Job summary
The Ultrasound superintendent sonographer will be someone who is keen to be part of an imaging service with a difference. Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust's (CWHFT) imaging directorate is going through a period of transformational change where innovation is at the forefront of what we do.
We have a culture which fosters innovation and supports new ideas whilst also ensuring our people are well supported so that they have high rates of employee satisfaction and are professionally developingto be the leaders of tomorrow. Being one of only a handful of Trusts in London to secure Quality Standards in Imaging (QSI) accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), we are keen to maintain the highest quality standards, and drive quality improvement (QI).
The post holder is responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of the US department, working closely with the Clinical Imaging Head of Imaging and superintendent team.
The US superintendent on the CW site will take on an additional leadership role in Patient Safety, working closely with the Clinical Governance divisional director. The role will include supporting the divisional director in delivering the governance requirements of the division, implementing new processes and procedures across the division, reviewing incidents and patient safety concerns, acting as the lead AHP for the division, ensuring where improvements can be made they are.
Main duties of the job
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.
We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that arePROUD to Carefor nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We're one of the safest and best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff say they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection..
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing around £10 million a year in our estate. We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe that diversity drives innovation and excellence. As part of our dedication to equity, we actively welcome applications from individuals from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diverse teams bring and are committed to creating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to succeed."
If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities- Act as a point of contact for users of the service dealing with colleagues, patients, carers and relatives in a helpful reassuring, empathetic and friendly manner. - Have a key interest in both Radiology and O&G ultrasound services - Liaise with service users from other departments to maintain service delivery at times of disruption due to equipment failure or increased demand.- Coherently and succinctly present to staff both within, and external to, the department.- Provide professional and managerial support to, and work closely with the superintendent team and head of Imaging, manager cross site.- Deal with highly complex, sensitive or emotional situations e.g., terminal illness, distraught relatives or situations of conflict etc.- Respond to complaints and implement remedial actions to prevent recurrence.- Ensure procedures are in place for effectively communicating messages to staff.- Expedite the reporting of images that could urgently affect patient management.- Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move to a resolution.- Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.- Maintain an expert level of understanding on all professional developments within their sphere of leadership.- Organise, develop and maintain in-house training of junior radiographic staff, new starters and sonography students.- Undertake clinical sonographer duties efficiently and to the highest possible standards.- Specialist knowledge of anatomy and physiology required to best demonstrate a range of pathologies and conditions.- Specialist knowledge of the needs of patient groups such as paediatrics and vulnerable adults.- Reporting of images produced by themselves or other staff, and liaise with appropriate staff members when critical or unexpected findings need to be urgently escalated.- Deliver practical training of radiographic staff and student Sonographers. - Support preceptorship pathway for newly qualified staff- Evaluation of imaging equipment as required by Trusts Procurement Department and Management team, providing detailed analysis and recommendations.- Manage risk assessments, incidents (Datix) and any complaints in area of leadership to ensure the service is as safe and high-quality as possible.- Day to day organisation of staff and workload to provide effective and efficient service.- Ensure the delivery and monitoring of an efficient and effective service and to recommend any changes necessary to achieve exceptional levels of service performance.- Ensure safe operation of local imaging equipment and monitor engineers working in their area.- To report and record all equipment faults and ensure that all equipment records are up to date and available for inspection in line with Trust and Department requirements.- To contribute to the preparation of modality specific business plans.- Implement a robust but adaptable reporting Sonographer programme for the department, including future requirements.- Comply with, and be able to demonstrate and instruct, safe manual handling techniques.- Manipulate complex machinery with speed and accuracy in routine and emergency conditions.