Job summary
The Radiology department provides a specialised paediatric imaging service to the Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust. Patients seen here range from neonates to sixteen-year-olds. Patients are referred mainly from Sheffield and the surrounding areas.
The ultrasound modality performs over 6000 examinations per year with patients referred as outpatients, inpatients and from the Emergency Department.
The cardiac ultrasound service is provided mostly by cardiac sonographers between 8am and 6pm Monday-Friday. Cardiac sonographers participate in an out of hours on-call service.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is required to support the Lead Cardiac Sonographer in providing a thorough paediatric cardiac ultrasound screening service. It is expected that the post holder will progress to autonomous reporting of more complex scans.
The post holder will be expected to exercise a high degree of personal professional autonomy and make critical judgments to satisfy the expectations and demands of the role.
- The post holder will have an integral role in helping to provide routine cardiac echo services for the Trust and provide an autonomous reporting service.
- The post holder will, with the lead cardiac sonographer, ensure that all new national guidelines relating to cardiac ultrasound are implemented into the Trust's cardiac ultrasound service.
- The post holder will liaise with visiting consultant cardiology staff to ensure appropriate management and follow up of patients.
- They will be expected to maintain fully registered status with an appropriate professional body for cardiac ultrasound and have continuing commitment to CPD.
- They will perform all duties in a way which will maintain an appropriate atmosphere for children in the hospital.
- To evaluate through quality assurance initiatives and assessment of clinical outcomes
- The post holder will be required to participate in the out of hours cardiac ultrasound service
About us
Sheffield Children's is one of three independent, specialist paediatric hospitals in the country, providing dedicated healthcare for children and young people across community, mental health and acute specialist settings.
We have three overarching aims that set the direction for the Trust in our vision "to create a healthier future for children and young people."
- Outstanding patient care
- Brilliant place to work
- Leader in children's health
Our commitment to rewarding colleagues is demonstrated through our brilliant reward and benefits offer including; generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme and access to salary sacrifice schemes such as cycle to work and lease cars.
We are committed to supporting colleagues from different heritages and lifestyles while at work. This is supported through the offer we have in place for flexible working and the three equality network groups we have in place. Colleagues are encouraged to join these groups and request flexible working.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and personal specification for full details.
Inclusive Recruitment & Selection
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.
We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
Trust Values
The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:
- Compassion leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect
- Accountability striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility
- Respect value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion
- Excellence delivering a high-quality standard of care
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see job description and personal specification for full details.
Inclusive Recruitment & Selection
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.
We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager: Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at Catherine.Gilbert7@nhs.net
Trust Values
The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:
- Compassion leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect
- Accountability striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility
- Respect value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion
- Excellence delivering a high-quality standard of care
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- DCR(R) / BSc (Hons) in Cardiac Physiology or recognised equivalent
- Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound or equivalent
- Accreditation in Adult British Society of Echocardiography Accreditation or ESC and EACVI
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent, relevant postgraduate courses and in-service training
Desirable
- Membership of Professional body e.g. BSE, HSCS, RCCP
- Master's Degree in Medical Ultrasound
Experience
Essential
- Extensive ultrasound experience with specialisation in cardiac scanning.
- Extensive experience in the field of adult echocardiography who is willing to train in Paediatric and Congenital Echocardiography.
- Competence in scanning basic congenital heart disease patients
- Highly skilled in producing, interpreting quality diagnostic images and has experience of autonomous reporting systems.
Desirable
- Competence in performing complete transthoracic cardiac ultrasound in paediatric patients.
- Participated in clinical appraisal/supervision/teaching of peers and specialist registrars
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- In depth knowledge of cardiac ultrasound and associated pathology and referral patterns
- Management experience including staff management, equipment procurement and service development.
- Understanding of regional referral pathways for patients with congenital heath disease and have links with local surgical/specialist centres
- Understanding of national guidelines and department of health recommendations for the provision of a cardiac ultrasound service.
- Ability to implement new concepts into current practice, e.g. assessment of diastolic dysfunction in oncology patients.
- Audit/ research/ service evaluation
- Technical competency with specialist, expensive medical equipment.
- Understanding of data protection, confidentiality and health and safety requirements in meeting the demands of the child and parents/ carers
- Familiar in the use of Radiology Information Systems
Desirable
- Evidence of interest in this field e.g. published papers/articles
- Leadership qualification or equivalent experience
- Experience of using MS Teams or other live image sharing modalities
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Empathy towards sick children and their parents appropriate to the patient and their condition
- Recognised provider of expert diagnostic imaging by peers and clinicians.
- Afford a degree of manual dexterity in order to produce the highest standard of diagnostic imaging
- Ability to provide immediate verbal report on findings which may affect subsequent patient management decisions e.g. on intensive care or in emergency situations.
- Ability to present information, written and verbal in a clear logical manner
- Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate appropriately.
- Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment and with emotional and challenging situations
- Highly developed verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work autonomously in the field of cardiac ultrasound
- Ability to act as a local expert for cardiac ultrasound and to appraise the examinations of others and provide advice on examination findings.
- High level of interpersonal skills
- Actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings
- Reliable, punctual, flexible
- Flexibility to cover the needs of the service as required
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- DCR(R) / BSc (Hons) in Cardiac Physiology or recognised equivalent
- Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound or equivalent
- Accreditation in Adult British Society of Echocardiography Accreditation or ESC and EACVI
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent, relevant postgraduate courses and in-service training
Desirable
- Membership of Professional body e.g. BSE, HSCS, RCCP
- Master's Degree in Medical Ultrasound
Experience
Essential
- Extensive ultrasound experience with specialisation in cardiac scanning.
- Extensive experience in the field of adult echocardiography who is willing to train in Paediatric and Congenital Echocardiography.
- Competence in scanning basic congenital heart disease patients
- Highly skilled in producing, interpreting quality diagnostic images and has experience of autonomous reporting systems.
Desirable
- Competence in performing complete transthoracic cardiac ultrasound in paediatric patients.
- Participated in clinical appraisal/supervision/teaching of peers and specialist registrars
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- In depth knowledge of cardiac ultrasound and associated pathology and referral patterns
- Management experience including staff management, equipment procurement and service development.
- Understanding of regional referral pathways for patients with congenital heath disease and have links with local surgical/specialist centres
- Understanding of national guidelines and department of health recommendations for the provision of a cardiac ultrasound service.
- Ability to implement new concepts into current practice, e.g. assessment of diastolic dysfunction in oncology patients.
- Audit/ research/ service evaluation
- Technical competency with specialist, expensive medical equipment.
- Understanding of data protection, confidentiality and health and safety requirements in meeting the demands of the child and parents/ carers
- Familiar in the use of Radiology Information Systems
Desirable
- Evidence of interest in this field e.g. published papers/articles
- Leadership qualification or equivalent experience
- Experience of using MS Teams or other live image sharing modalities
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Empathy towards sick children and their parents appropriate to the patient and their condition
- Recognised provider of expert diagnostic imaging by peers and clinicians.
- Afford a degree of manual dexterity in order to produce the highest standard of diagnostic imaging
- Ability to provide immediate verbal report on findings which may affect subsequent patient management decisions e.g. on intensive care or in emergency situations.
- Ability to present information, written and verbal in a clear logical manner
- Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate appropriately.
- Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment and with emotional and challenging situations
- Highly developed verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work autonomously in the field of cardiac ultrasound
- Ability to act as a local expert for cardiac ultrasound and to appraise the examinations of others and provide advice on examination findings.
- High level of interpersonal skills
- Actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings
- Reliable, punctual, flexible
- Flexibility to cover the needs of the service as required
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).
