This apprenticeship has been withdrawn
IfATE has withdrawn support from the Trailblazer originally developing the apprenticeship covering this occupation. However, the occupation remains on the relevant occupational map. If a new group of employers wishes to take up the development process, they should contact enquiries.ifa@education.gov.uk.
Provide photography service.
This occupation is found in the healthcare sector and includes the NHS and private healthcare providers as well as some universities and research organisations.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide expert clinical photography services, accountable for providing complex and critical video and clinical images to support patient care. Clinical photographers support the monitoring of patient treatment, aid diagnosis and enhance patient records as well as support clinical teaching, research and publication.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with multi-disciplinary clinical teams across all specialities, patients, relatives, management team, scientists, and academics. They also support external agencies such as the police, social workers and solicitors. Clinical photographers are usually hospital-based during core working hours, with out-of-hours working required for some specialist services.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for using professional judgement, planning and carrying out a broad range of highly specialised clinical photography, video and imaging to deliver accurate visual records of the progress of patients’ disease and treatment and at times are required to have direct physical contact with the patient. They will also capture clinical photographic evidence for safeguarding purposes and contribute photographic and video expertise to support major incident planning. As an autonomous practitioner, they have responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of the patient whilst in their care, supervision of apprentices and trainees and prioritisation of workload. As the first point of contact for the clinician, the clinical photographer must using professional judgement interpret their requirements to determine the most appropriate action. They are accountable professionally and legally for their actions and of those they are supervising, including the enacting of legislation such as patient confidentiality, record-keeping and risk management. They will critically evaluate the service and their own practice to influence and lead change initiatives within the service. Clinical photographers might work entirely alone (in smaller institutions or the private sector) or might be part of a larger team in a big organisation. They manage and operate professional-grade equipment, which might include (depending on the specialities they serve) highly-specialised instruments such as ophthalmic imaging (biomicroscope cameras, slit-lamp, OCT and other laser-scanning technologies), 3D scanning cameras and thermal imaging equipment. They are responsible for maintaining and using a range of specialist IT software.
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
|
Duty 1 Work safely and effectively alongside other clinical staff and within the limits of own competence, knowledge and sphere of professional practice, in line with legislation, local policy, procedures and professional code of conduct. |
K1 K2 K6 K7 K9 K13 K14 K15 K16 K22 K24 K27 |
|
Duty 2 Be accountable and responsible for undertaking repeatable and standardised clinical photography in a wide range of healthcare settings that capture the salient visual features of disease and treatment. e.g. clinical photographic studio, operating theatres, mortuary, clinics, wards. Make decisions based on an understanding of anatomy and medical terminology and use professional judgement to select and use imaging techniques to aid clinical decision making, support patient records, patient care, teaching, research and medico-legal evidence. |
K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K12 K14 K15 K25 |
|
Duty 3 Capture complex and accurate clinical photographic evidence for safeguarding purposes to support multidisciplinary teams, e.g. social services, police and appropriate clinicians |
|
|
Duty 4 Lead on the production of repeatable and standardised clinical video sequences and finished films to demonstrate the dynamic, chronic and acute aspects of disease and treatment and capture the salient visual (and audio) features of disease and treatment. |
|
|
Duty 5 Provide clinical photographic expertise to clinical trials and studies e.g. designing and managing a photographic protocol to monitor patients’ progress in a clinical trial. |
|
|
Duty 6 Working independently, undertake photography in the healthcare environment to support patient information, medical education, public relations and corporate communications working in compliance with legal, ethical and professional code of conduct standards. |
|
|
Duty 7 Ensure that patient images have been accurately captured, processed and made available, in accordance with relevant legislation and ethical guidance to support patient care. |
|
|
Duty 8 Use professional judgement to ensure appropriate, informed consent is obtained or in cases where a patient lacks capacity ensures that the relevent Code of Practics are adhered to. Ensuring information governance safeguards are in place for the intended use of clinical images. Manage and promote best practice in the safe use of clinical images within the healthcare environment. |
|
|
Duty 9 Critically evaluate practice and contribute expert advice on research, new imaging technology and innovative techniques to develop and improve the service. Identify and implement change to improve the clinical photography service, making decisions based on legal, financial, user and organisational requirements. |
|
|
Duty 10 Develop self and others through a commitment to career-long learning and demonstration of best practice, training, coaching and mentoring evidenced through CPD. |
|
|
Duty 11 Contribute photographic and video expertise to support major incident planning as part of a multidisciplinary, clinical and wider team e.g. terrorist incident, pandemic. Undertake photography and video as an integral part of the major incident response team. |
K1: Local and national legislation, policies and procedures within their scope of practice, professional and regulatory codes of conduct; the importance of working within boundaries of practice; the range of physical, psychological and diagnostic interventions within their scope of practice.