- Maintain high professional standards of clinical skill and patient care.- Work with the Clinical Imaging management team to identify improvements within their area keeping the needs of the patient central as per departmental/Trust philosophy.- Work as part of the Clinical Imaging management team in ensuring that all national programmes involved in improving patient care and the patient environment are implemented.- Ensure that patient environments are fit for purpose and compliant with national and Trust policies for information governance.- Provide advice to patients with regards to their referral as required.- Confidently and competently protocol imaging requests in area of expertise.- Act as source of advice in the request and selection of most appropriate imaging based on clinical information and department protocol.- Demonstrate a proactive leadership approach to patient safety- Demonstrate a proactive approach to quality improvement (QI), actively supporting and driving innovation in the imaging service.- Participate in and implement recommendations from clinical audit. - Responsible for and development of reporting Sonographers audit process to ensure it is safe, robust and fit for purpose.- Ensure that all IR (ME)R, IRR and any other legislative guidelines and agreed Local Rules are adhered to and updated as required and to ensure Trust and staff compliance.- Ensure that a modality specific quality assurance (QA) program is in operation.- Work with departmental staff, equipment suppliers and the radiation physics team to ensure that all equipment is safe and meets all required standards.- Ensure that the rules and procedures of the Health and Safety at Work Act are strictly adhered to, and that all working areas are kept clean and safe.- Manage risks associated with adverse incidents- Actively manage the delivery of a quality service within budgetary constraints with full oversight of income, spending and resource utilisation.- Responsible for the monitoring of all supplies / consumables and ensuring adequate stocks to meet service demands at all times.- Set and monitor standards of performance of the sonographer and associated technical staff.- Undertake annual staff performance development reviews, for staff whom the post holder has responsibility.- Plan staff shifts to ensure that staffing levels are adequate to meet service requirements at all times in all rooms they are responsible for.- Record and monitor of sickness and other absence of imaging staff as required. This also includes finding replacements and performing Return to Work interviews as required.- Monitor and coordinate annual leave and off duties and to ensure appropriate staffing levels are maintained.- Plan effective modality specific induction programs for all new staff and monitor these programs.- Ensure that Sonographers and healthcare assistants are competent to use the equipment and that the records are stored safely.- The post holder will be required to actively plan and participate in a periodic performance appraisal, in accordance with the Trust guidelines.- Ensure that their mandatory training, and the staff that they line manage, is up to date and to proactively plan and update training as required in line with Trust requirements.- Possess the skills required to operate highly complex software driven imaging equipment.- To act as a super-user of all modality equipment.- To coordinate and facilitate research activity as required.- To support and actively contribute to departmental research programs.- Work with the quality improvement team to implement improvement projects and changes in the department.- The post holder will demonstrate a high degree of clinical expertise and knowledge in sonography. They will act as point of reference to Imaging staff, referring clinicians and rest of hospital as required.- The post holder will suggest a diagnosis, advice on further imaging that may be required to support the team, radiologists and rest of Hospital as required.- Assist the Head of Imaging in the investigation of sometimes difficult and emotionally demanding complaints, incidents, accidents within their area.- Ability to deal with frequent interruptions in order to maintain service delivery.- Work with a range of patients and conditions. To communicate with patients and relatives in a professional and reassuring manner, especially in difficult or emotional circumstances.- Required to position, manoeuvre and transfer patients and equipment.- Frequent periods of moderate physical effort is required to transfer / manually handle elderly, infirm or bed ridden patients from chairs and beds.- Work effectively to provide optimum required level of service, with an unpredictable work load.- Strive to achieve competencies required to progress within their role and beyond.- Maintain a commitment to, and take responsibility for personal development utilising principles of Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The post holder is encouraged by the department to attend both personal and professional development activities that assist intheir role and the service.- Approach all situations with curiosity, interest and with the potential to innovate.- To demonstrate perspective taking when dealing with patients, customers and fellow staff alike so that all views are understood and considered.- Proactively demonstrate interest in developing oneself professionally by proposing QI projects, collecting data and presenting at inter/national conferences.