Fetal Medicine Midwife Sonographer

Job responsibilities

Job PurposeThe post holder will be responsible for providing the midwifery leadership for the local level 2, fetal medicine service.

The post holder will undertake fetal medicine clinics independently.

The post holder will work within standards set regionally, nationally and by the Trust.

The post holder will be innovative in leading change to ensure best practice initiatives are achieved and will take an active part in improvement of the fetal medicine service.

The post holder will undertake a wide and comprehensive range of obstetric ultrasound examinations in accordance with the protocols and guidelines set out by the Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme, Public Health England, RCOG and BMUS. This will include early pregnancy, 1st trimester screening, 2nd trimester anomaly scans, 3rd trimester growth, Doppler, LV, placental localisation and presentation scans. In addition, scans for multiple pregnancy, fetal echocardiography, TVUSS for cervical length and IUD confirmation may be required.

The Fetal Medicine Lead Midwife will independently deliver care and perform specialist fetal medicine scans. This will include a verbal and written explanation of the findings, a written plan of care, with specialist advice and counselling given as appropriate.

Professional and Clinical LeadershipWork as an independent, autonomous and expert clinical practitioner within the specialist area of fetal medicine obstetric ultrasound, with responsibility for the day-to-day organisation and associated duties of leading this service.

Independently produce comprehensive reports using Viewpoint, which provides information regarding the diagnosis, follow-up and recommendations to assist the referring clinician with the ongoing plan of care.

Provide specialist information by performing, interpreting and reporting examinations as per departmental protocols to ensure that reports are generated promptly and that any urgent findings are acted upon in the patients best interest e.g. recorded in the healthcare records or verbally relayed to the referring clinician, the local or regional team.

Ensure that appropriate images are archived as per FASP Anomaly Screening Programme recommendations and local Trust and fetal medicine requirements.

Be responsible for counselling women, undertaking screening and diagnostic testing and informing women of these findings and producing an individualised plan of care, the plan will include how they will get their results and of any follow-up arrangements.

Sensitively break bad news 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.

Assist with invasive procedures and management of complex cases as required, consulting with clinicians to ensure that appropriate follow up investigations are made.

To promote a positive attitude for the profession and the Trust within which you are working.

To maintain a professional attitude at all times, developing the role of the Midwife in the best interest of the patient and professional in accordance with the NMC Code.

Advise the directorate on service improvements related to fetal medicine to ensure the provision of best practice, in line with the latest national recommendations.

Provide clinical leadership which inspires and motivates others.

To be responsible for the workflow ensuring that clinical requests are acted upon within the recognised timescales as per local and national protocols. Ensure booking of appointments, organisation of lists are completed and liaise with staff regarding emergency referrals and queries.

To assess ergonomics constantly, ensuring the best posture, pressure, techniques, equipment position, height to avoid and minimise the risk of repetitive strain injury disorder.

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

To provide cover in the absence of the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Lead.

To participate in the selection, interviewing and induction of new members of staff.

To be involved in manpower requirements in line with identified service development.

Education & DevelopmentLead training for the multi-disciplinary team, develop and deliver training packages to move the service forward in line with the latest national recommendations and guidelines such as FASP, SBLs, RCOG, BMUS and NICE.

To be conversant and comply with Trust Policies and regulations, and attend compulsory lectures as instructed.

Provide supervision, support and education to registered and non- registered staff working in the team

Work collaboratively with other professional groups to maximise development opportunities and inter-professional learning opportunities.

Maximise opportunities to share good practices and innovations with colleagues locally and nationally.

Contribute to the development of a learning organisation, alerting the appropriate parties to resource issues which may affect this.

Identify own training and professional development needs to maintain clinical credibility.

Influence and nurture positive attitudes and behaviours within the teams and wider multidisciplinary team.

Report to the directorate management team any information received from other external agencies in relation to national maternity standards.

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

To identify areas for improvement and work with the Practice Development Team to ensure emerging themes are incorporated into clinical practice.

Provide professional support to other members of the MDT.

To develop good working relationships with other ward, departments, agencies within and outside the Trust, ensuring that all stakeholders understand, respect and recognise the Trusts values and operational policies

To provide effective direction and support to the other members of the team by communication and role model example.