Back to Duty
K2: Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) standards and adheres to the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) Code of Professional Conduct.
Back to Duty
K3: Relevant anatomy, physiology and pathology, anatomical positioning and medical terminology.
Back to Duty
K4: Key patient signs and symptoms in order to recognise and document their condition.
Back to Duty
K5: Different patient needs and rights in relation to dignity, equality, diversity, inclusion and privacy, communication styles and clinical conditions e.g. dementia or learning disabilities.
Back to Duty
K6: Protocols in relation to the appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Back to Duty
K7: The underpinning knowledge of consent, how to obtain consent and the procedures to follow when consent cannot be obtained.
Back to Duty
K8: Human anatomy and physiology to image the area of interest, using anatomical landmarks and the importance of patient positioning to obtain the photograph required.
Back to Duty
K9: Safe patient moving and handling techniques.
Back to Duty
K10: The process for escalation of unexpected findings identified on images to ensure optimum patient care.
Back to Duty
K11: The procedures relating to major incident and their role within the Major Incident Response Team.
Back to Duty
K12: Different methods of communication including verbal and non-verbal communication; the effect of own body language and attitude on others and the need for active listening skills.
Back to Duty
K13: Legal, ethical and professional principles associated with equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding, including the use of consent chaperones when direct physical contact is needed.
Back to Duty
K14: Patient confidentiality and awareness of responsibility to maintain it in line with ethical and legislative frameworks.
Back to Duty
K15: Data Protection Regulations and consequences of good and poor data quality on the patient experience/pathway including the need for accurate record keeping (data capture and data processing).
Back to Duty
K16: Different roles and scopes of practice for those under own supervision.
Back to Duty
K17: Both good and bad practice, with the ability to deliver constructive feedback.
Back to Duty
K18: Photographic, video and specialist imaging equipment and techniques.
Back to Duty
K19: Post production imaging software techniques.
Back to Duty
K20: How images are captured and appropriately shared and stored.
Back to Duty
K21: Service management and the principles of service improvement.
Back to Duty
K22: Current trends in relevant legislation, the profession and the wider healthcare service and how to use evidence-based practice in daily work.
Back to Duty
K23: Different research methodologies and how to critically analyse research.
Back to Duty
K24: Cyber security relevant to the clinical photography service.
Back to Duty
K25: The application of different photographic, video and imaging procedures and techniques including standard representational photography relevant to a broad range of clinical conditions and settings. This includes clinical work such as ophthalmology, dermatology, dental, surgical and non-clinical such as public relations /corporate.
Back to Duty
K26: Specific legislation relating to safeguarding policies and practices, (adults and paediatrics).
Back to Duty
K27: Multi-disciplinary team structures and multi-agency working e.g. non-accidental injuries (NAI), police, coroner, social workers and solicitors.
Back to Duty
K28: Photographic and imaging processes, procedure and adherence to protocols in relation to clinical trials.
Back to Duty
K29: The theory of the audit cycle, including quality control methods, analysis of results and how to take appropriate action.