- A passion for sonography and genuine desire to deliver a world-class service.- Flexible and adaptable to differing and complex situations.- A strategic mentality focussed on future needs of a service including an interest in the Trusts ambitious plans to develop a centre of diagnostic excellence.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Roles and responsibilities- Act as a point of contact for users of the service dealing with colleagues, patients, carers and relatives in a helpful reassuring, empathetic and friendly manner. - Have a key interest in both Radiology and O&G ultrasound services - Liaise with service users from other departments to maintain service delivery at times of disruption due to equipment failure or increased demand.- Coherently and succinctly present to staff both within, and external to, the department.- Provide professional and managerial support to, and work closely with the superintendent team and head of Imaging, manager cross site.- Deal with highly complex, sensitive or emotional situations e.g., terminal illness, distraught relatives or situations of conflict etc.- Respond to complaints and implement remedial actions to prevent recurrence.- Ensure procedures are in place for effectively communicating messages to staff.- Expedite the reporting of images that could urgently affect patient management.- Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move to a resolution.- Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.- Maintain an expert level of understanding on all professional developments within their sphere of leadership.- Organise, develop and maintain in-house training of junior radiographic staff, new starters and sonography students.- Undertake clinical sonographer duties efficiently and to the highest possible standards.- Specialist knowledge of anatomy and physiology required to best demonstrate a range of pathologies and conditions.- Specialist knowledge of the needs of patient groups such as paediatrics and vulnerable adults.- Reporting of images produced by themselves or other staff, and liaise with appropriate staff members when critical or unexpected findings need to be urgently escalated.- Deliver practical training of radiographic staff and student Sonographers. - Support preceptorship pathway for newly qualified staff- Evaluation of imaging equipment as required by Trusts Procurement Department and Management team, providing detailed analysis and recommendations.- Manage risk assessments, incidents (Datix) and any complaints in area of leadership to ensure the service is as safe and high-quality as possible.- Day to day organisation of staff and workload to provide effective and efficient service.- Ensure the delivery and monitoring of an efficient and effective service and to recommend any changes necessary to achieve exceptional levels of service performance.- Ensure safe operation of local imaging equipment and monitor engineers working in their area.- To report and record all equipment faults and ensure that all equipment records are up to date and available for inspection in line with Trust and Department requirements.- To contribute to the preparation of modality specific business plans.- Implement a robust but adaptable reporting Sonographer programme for the department, including future requirements.- Comply with, and be able to demonstrate and instruct, safe manual handling techniques.- Manipulate complex machinery with speed and accuracy in routine and emergency conditions.- Maintain high professional standards of clinical skill and patient care.- Work with the Clinical Imaging management team to identify improvements within their area keeping the needs of the patient central as per departmental/Trust philosophy.- Work as part of the Clinical Imaging management team in ensuring that all national programmes involved in improving patient care and the patient environment are implemented.- Ensure that patient environments are fit for purpose and compliant with national and Trust policies for information governance.- Provide advice to patients with regards to their referral as required.- Confidently and competently protocol imaging requests in area of expertise.- Act as source of advice in the request and selection of most appropriate imaging based on clinical information and department protocol.- Demonstrate a proactive leadership approach to patient safety- Demonstrate a proactive approach to quality improvement (QI), actively supporting and driving innovation in the imaging service.- Participate in and implement recommendations from clinical audit. - Responsible for and development of reporting Sonographers audit process to ensure it is safe, robust and fit for purpose.- Ensure that all IR (ME)R, IRR and any other legislative guidelines and agreed Local Rules are adhered to and updated as required and to ensure Trust and staff compliance.- Ensure that a modality specific quality assurance (QA) program is in operation.- Work with departmental staff, equipment suppliers and the radiation physics team to ensure that all equipment is safe and meets all required standards.- Ensure that the rules and procedures of the Health and Safety at Work Act are strictly adhered to, and that all working areas are kept clean and safe.- Manage risks associated with adverse incidents- Actively manage the delivery of a quality service within budgetary constraints with full oversight of income, spending and resource utilisation.