Job summary
We are looking for a dedicated Lead Sonographer for Maternity Services to join our forward-thinking team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
As the Lead Sonographer, you will be at the forefront of our maternity ultrasound service, providing expert clinical leadership, supporting the development of the team, and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care aligned with NHS values.
The successful candidate will have significant experience in obstetric scanning, have proven leadership experience as well as excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
Here at WAHT, we offer a supportive and inclusive working environment with opportunities for professional development and further training.
Main duties of the job
You will:
Lead and manage the maternity ultrasound team on a day-to-day basis.
Oversee the delivery of high-quality obstetric scans in accordance with national guidelines (e.g., FASP, NICE).
Collaborate with obstetricians, midwives, radiologists, and other multidisciplinary colleagues.
Ensure robust clinical governance, participate in audit and service improvement initiatives.
Support workforce planning, training, and the development of junior staff and student sonographers.
Maintain accurate records and promote best practice in documentation and patient safety.
Improving
Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:
As
part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action
is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+
candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview
Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person
specification for this role.
Applicants
will be prompted in the application form to declare if they wish to be
considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and their response
would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.
If
you have any queries about expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please contact
Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) in confidence via email
robert.saunders1@nhs.net.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large
acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute
services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a
larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from
three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our
caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred
care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to
work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our
everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are proud to have achieved Timewise
accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working
within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a
DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check
(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting
Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a high quality, efficient,
responsive, safe evidence based maternity ultrasound service.
The post holder will work within
Trust regional and national standards and lead change to ensure the best
practice initiatives, underpinned by the national maternity improvement
programme. The national maternity agenda provides the basis for this service to
achieve better outcomes for mothers and babies. The post holder will be
responsible for the professional leadership and line management of all midwife sonographers
working within the service.
The post holder will work as a
specialised sonographer demonstrating a high level of clinical competence and
understanding across a wide range of examinations, including a variety of
complex clinical presentations. They will provide clinical advice to less
experienced sonographers and other staff groups demonstrating an expert
knowledge with advanced decision-making skills. They will be able to
demonstrate a high level of technical expertise whilst maintaining a high
standard of patient care.
They will be responsible for
developing & implementing departmental clinical & procedural protocols
and policies in consultation with the relevant consultants and senior managers.
They will lead on the clinical governance and risk management programme for
ultrasound
department. The post holder will
undertake regular quality assurance scan image reviews for all midwife
sonographers and putting plans in place to ensure that the service is safe and
effective.
They will be integral to the development and implementation
of failsafe processes within the maternity USS department to improve and
prevent future clinical incidents as well as ensuring that the equipment across all maternity departments is maintained and repairs
are completed in a timely fashion.
The successful candidate will take
an active role in the regional and national working groups such as Fetal Growth
Restriction, RCOG guidelines development group and FASP Quality assurance
meetings to ensure that best practice is implemented timely within the
maternity service. They will contribute to the development and implementation
of the ultrasound services strategic aims in line with local and national
guidance and to work collaboratively with the clinical leads for radiology and
directorate managers contributing to the efficient operational management of
the service and ensuring that strategic aims are being met.
To assist with the management of
the clinical workload within the department restructuring the service to
respond to long and short-term demands. Ensuring the daily workload is
organised in line with clinical priorities. Rearranging work lists in case of equipment
failure and being responsive to the inconvenience caused to patients.
To undertake flexible working
hours and practices as required for the efficient running of
the service. To contribute to a
professional, high quality, effective, flexible, and efficient ultrasound service
implementing best practice, local and national guidelines, and policies in line
with national and local service strategies, NICE guidance, and emerging
relevant NHS policies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a high quality, efficient,
responsive, safe evidence based maternity ultrasound service.
The post holder will work within
Trust regional and national standards and lead change to ensure the best
practice initiatives, underpinned by the national maternity improvement
programme. The national maternity agenda provides the basis for this service to
achieve better outcomes for mothers and babies. The post holder will be
responsible for the professional leadership and line management of all midwife sonographers
working within the service.
The post holder will work as a
specialised sonographer demonstrating a high level of clinical competence and
understanding across a wide range of examinations, including a variety of
complex clinical presentations. They will provide clinical advice to less
experienced sonographers and other staff groups demonstrating an expert
knowledge with advanced decision-making skills. They will be able to
demonstrate a high level of technical expertise whilst maintaining a high
standard of patient care.
They will be responsible for
developing & implementing departmental clinical & procedural protocols
and policies in consultation with the relevant consultants and senior managers.
They will lead on the clinical governance and risk management programme for
ultrasound
department. The post holder will
undertake regular quality assurance scan image reviews for all midwife
sonographers and putting plans in place to ensure that the service is safe and
effective.
They will be integral to the development and implementation
of failsafe processes within the maternity USS department to improve and
prevent future clinical incidents as well as ensuring that the equipment across all maternity departments is maintained and repairs
are completed in a timely fashion.
The successful candidate will take
an active role in the regional and national working groups such as Fetal Growth
Restriction, RCOG guidelines development group and FASP Quality assurance
meetings to ensure that best practice is implemented timely within the
maternity service. They will contribute to the development and implementation
of the ultrasound services strategic aims in line with local and national
guidance and to work collaboratively with the clinical leads for radiology and
directorate managers contributing to the efficient operational management of
the service and ensuring that strategic aims are being met.
To assist with the management of
the clinical workload within the department restructuring the service to
respond to long and short-term demands. Ensuring the daily workload is
organised in line with clinical priorities. Rearranging work lists in case of equipment
failure and being responsive to the inconvenience caused to patients.
To undertake flexible working
hours and practices as required for the efficient running of
the service. To contribute to a
professional, high quality, effective, flexible, and efficient ultrasound service
implementing best practice, local and national guidelines, and policies in line
with national and local service strategies, NICE guidance, and emerging
relevant NHS policies.
Person Specification
Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment
Essential
- As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of management and leadership skills
- Clinical mentoring and assessing for students undertaking scanning courses
- Evidence of continued CPD
- Evidence of risk management
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife with NMC or Sonographer registered with HCPC or relevant professional body
- One of the following:
- Certificate/Diploma in Medical Ultrasound of the College of Radiology (CoR) with evidence of appropriate continuous professional development CPD)
- 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) or equivalent.
Desirable
- Teaching and assessing qualification
Person Specification
Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment
Essential
- As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of management and leadership skills
- Clinical mentoring and assessing for students undertaking scanning courses
- Evidence of continued CPD
- Evidence of risk management
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife with NMC or Sonographer registered with HCPC or relevant professional body
- One of the following:
- Certificate/Diploma in Medical Ultrasound of the College of Radiology (CoR) with evidence of appropriate continuous professional development CPD)
- 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) or equivalent.
Desirable
- Teaching and assessing qualification
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).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
