Job Description

This role will support the launch of a new Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) telederm clinic within Mersey and West Lancashire Trust (MWL). The post holder will have the opportunity to work closely with a wider team to implement an efficient patient pathway experience.



The post holder will be responsible for taking telederm pictures for patients referred by their GP to the telederm services, uploading the images and processing them through the digital platform provider.



The post holder will work within the Medical Photography Department, but their main role will be directed by the Dermatology department and will primarily be the undertaking of taking telederm pictures as above.



Please note the role will primarily be based at Southport Photo Hub however some cross-site working to provide cover at the St Helens photo hub may be required at times.



The JD / PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change



Please note this advert may close early should sufficient number of applications be received



Communicate effectively and professionally with multidisciplinary members of the team, patients and their family/carers.



To work as a member of a multidisciplinary team establishing effective communication across organisations.



To demonstrate excellent verbal communication through the ability to give basic information about the Telederm process and support to individuals and to modify the approach to individual needs of the patients.



To demonstrate excellent documentation on a range of IT platforms as required.



Ensure patients understand any consent issues.



Liaise directly with the appropriate clinical staff for any clarification related to photographic requirements.



Use a secure clinical image (system) for online delivery of images.



To ensure that the equipment is well maintained and stored appropriately.



Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.



We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

Acute Care



Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.



Primary Care



Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.



Community Services



Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.



Specialist Regional Services



We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Advertising date:

31st July 2025

Closing date:

7th August 2025

Interview date:

Tuesday 19th August 2025

Interview Location:

Southport Hospital CMO



KEY DUTIES



Communicate effectively and professionally with multidisciplinary members of the team, patients and their family/carers.



To work as a member of a multidisciplinary team establishing effective communication across organisations.



To demonstrate excellent verbal communication through the ability to give basic information about the Telederm process and support to individuals and to modify the approach to individual needs of the patients.



To demonstrate excellent documentation on a range of IT platforms as required.



Ensure patients understand any consent issues.



Liaise directly with the appropriate clinical staff for any clarification related to photographic requirements.



Use a secure clinical image (system) for online delivery of images.



To ensure that the equipment is well maintained and stored appropriately



The post holder will communicate effectively across a wide range of channels and with a wide range of individuals, the public and health social and care professionals. They will use both verbal and non-verbal methods of communication, dependent on the needs of the patient and address communication barriers. They should demonstrate the interpersonal skills that demonstrate empathy, compassion, courtesy, respect and trust.



Conduct a sift of incoming referrals against defined exclusion criteria



Contact patients to book them in for their medical photography appointment at the Trust Effectively communicates information relating to patient's health and care. Utilises interpersonal skills



Act as a positive role model to portray a consistent professional image of MWL.



Keeps accurate contemporaneous documentation using the organisation's documentation, both written and electronic.



Awareness of different communication needs of patients, carers and relatives.



Ensure all patient related information is treated sensitively and adhere to the principals of confidentiality at all times.



The postholder should be able to challenge constructively within the multidisciplinary team, in an appropriate and professional manner, whilst acting as the patients advocate.



The Teledermatology Support Worker will;



To undertake medical photography activities, ensuring ethical practices are followed.



To engage with and undertake all necessary training in use of the teledermatology equipment/platform to ensure proficiency in hosting the clinic. Engage in all offered training by Trust Medical Photographer to ensure proficiency in taking high quality medical images.



The postholder will be responsible for singularly hosting a clinic session, wherein they will welcome attending patients in; verify patient identity and lesion identity; complete a patient questionnaire with those patients who haven't completed prior to appointment; undertake clinical photography of the patients' lesion(s); make accurate records of attendance within CareFlow; upload taken images to the teledematology AI platform for review.



Ensure that they are aware of and work within the standards set out in the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers.



Be responsible for ensuring quality of all photography produced within the department is of a highly professional nature. That the condition has been accurately interpreted and the correct lighting technique has been used to ensure it is medically and legally valuable, measuring against recognised national/local standards.



Demonstrate own clinical competence developed through continual professional development, reflective practice and maintenance of clinical competencies.



Report any untoward incidents, complaints and clinical emergencies to the appropriate professional within the appropriate times.



Seek out an identified chaperone within the site of clinic when appropriate/requested by the patient.



While not engaged in undertaking telederm photography, the postholder may be expected to support the Medical Imaging teams with the following:



Supporting other patients requiring medical photography



Act as a chaperone



Undertake other administrative duties



TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES



Knowledge of a full range of administrative procedures and software programmes and their application to improve service efficiency and effectiveness.



Exercise judgement when dealing with patient enquiries, analysing and resolving problems at source.



Recognise and accept responsibility for own personal development



Ensure new medics joining the department are booked in for suitable training and inductions with a tour of their working environment



Help support the USC and 18-week pathways within the speciality. Raising awareness with colleagues, clinical staff ensuring correct pathways attached to ensure USC and 18-week target to be achieved.



RESEARCH & AUDIT



Partake in any clinical audit as requested by the clinical teams.