funding: £5,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Breast screening assistant practitioner
  • Mammography assistant practitioner
  • Mammography Associate

View more information about Mammography associate (level 4) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.