Back to Duty
S1: Manage time and resources and prioritise workload according to clinical needs.
Back to Duty
S2: Build and sustain professional relationships and work independently, as part of the clinical photography team, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing supervision as appropriate.
Back to Duty
S3: Communicate appropriately with patients, their families, carers and clinical staff at all levels when exercising the duties.
Back to Duty
S4: Collate and record information from different sources and critically evaluate that information to make a logical, informed decision, and communicate decisions appropriately and in a timely way.
Back to Duty
S5: Analyse and critically assess a clinical or professional situation and respond accordingly, raising concerns as appropriate.
Back to Duty
S6: Analyse results of audits and quality control, present findings and take appropriate action.
Back to Duty
S7: Use professional photographic and video techniques and adapting as required to each clinical situation. For example selects and operates a range of equipment, maintains patient dignity and comfort, communicates with patients and colleagues to ensure the safe movement of patients into imaging position.
Back to Duty
S8: Recognise normal and abnormal image appearances and use critical judgement when to act upon them.
Back to Duty
S9: Assess image standards technically against national guidelines and local protocols, in terms of both image capture and patient positioning.
Back to Duty
S10: Respect and maintain patient privacy and dignity at all times in all environments, including emergency situations.
Back to Duty
S11: Maintain accurate and confidential patient records, paper and/or electronic as appropriate.
Back to Duty
S12: Maintain data protection and patient confidentiality in clinical photography practice and complete relevant documentation.
Back to Duty
S13: Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff, patients and members of the public, e.g. correct selection of PPE when on wards, in theatre or any other clinical situation.
Back to Duty
S14: Work in accordance with local and national legislation, policies and procedures, the professional and regulatory codes of conduct and within scope of practice.
Back to Duty
S15: Supervise, facilitate learning, motivate and share good practice with others.
Back to Duty
S16: Use Quality Assurance methods to analyse and interpret results and act upon them in a safe manner.
Back to Duty
S17: Read and critically analyse research articles and relevant legislation and apply research findings to practice.
Back to Duty
S18: Select and use post production software techniques in order to deliver high quality clinical photographic and video records and manage workflow. E.g. make adjustments to the exposure or contrast of the image to improve clinical value while maintaining the integrity of the image.
Back to Duty
S19: Use image storing and delivery systems to ensure images are appropriately and securely shared and stored e.g. various access levels for image database in accordance with consent levels and data protection. Analyse and critically assess different image storage and delivery systems and contribute to the procurement of a solution, ensuring that it adheres to Data Protection, GDPR, and IT security.
Back to Duty
S20: Contribute to continuous improvement of service and personal practice through reflection and adaptation.
Back to Duty
S21: Critically evaluate and employ current trends in the profession and wider healthcare environment.
Back to Duty
S22: Apply different photographic, video and imaging procedures and techniques relevant to a broad range of clinical conditions and settings, (including standard representational photography, dermoscopy, UV/IR as appropriate).
Back to Duty
S23: Provide photographic/video evidence to standards appropriate for safeguarding purposes to support the multi-agency and multi-disciplinary work.
Back to Duty
S24: Adapt techniques in order to adhere to clinical trials protocols.
Back to Duty
S25: Demonstrate emotional intelligence, critical thinking, independent decision-making skills, problem solving skills and professional judgement.
Back to Duty
B1: Empathy, compassion and underpinning emotional resilience.
Back to Duty
B2: Confident, flexible and adaptable within own scope of practice.
Back to Duty
B3: Be a reflective practitioner.
Back to Duty
B4: Act with their code of conduct, honesty, integrity and respect in all interactions, including when direct physical contact is needed, obtaining the appropriate consent.
Back to Duty
B5: Reflect on own impact on others, take responsibility and be accountable for own actions. Sensitively challenge others and raise issues when appropriate.
Back to Duty
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
7
24
Crown copyright © 2024. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence