Department
Sussex Community Dermatology Service (SCDS)
Reports To
Clinical Service Manager
Professionally Accountable To
Chief Nursing Officer / Clinical Lead Teledermatology
Location
Across Sussex/Surrey and Kent – Hybrid role
Contract Type
Permanent
Job Summary
The post holder will lead the delivery of a high-quality clinical photography service in support of the Sussex Community Dermatology Service (SCDS). The role will provide specialist dermatology photography across inflammatory skin disease, skin lesions, surgical dermatology, and teledermatology pathways, ensuring images are diagnostic in quality, standardised, and suitable for remote clinical assessment.
The post holder will develop and maintain photographic protocols, deliver staff education, undertake quality assurance, support clinical governance arrangements, and maintain competency frameworks to ensure the service meets relevant national standards. The role will also support the delivery of British Association for Dermatology teledermatology standards by promoting high-quality imaging, staff competency, and continuous service improvement.
The post holder will provide line management to healthcare workers involved in teledermatography, ensuring that competency assessment, appraisal, supervision, and performance development are undertaken in line with organisational requirements.
Key Relationships
- Clinical Service Manager.
- Chief Nursing Officer.
- Clinical Lead Teledermatology.
- Dermatology consultants.
- Community nursing teams.
- Healthcare assistants.
- Nursing associates.
- General practice colleagues.
- Information governance team.
- Clinical governance team.
- Administrative and booking teams.
- Procurement and equipment suppliers.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Photography
The post holder will undertake specialist clinical photography for patients presenting with:
- Pigmented lesions.
- Skin cancer pathways.
- General inflammatory dermatoses.
- Psoriasis.
- Eczema.
- Acne.
- Leg ulcers.
- Surgical wounds.
- Phototherapy monitoring.
- Treatment response monitoring.
The post holder will produce consistent, reproducible images suitable for longitudinal comparison, multidisciplinary review, and remote diagnosis, in accordance with agreed protocols and professional guidance.imi+1
Dermoscopy
The post holder will perform:
- Polarised dermoscopy.
- Non-polarised dermoscopy.
- Contact dermoscopy.
- Non-contact dermoscopy.
Images captured will be of sufficient quality to support consultant review and teledermatology assessment.
Teledermatology
The post holder will support the delivery of all SCDS teledermatology pathways by:
- Photographing patients referred via community pathways.
- Ensuring images meet required quality standards.
- Uploading images securely to the patient record.
- Supporting AI-enabled pathways where implemented.
- Maintaining consistent photographic standards across the service.
Education and Training
The post holder will lead education programmes for:
- Healthcare Assistants.
- Nurses.
- Nursing Associates.
- General Practice staff, where appropriate.
- Medical staff.
Training will cover:
- Clinical photography.
- Teledermatology imaging.
- Photography of inflammatory skin conditions.
- Lesion photography.
- Skin of colour.
- Polarised and non-polarised dermoscopy.
- Lighting and patient positioning.
- Consent.
- Image governance.
- Information governance.
The post holder will develop, implement, and review competency frameworks for staff undertaking clinical photography.
Quality Assurance
The post holder will lead quality assurance activity, including:
- Auditing image quality.
- Reviewing rejected teledermatology referrals due to poor-quality imaging.
- Developing and implementing improvement plans.
- Supporting incident investigations relating to imaging.
- Undertaking peer review activity.
Service Development
The post holder will develop and maintain:
- Clinical photography SOPs.
- Teledermatology imaging protocols.
- Photography competency documentation.
- Clinical governance reports.
The post holder will support the implementation of British Association of Dermatology and IMI recommendations into local practice.imi+2
Clinical Governance
The post holder will ensure compliance with relevant policies, standards, and guidance, including:
- British Association of Dermatology teledermatology standards.
- Institute of Medical Illustrators national guidance.
- NHS information governance requirements.
- UK GDPR.
- Clinical photography standards.
- Infection prevention and control policies.
Equipment and Resources
The post holder will oversee the management of equipment and resources used for clinical photography, including:
- DSLR cameras.
- Dermatoscopes.
- Lighting systems.
- Background systems.
- Studio equipment.
Responsibilities will include calibration, maintenance, stock control, and advising on future procurement requirements.
Audit and Evaluation
The post holder will lead audit activity relating to:
- Image quality.
- Teledermatology outcomes.
- Repeat photography rates.
- Non-diagnostic referrals.
- Staff competency compliance.
- Training completion.
Leadership and Line Management
The post holder will provide line management to healthcare workers involved in teledermatography, ensuring competency assessment, appraisal, supervision, and performance development are completed effectively and in line with organisational requirements.
The post holder will assess competency, provide ongoing support, and ensure annual refresher training is developed and delivered.
Communication and Relationships
The post holder will communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders across community and specialist services. This will include advising clinicians and colleagues on imaging standards, teledermatology workflows, consent, image governance, and information governance.
