Trainee Sonographer

Job description

Job responsibilities

**THIS VACANCY IS ONLY OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS FROM WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST**

To undertake a range of ultrasound examinations initially under direct supervision but increasing responsibility to independent practice after a period of assessment, consolidation, audit, and review by the Lead Sonographers

Initial training in Obstetric USS for Year 1 until student achieves Pg Cert

Progression to further training in general abdominal & gynae USS, including Pg Dip, is dependent upon service need and student aptitude

Must we able and willing to travel to different county sites to ensure syllabus requirements are fulfilled

Ensure attendance as prescribed by University

Submit coursework & undertake exams as per course requirements

Proactive completion of log books and assessments as course dictates

Ensure regular meeting with allocated mentor to review progress

Ensure difficulties or issues with course are communicated to USS dept and or University in a timely fashion to aid prompt resolution

Initially in association with a supervising sonographer to provide specialist information by performing, interpreting and reporting examinations as per departmental protocols Ensuring that reports are generated promptly, based upon clinical history provided, information from the patient and scan the appearances, and that any urgent findings are acted upon in the patients best interest eg recorded into patients notes or verbally relayed to the referring clinician

To ensure that examination reports are made available on the Radiology Information System, mainly by voice recognition or inputting directly if appropriate

To be responsible for consulting with sonographers or clinicians to ensure that appropriate follow up investigations are made

To inform patients of their scan results when appropriate, imparting bad news eg foetal death or abnormality in a sensitive and empathetic way and to provide help and support to colleagues with respect to this

To assess the patients physical and psychological suitability for transvaginal ultrasound before deciding to proceed with the examination

To be responsible for the workflow within the area of work ensuring that clinical requests are acted upon as appropriate (ensuring that any urgent requests/examinations are flagged up and acted upon in the patients best interest) and that a good throughput of patient examinations is achieved

To be available to advise on the booking of appointments, advise on examination preparation and liaise with staff regarding emergency referrals and queries

To assist and provide clinical support to other sonographers and other staff eg midwife scanning clinics with technical or other problems that may arise

To work as a Sonographer to a high professional standard and to provide assistance and guidance to others, mainly to helpers, students and assistant practitioners in order to maintain these standards This standard must be that set by the Directorate regarding quality and protocols

Supervise and assist other appropriate personnel to perform their duties as and when required

To care for the patients in the department especially in their own area of work. To communicate to patients any delays likely to affect them, and within the standards set by the HCPC to describe examination findings, if appropriate

Checking patients details prior to examination and ensuring that such details are present and correct on the request form or computer. Requests must be justified, as per departmental protocol A Sonographer must use their professional judgement to refuse inappropriate requests

Ensuring that all images are properly identified with patients name, side examined, date of examination and coded if appropriate

To enter information of the examination into the Radiology Computer System

Ensuring that, on completion of examination, the patient is informed how they will get their results and that they may leave and arrangements are made for transport if necessary

To be responsible for own workflow within the designated area ensuring that clinical requests are acted upon as appropriate and that a good throughput of patient examinations is achieved

Have a flexible attitude towards the hours of work and participate in work and duties as required relevant to the directorate

To maintain and ensure others maintain a safe, clean and tidy environment and that adequate stock are available within the ultrasound rooms

To take appropriate action to ensure the safety of patients, self and others, reporting any accidents/incidents to the Lead sonographer

To attend service meetings as appropriate

To maintain knowledge of technical and clinical developments within the field of the service and to be involved with such persons as appropriate in the implementation of such developments

To attend professional training/development courses as appropriate and providing feedback that would benefit or enhance the service

To liaise with the Lead sonographer(s) when appropriate

The practical portfolio/log book must be proactively completed and performed work audited

To participate in and promote Quality assurance within the department

To undertake any required Quality Control on the equipment within that area

To contribute to the development of protocols and quality standards for working practices within the ultrasound service

To participate in Medical/Clinical Audit of examinations

To work as a Student Sonographer under direct or indirect supervision for the period of training

To contribute to and participate in PDR and work to achieve agreed set objective

To be aware of personal professional development and to maintain a portfolio to show evidence of this

To participate in the training of others including placement and supervision of new staff/students and to contribute to staff training needs with regard to induction, orientation and continuous education of staff, as appropriate

To maintain a professional attitude at all times, maintaining and developing the role of the profession in the spirit of the standards set down within the HCPC Code of Conduct

To be responsible for maintaining membership of relevant professional body and be able to provide evidence of indemnity cover

To liaise with other disciplines in the Trust and to foster good communications within the department and the hospital

To ensure that all Trust, Unit and Directorate policies relating to Health and Safety, COSHH and Security policies are understood and observed in the department. To attend compulsory training as instructed

Ensure that all apparatus and equipment is working satisfactorily and safely and that any malfunction is reported to the Lead Sonographer

Any unreasonable delay in repair is brought to the attention of the Lead Sonographer

Any fault occurring on equipment is entered into the relevant logbook

Assist the Lead Sonographer in keeping appropriate documentation for equipment within the area

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Person Specification

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Highly motivated and able to motivate others
• Interest in teaching others
• Flexible attitude to departmental duties
• Ability to work within a team

Desirable

• Ability to identify personal development needs
• Responds well to change and innovation

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 2 years post graduate experience in a clinical specialty.
• Evidence of recent time spent shadowing within ultrasound For example shadowing or work experience Please give dates and brief feedback on session content.
• Evidence of extensive and ongoing CPD relating to ultrasound. Portfolio will be assessed at interview.

Qualifications

Essential

• First degree (2:2 or above) in Radiography, nursing or midwifery which meets admission criteria of the University course
• State registration with HCPC or equivalent nursing/midwifery regulatory body

Desirable

• Teaching experience

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)