CST and Screening Technician Workshop – 10 November 2016- Roles and responsibilities shared between Ultrasound Lead and Clinical Skills Trainer

Public Health England leads the NHS Screening Programmes

Modupe Omonijo, Senior QA Advisor SQAS (London) and Ved Ramnani, Ultrasound Lead, North Central London AAA Screening Programme

National service specificationService Model Summary• Lead Ultrasound Clinician (0.1 wte/800,000

population) (part of programme clinical staff)

• Clinical Skills Trainer (Senior Sonographer/Vascular Scientist – 0.1 wte per 800,000) (part of programme screening staff)

2 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

The Provider shall ensure that all roles and responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the Guidance (section 3.30 pg.16)

3 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

Where is CST input required along the screening pathway?

AAA Pathway Themes• Identification • Invitation • Inform • Test • Surveillance • Diagnose • Treatment/ intervention • Monitor outcomes

4 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

Spot the CST

5 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

Implications for the programme

National service specification no.23 (NHS Public Health

functions agreement 2016-2017)

provides a consistent and equitable approach across England and this common

national service specification must be used to govern the provision and

monitoring of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

services

Screening has important ethical differences from clinical practice as the

health service is targeting apparently healthy people, offering to help individuals to make better informed

choices about their health. However, there are risks

involved.

The benefits should outweigh the harm to the

target population

6 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

National service specification describes provider responsibilities for clinical and corporate governance across the following areas;

– Accountability and oversight– Risk management– Programme board– Quality assurance– Governance policies

Implications for the programme

Roles and responsibilities - CST

7 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

• Training– cascade practical training to other staff and

screening technicians, guiding and supporting their professional development and on-going quality assurance

• Clinic visits– provide QA through the monitoring of the

quality of the Screening Technicians work in clinics, supplying them with feedback

• Equipment maintenance– monthly performance tests– maintain and retain log of findings, faults

and actions

Roles and responsibilities – US Lead

8 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

• Monitor NAAASP Accreditation of Staff– Ensure continued NAAASP accreditation status of

screening technicians & CSTs• QA Images

– provide QA through the monitoring of the quality of the images and measurements taken by the Screening Technicians supplying feedback via the programme manager (!)

• Incidental or atypical findings– review any additional images taken and decide the

appropriate course of action– technicians should report these as incidental

findings within SMaRT• Equipment maintenance

– special responsibility for the screening equipment

Considerations:

9 CST/Ultrasound lead Roles and Responsibilities

• How do you ensure clarity of the division of labour between CST and US Lead in your service?

• If they are separate, how do you link the two roles together?

• What are the essential elements for induction into these roles, and how should this be provided?