The role will require the ability to present complex information clearly and professionally, and to build productive working relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
Analytical and Judgement Skills
The post holder will assess the suitability of clinical images for diagnostic and review purposes, exercising specialist judgement in relation to image quality, technical standards, and clinical relevance. The role requires the ability to interpret service data, identify trends, and develop improvement actions based on audit findings and service need.
The post holder will be expected to make informed decisions regarding photographic technique, image selection, escalation of concerns, and prioritisation of service development activity.
Planning and Organisational Skills
The post holder will coordinate the delivery of the clinical photography service, including clinic activity, staff training, audit programmes, competency assessment, and quality assurance work. The role requires the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain service continuity while supporting service improvement and workforce development.
The post holder will contribute to forward planning for teledermatology pathways, equipment needs, and training requirements.
Physical Skills
The role requires highly developed practical photography skills, including the use of specialist imaging equipment, dermatoscopes, lighting systems, and clinical photography software. The post holder must be able to work accurately in a clinical environment and produce high-quality images consistently.
Responsibility for Patient Care
The post holder will contribute to safe, effective, and patient-centred care by ensuring that clinical images are taken respectfully, appropriately, and to a high standard. The role includes ensuring informed consent is obtained in line with policy and that patients are treated with dignity and professionalism at all times.
Responsibility for Policy and Service Development
The post holder will contribute to the development, implementation, and review of local policies, standard operating procedures, and service pathways relevant to clinical photography and teledermatology. The role will support continuous service improvement and ensure practice remains aligned with national standards and organisational governance requirements.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
The post holder will be responsible for the appropriate use and oversight of clinical photography equipment and resources. This will include monitoring equipment condition, reporting faults, supporting procurement discussions, and ensuring efficient use of consumables and photographic stock.
Responsibility for Human Resources
The post holder will provide line management to healthcare workers involved in teledermatography. This will include competency assessment, appraisal, supervision, attendance management where required, and performance development in line with organisational policy.
Responsibility for Information Resources
The post holder will ensure that images are stored, transferred, and uploaded securely in line with information governance and data protection requirements. The role will also involve maintaining accurate records relating to image capture, training, competencies, audit, and quality assurance.
Responsibility for Research and Development
The post holder will support audit, evaluation, and service improvement activity within the clinical photography and teledermatology service. This may include evaluating new imaging processes, contributing to pathway redesign, and supporting implementation of emerging technologies such as AI-enabled pathways where appropriate.
Freedom to Act
The post holder will work with a high degree of professional autonomy within agreed policies and procedures. The role requires the application of specialist knowledge and judgement to manage day-to-day clinical photography activity, while escalating concerns or risks appropriately.
Physical Effort
The role requires regular use of specialist photographic equipment and the ability to maintain stable positioning during clinical imaging. The post holder may be required to stand, lean, or maintain awkward positions for periods of time when obtaining images, and to handle and transport equipment as required.
Mental Effort
The role requires sustained concentration, the ability to work accurately under pressure, and frequent switching between clinical, educational, and service development tasks. The post holder will need to maintain attention to detail when assessing image quality, reviewing audit data, and supporting staff competency.
Emotional Effort
The role may involve working with patients who have distressing or complex dermatological conditions, including suspected skin cancer or visible skin disease. The post holder may also be exposed to the emotional impact of clinical concern, patient anxiety, and service-related escalations.
Working Conditions
The post holder may be required to work in a range of clinical environments and sites across the Sussex/Surrey and Kent area, including outpatient clinics, community settings, and treatment areas. The role may involve exposure to body fluids, clinical waste, infection risk, and prolonged use of display screen equipment.
Safeguarding
The post holder is required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk in accordance with organisational safeguarding policies and procedures.
Equality and Diversity
The post holder is expected to act in ways that support equality, diversity, and inclusion, and to treat colleagues and patients with dignity and respect at all times.
Key Performance Indicators
- 95% or more of images graded as diagnostic quality.
- Reduction in repeat photography requests.
- Annual competency assessment completed for all staff undertaking imaging.
- Quarterly image quality audit completed.
- Annual photography training programme delivered.
- Compliance with British Association of Dermatology teledermatology standards.
- Positive clinician feedback regarding image quality.
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications
- Degree in Clinical Photography, Medical Illustration, or Photography with postgraduate qualification in Clinical Photography or Medical Illustration, or equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Experience
- Dermatology clinical photography.
- Dermoscopy imaging.
- Teledermatology.
- Teaching healthcare staff.
- Clinical audit.
- Quality improvement.
Knowledge
- Dermatology.
- Skin lesions.
- Inflammatory skin disease.
- Skin of colour.
- Polarised and non-polarised dermoscopy.
- Clinical governance.
- Consent.
- Information governance.
- Medical photography.
- Teledermatology standards.
Skills
- Excellent communication.
- Strong photography skills.
- Teaching ability.
- Organisation.
- Leadership.
- Attention to detail.
- IT skills.
Desirable
- IMI membership.
- Academy for Healthcare Science registration.
- Experience of leading teledermatology services.
- Experience developing competency frameworks.
- Experience teaching multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience with AI-supported teledermatology pathways.
Pay: Up to £51,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
