Job summary
An exciting opportunity exists for you to be a senior figure who will work in a clinical environment to deliver high quality care, whilst developing staff and working alongside managers. You will help to shape the future of the Ultrasound service as the Lead Sonographer of our team of dedicated and friendly Paediatric Sonographers.
We are looking for a knowledgeable, and experienced Sonographer with a passion for paediatrics, who will embrace the opportunity to manage their own team and to lead and develop the Ultrasound service at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust.
Our Ultrasound department currently has 4 rooms all with Philips Epiq 5 ultrasound machines and 2 Philips Affinity Portable ultrasound machines, for use on the wards and in the interventional suite.
We perform a wide range of paediatric examinations including Abdominal, Female Pelvis, Renal, Testes, Cranial, Spine, Neck, Hip, Soft tissue ultrasound and more specialist techniques including Musculoskeletal, Transcranial doppler and Orbit ultrasound. The service is currently provided over 5 days per week 8.30 - 5pm apart from Tuesdays when we also provide a late clinic until 8pm
This post attracts a Recruitment Premia of £4,500
Job share would also be considered
Main duties of the job
Responsible for the management and delivery of a comprehensive and effective Ultrasound imaging service.
To manage within the Ultrasound service, the staff, personal development, PDR's, and act as first line manager for sickness/absence, capability, disciplinary and professional issues.
To provide professional support for staff and to develop plans to improve patient care within current professional and legal standards, local and national policies.
To monitor the effectiveness of departmental protocols and procedures utilising audit/research to initiate and implement new protocols and procedures
Facilitate the training and development of sonographers, student sonographers, and imaging department assistants in conjunction with the Radiology Practice Education Facilitator (PEF).
To act an as expert resource to provide clinical and technical advice to sonographers and other clinical staff.
To participate in research and audit within the speciality and the wider MDT.
To uphold the Trust values and NHS values at all times, behaving in a professional, empathetic, inclusive, safe, confidential and compassionate manner towards all staff, patients, visitors and carers.
About us
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a major teaching hospital with 270 beds caring for over 270,000 young people and their families every year.
We are the Paediatric secondary and tertiary referral centre for children in Merseyside, as well as much of North West England and North Wales and a supra-regional centre for cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and Paediatric major trauma
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is located in the vibrant city of Liverpool in the North West of England. Liverpool is a diverse and welcoming city with a rich cultural and musical history, with beautiful parks, art galleries, museums and two football teams.
If you would like to know more about this role, please contact Diane Evans, Radiology Clinical Manager on 0151-252-5590
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Be responsible for effective communication within the Ultrasound team, MDT and department with regards to clinical protocols, safety issues, governance, and KPIs.
- Communicate with referrers, radiologists, imaging service managers and the wider MDT to ensure appropriate referrals, and to ensure the patient pathway is seamless and that care is optimised.
- Communicate multifaceted and difficult information to patients/carers to gain their cooperation and understanding especially in stressful situations or more complex procedures, or where there are barriers to understanding. Give specialist advice to patients with regards to services available to them and contact numbers they may require.
- Communicate specialist information regarding Ultrasound Imaging to users of the service, patients, relatives and other health professionals.
- To act as an expert practitioner leading, demonstrating and disseminating advance practice and knowledge within the Ultrasound service in conjunction with the North-West Imaging Academy.
- Discuss issues of image interpretation with clinicians to ensure optimum outcome for the patient at the time of attendance to include recognition of acute pathology which may be also discussed with a radiologist.
- Interpret clinicians requirements to determine the appropriate scanning technique and ensure it is performed and reported on, in accordance with best practice. Use discretion to work outside of departmental standards when clinical circumstances necessitate.
- To carry out all aspects of Ultrasound examinations both as autonomous advanced practitioner and as part of the MDT. Develop and maintain skills to the highest level.
- Responsible for all staff within the Ultrasound department on a daily basis.
- To facilitate, organise and manage the sonographers working pattern, ensuring staff and patient safety at all times.
- To perform and offer reports for high quality ultrasound imaging to assist in diagnosis and treatment
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Be responsible for effective communication within the Ultrasound team, MDT and department with regards to clinical protocols, safety issues, governance, and KPIs.
- Communicate with referrers, radiologists, imaging service managers and the wider MDT to ensure appropriate referrals, and to ensure the patient pathway is seamless and that care is optimised.
- Communicate multifaceted and difficult information to patients/carers to gain their cooperation and understanding especially in stressful situations or more complex procedures, or where there are barriers to understanding. Give specialist advice to patients with regards to services available to them and contact numbers they may require.
- Communicate specialist information regarding Ultrasound Imaging to users of the service, patients, relatives and other health professionals.
- To act as an expert practitioner leading, demonstrating and disseminating advance practice and knowledge within the Ultrasound service in conjunction with the North-West Imaging Academy.
- Discuss issues of image interpretation with clinicians to ensure optimum outcome for the patient at the time of attendance to include recognition of acute pathology which may be also discussed with a radiologist.
- Interpret clinicians requirements to determine the appropriate scanning technique and ensure it is performed and reported on, in accordance with best practice. Use discretion to work outside of departmental standards when clinical circumstances necessitate.
- To carry out all aspects of Ultrasound examinations both as autonomous advanced practitioner and as part of the MDT. Develop and maintain skills to the highest level.
- Responsible for all staff within the Ultrasound department on a daily basis.
- To facilitate, organise and manage the sonographers working pattern, ensuring staff and patient safety at all times.
- To perform and offer reports for high quality ultrasound imaging to assist in diagnosis and treatment
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- DMU/PgDip in Medical Ultrasound
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant post graduate experience as a sonographer
Desirable
education
Essential
- Specialist Training in different examination techniques
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- First Line management/supervisory experience
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- DMU/PgDip in Medical Ultrasound
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Significant post graduate experience as a sonographer
Desirable
education
Essential
- Specialist Training in different examination techniques
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- First Line management/supervisory experience
Desirable
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).
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
