Mammography associate
Health and science
Level 4 -
Operating specialist equipment used to screen people for breast cancer.
Reference: OCC0583
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2254/01 Diagnostic radiographers and sonographers
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Wythenshawe Hospital, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, InHealth Group, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Skills for Health, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Jarvis Breast Screening Centre, NHS Breast Screening Programme
Summary
The occupation is found in a hospital or in a community setting such as in mobile breast screening units and medical centres working in a multidisciplinary team.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to work within the breast imaging workforce undertaking routine two-view mammography which are x-ray images of breasts as part of a breast screening programme. The mammography associate will also be able to undertake routine mammography on individuals with symptoms of breast disease. Mammography associates will have a good understanding of breast anatomy, physiology and pathology, including clinical signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and be able to apply knowledge of ionising radiation regulations. They will be technically skilled in operating specialised mammography equipment.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with individuals attending for mammography, their families, carers, the multidisciplinary team and breast imaging workforce. Mammography associates have excellent interpersonal skills and provide high quality care. They will work under the supervision of a radiographer.
An employee in this occupation will be part of the team responsible for monitoring specialised mammography equipment function and performance and for producing mammography images of consistently high quality to meet rigorous standards.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
Wythenshawe Hospital, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, InHealth Group, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Skills for Health, Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Jarvis Breast Screening Centre, NHS Breast Screening Programme
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Perform standard mammogram examinations using specialised mammographic equipment.
Duty D2
Contribute to the identification and management of risks to self and others to maintain a safe and healthy working environment following local and national standards, policies, standard operating procedures, and protocols used in the workplace.
Duty D3
Act within the limits of own competence and within agreed ways of working, following relevant legislation.
Duty D4
Ensure image quality and the safe storage of images.
Duty D5
Communicate complex sensitive information effectively with individuals, their families, carers and health and care professionals.
Duty D6
Ensure equipment and service meet quality control and assurance requirements.
Duty D7
Promote the health and wellbeing of individuals, acting on opportunities to educate and empower individuals to maximise their own health and well-being.
Duty D8
Work as part of the team and contribute to service improvement.
Duty D9
Maintain and further develop own knowledge and skills through recognised continuing professional development activities.
Duty D10
Promote an evidence-based approach to providing mammography services, participating in quality improvement and research activity.
Duty D11
Support the development of others through role-modelling, supervision, and guidance.
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
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Health and science