Job summary
- Main area
- Breast Screening
- Grade
- Consultant or Other Clinical Professional
- Contract
- 2 years (2 year fixed term minimum)
- Hours
- Part time - 1.5 sessions per week
- Job ref
- 216-G2-SLD7646111
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Derriford Hospital
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- Dependent upon experience and grade
- Closing
- 26/01/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Director of Breast Screening
Consultant or Other Clinical Professional
Job overview
The Breast Imaging Radiology team in Plymouth has a longstanding reputation for excellence in breast screening and symptomatic breast services.
The Primrose Breast Care Centre in Plymouth opened in 2001. The Primrose Breast Centre provides a combined screening and symptomatic service and screening is carried out on one mobile van in addition to 1 static unit as well as within the unit at Derriford Hospital.
Please note - this role is open to all clinical staff who meet the criteria
Main duties of the job
The Director of Breast Screening has overall accountability for the safe and effective provision of the local breast screening service. This is from the identification of the eligible screening cohort to the point of diagnosis as commissioned by NHS England.
They will be responsible for providing strategic leadership alongside their operational management colleagues (Service Line Director and Service Line Manager), operational oversight and ensuring the delivery of a high-quality breast screening service aligned with NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) guidelines. The role involves working with multidisciplinary teams to enhance service standards, achieve compliance, and maintain patient-centred care.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Understand the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) standards, ensuring compliance with the national breast screening service specification.
2. Ensure all staff involved in diagnostic work-up are appropriately trained, with relevant competency sign-off.
3. Provide assurance that image readers and pathologists routinely participate in external quality assurance (EQA) schemes.
4. Address health inequalities by understanding the local eligible population and improving access.
5. Encourage participation in approved screening research trials with appropriate ethical and national approvals.
6. co-ordinates with breast screening colleagues the running of the service, communicating with the management and clinical leads within the Trust, with commissioners and with screening and immunisation leads (SILs) within local commissioning teams
7. works with the lead radiographer, programme manager and screening office manager to agree appropriate delegation of tasks which must be reflected in job descriptions and be adequately resourced
8. takes responsibility for data accuracy, accurate allocation of named individuals on NBSS and the completeness of the NBSS record
9. makes sure the service’s working environment is open and transparent, developing a learning culture and avoiding a blame culture
10. works with the management team to maintain adequate numbers of trained, qualified and competent staff to provide a high-quality breast screening service in line with national guidance
11. attends regular management meetings within the Trust, programme board meetings and director of breast screening professional network meetings with SQAS (Screening Quality Assurance Service).
12. makes sure there are regular senior leadership team meetings with the lead radiographer, programme and screening office manager (no less than monthly) to discuss operational aspects of the programme
Clinical accountability
The Director of Breast Screening:
13. Promotes clinical decision making based on screening guidelines at multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, dealing with concerns about individuals working within the screening service and reporting and escalating performance concerns in accordance with SQAS and Trust processes
14. makes sure all performance monitoring and mandatory audits are undertaken according to and all performance data is reported, including:
a. national audits: NHS BSP and (ABS), interval cancers and others
b. KC62 Department of Health returns
c. KPI and routine monitoring statistics
15. examines ad hoc audits for national collation, statistical returns and audits before submission, formally signs them off as appropriate and makes sure any resulting actions to improve performance are undertaken
Person specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Primary clinical qualification and/or other professional registration
- Full registration with the GMC & License to Practice or the NMC/HPC
- On the GMC Specialist Register for the appropriate specialty
- Track record of continuous personal development
Desirable criteria
- A qualification in leadership
- Links to BSBR or to the Royal
- College of Radiologists in senior regional or national roles
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Good knowledge of the NHS Breast Screening programme
- Expertise at a senior clinical level in breast imaging including screening e.g. consultant radiologist, consultant surgeon, lead radiology advisor, consultant practitioner experienced in the full range of triple assessment to support the role
Desirable criteria
- Breast Screening Management research interest or experience
- At least 5 years' experience in breast imaging including screening
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Highly motivated self-starter
- A working knowledge of NHSBSP policy
- Good interpersonal skills
- Strong public service ethos
- Effective presentation skills
- Able to offer advice and mentor effectively/diplomatically
- Able to handle complaints effectively
Desirable criteria
- Ability to handle media relations effectively
Disposition & Motivation
Essential criteria
- Willing to learn the complex financial and managerial pathways where relevant and necessary
- Open to developing new ways of working in collaboration with others
- Evidence of development of effective relationships and communication with other clinical staff
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of managing major change projects and successful conclusion
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Simon Courtman
- Job title
- Care Group Clinical Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 431736
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