To maintain effective channels of communication within the Trust and LMNS.

Research and Practice Development

Promote research/evidence based practice and audit outcomes to inform clinical practice and set clinical standards.

Instigate or contribute to research initiatives and clinical audit programmes as appropriate.

To understand new healthcare-related developments ensuring that midwifery practice is evidence - based, cost - effective and regularly benchmarked against best practice

To understand all national initiatives and assist in their implementation and there-by positively influence patient care and service delivery.

To be aware of and support local research projects as applicable.

To review audit reports.

Clinical Governance

Working with operational and professional colleagues, champion a culture of continuous improvement. Monitor care standards and act on the information

Develop a working environment and culture that actively improves health, safety and security

Take appropriate steps to ensure that a safe environment is maintained for patients, staff and visitors within the area of responsibility by producing risk assessments and action plans for any hazards in the environment

Ensure that all untoward incidents and near misses are reported by staff within the area of responsibility in accordance with the Trust policy, and that appropriate mechanisms are put in place to investigate serious clinicalincidents under the direction and guidance of the Risk Management Department, following which appropriate action plans are developed and monitored, and lessons are learned and disseminated

To make the Director of Midwifery/ Directorate Manager aware of all hazards/unsafe practices and ensure all accidents/untoward incidents are reported in accordance with the laid down procedures.

Support the implementation of the Quality Strategy within your defined area of responsibility working in close collaboration with the Clinical Governance Team to ensure there is openness, accountability and probity

Challenge traditional practice, ensuring that best practice is identified and shared Trust-wide enabling awareness of the need to change practice and provide evidence-based care in the workplace

Ensure that all Trust policies and procedures are implemented within the area of responsibility and followed by all staff and regularly audited.

Promote a research culture, which enables staff to take a questioning approach to their practice and support nursing research

Support the development of a learning culture and ensure appropriate nursing audit mechanisms are in place, in order to compile evidence to support any changes in practice require

Promote peoples equality, diversity and rights

Management

To lead and take active part in and promote Quality Assurance within the department.

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

To be responsible and actively lead the development of protocols and quality standards for working practices within the ultrasound service.

To perform Medical/Clinical Audit of examinations, quality assurance image review.

To lead KPI data collection, monitoring and submission within set deadlines

To inform and discuss with the Director of Midwifery /Directorate Manager of any service concerns that may impact on safety or quality of the fetal medicine service.

To ensure effective two-way communication with all disciplines so that patients receive optimum care.

To maintain accurate records relating to all aspects of role.

To ensure the safe and effective use of all equipment and the economic use of supplies, recommending replacement of equipment and maintenance of that equipment in collaboration with the directorate management team.

Experience

Essential

• Experience in performing the full range of obstetric ultrasound examinations independently
• Experience of counselling and sharing complex clinical information with families
• Experience in managing and follow up of complicated obstetric cases, involving scan examinations
• Experience in teaching and development of education resources for new service implementation
• Demonstrate a high level of expertise in fetal medicine.
• Experience in leading in service and policy change
• Evidence of ability to implement national initiatives at local level
• Evidence of involvement in safeguarding / risk management case reviews
• Evidence of change management

Desirable

• Support with invasive procedures

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Highly developed leadership skills
• Advanced decision making and analytical skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Keen to develop further skills and knowledge in the fetal medicine

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Post graduate Certificate in Medical Ultrasound (PgCert) approved and validated by a Higher Institute of education and accredited by the
• Consortium for Sonographic Education (CASE)
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Evidence of leadership training / skills
• Education in communication of bad/unexpected news
• Clinical mentor and assessor for students undergoing scanning courses

Desirable

• Quality Improvement training

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Up to date knowledge of current issues relating to maternity services
• Able to demonstrate a research / evidence based approach to care
• Knowledge of clinical governance
• Report writing skills
• Evidence of involvement in clinical audit programmes

Desirable

• Familiarity with the Viewpoint reporting system
• Development of practice guidelines
• Knowledge of Datix incident reporting system

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Liaise with/attend regional meetings with Public Health England, FASP QA team and DQASS team to ensure quality assurance and latest national changes to the service are implemented and managed within timely manner
• Flexibility to be able to step in and perform scanning clinical duties at short notice
• Cross county work/travel

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).