- Responsible for the monitoring of all supplies / consumables and ensuring adequate stocks to meet service demands at all times.- Set and monitor standards of performance of the sonographer and associated technical staff.- Undertake annual staff performance development reviews, for staff whom the post holder has responsibility.- Plan staff shifts to ensure that staffing levels are adequate to meet service requirements at all times in all rooms they are responsible for.- Record and monitor of sickness and other absence of imaging staff as required. This also includes finding replacements and performing Return to Work interviews as required.- Monitor and coordinate annual leave and off duties and to ensure appropriate staffing levels are maintained.- Plan effective modality specific induction programs for all new staff and monitor these programs.- Ensure that Sonographers and healthcare assistants are competent to use the equipment and that the records are stored safely.- The post holder will be required to actively plan and participate in a periodic performance appraisal, in accordance with the Trust guidelines.- Ensure that their mandatory training, and the staff that they line manage, is up to date and to proactively plan and update training as required in line with Trust requirements.- Possess the skills required to operate highly complex software driven imaging equipment.- To act as a super-user of all modality equipment.- To coordinate and facilitate research activity as required.- To support and actively contribute to departmental research programs.- Work with the quality improvement team to implement improvement projects and changes in the department.- The post holder will demonstrate a high degree of clinical expertise and knowledge in sonography. They will act as point of reference to Imaging staff, referring clinicians and rest of hospital as required.- The post holder will suggest a diagnosis, advice on further imaging that may be required to support the team, radiologists and rest of Hospital as required.- Assist the Head of Imaging in the investigation of sometimes difficult and emotionally demanding complaints, incidents, accidents within their area.- Ability to deal with frequent interruptions in order to maintain service delivery.- Work with a range of patients and conditions. To communicate with patients and relatives in a professional and reassuring manner, especially in difficult or emotional circumstances.- Required to position, manoeuvre and transfer patients and equipment.- Frequent periods of moderate physical effort is required to transfer / manually handle elderly, infirm or bed ridden patients from chairs and beds.- Work effectively to provide optimum required level of service, with an unpredictable work load.- Strive to achieve competencies required to progress within their role and beyond.- Maintain a commitment to, and take responsibility for personal development utilising principles of Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The post holder is encouraged by the department to attend both personal and professional development activities that assist intheir role and the service.- Approach all situations with curiosity, interest and with the potential to innovate.- To demonstrate perspective taking when dealing with patients, customers and fellow staff alike so that all views are understood and considered.- Proactively demonstrate interest in developing oneself professionally by proposing QI projects, collecting data and presenting at inter/national conferences.- A passion for sonography and genuine desire to deliver a world-class service.- Flexible and adaptable to differing and complex situations.- A strategic mentality focussed on future needs of a service including an interest in the Trusts ambitious plans to develop a centre of diagnostic excellence.
Person Specification
Education / Qualification
Essential
- GuidanceScore PgD in Medical Ultrasound or DMU
- Evidence of CPD
- Specialised training in additional skill sets ie. MSK/ Vascular
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years experience working as Sonographer
- Experience in leadership role (supervising/leading ultrasound teams)
- Previous involvement in improvement projects
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Able to work under own initiative
- Able to work under pressure and agile environment
- Ability to make decisions
- Organisational skills to support change management
- Able to communicate effectively with patients, relatives and multi- disciplinary team
- Willingness to teach, train and assess
- Ability to undertake primary diagnosis from acquired images
Person Specification
Education / Qualification
Essential
- GuidanceScore PgD in Medical Ultrasound or DMU
- Evidence of CPD
- Specialised training in additional skill sets ie. MSK/ Vascular
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years experience working as Sonographer
- Experience in leadership role (supervising/leading ultrasound teams)
- Previous involvement in improvement projects
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Able to work under own initiative
- Able to work under pressure and agile environment
- Ability to make decisions
- Organisational skills to support change management
- Able to communicate effectively with patients, relatives and multi- disciplinary team
- Willingness to teach, train and assess
- Ability to undertake primary diagnosis from acquired images
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).