Sonographer

Job responsibilities

Communication and relationship building

The post holder will:

1. Communicate with all referring clinicians to ensure that imaging requests are justified and appropriate.

2. Provide clear, concise and accurate ultrasound reports.

3. Inform a referring clinician of urgent or unexpected results, as appropriate.

4. Liaise with appropriate staff regarding the organisation of follow-up outpatient appointments for patients following ultrasound imaging.

5. Communicate in a concise, sensitive and appropriate manner, complex or contentious information regarding ultrasound scanning procedures to patients and their relatives, as well as other hospital staff and referrers.

Responsibilities for analysis

The post holder will:

1. Use a high level of analytical of judgemental skills in this role.

2.Assess information about the patients condition, symptoms, laboratory test results and previous imaging, pulling the information from multiple electronic sources in order to understand the relevance and suitability of the test and to determine the most likely findings indicated by the clinical question.

3. Understand when information regarding the scan request is insufficient and to judge when to seek further information from available resources (i.e., peer, referring clinician, Radiologist, previous imaging studies).

4. Comprehend when a referral is inappropriate and able to advise on the most suitable alternative test.

Responsibilities for planning and organisation of activities

The post holder will:

1. Coordinate and organise own workload.

2. Be able to operate multiple scanning lists in order to ensure work is carried out following principles of urgency and priority in a rapidly changing workflow setting.

3. Recognise and understand the skill set of colleagues and organise this workforce in accordance with the changing demands of the day.

4. Anticipate when own mandatory training or competency assessments (e.g., (a) First trimester (b) screening for Downs syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome, (c) Fetal cardiac, (d) 20 week screening scan, (e) non-invasive prenatal testing, (d) uterine artery doppler, (e) Fetal Medicine Foundation certificate of competence in the nuchal translucency (NT) scan, etc) are due or required and liaise with appropriate section head Sonographer to plan training completion around own working schedule.

Responsibility for patient care management

The post holder will:

1. Be responsible for identifying patients (adults and children) at risk under the safeguarding principles and referring patients to the safeguarding team where appropriate.

2. Provide the highest level of patient care, ensuring the patient experience is optimised, with specific reference to the hazards posed by cross infection and similar risk.

3. Contribute to the patient care pathway through participation in multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT) as required.

Please refer to the job description for further details.

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential

• Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Post graduate certificate in medical ultrasound validated by HEI and CASE accredited with relevance to obstetric ultrasound practice or equivalent accreditation for ultrasound (i.e., CMU or DMU (CoR))
• RCOG/ RCR diploma in obstetric ultrasound, Advanced Training skills module or subspecialty training in maternal fetal medicine
• State registered healthcare professional (i.e., GMC, NMC, HCPC, RCT)
• Must have specialist knowledge across a range of procedures and practices with ultra-sonography that is underpinned by theoretical study.
• Quality Improvement, transformation, and innovation training
• Evidence of keeping informed of the current ultrasound techniques & practices via short courses & study days to underpin knowledge development (i.e., FMF accreditation)
• Knowledge of relevant national imaging standards (e.g., BMUS, IR(ME)R 2017, IRR '17 and associated codes of practice)

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of a sound level of computer literacy (MS Teams, word, outlook, power point and excel)
• Familiarity with hospital information systems (HIS-Cerner), radiology information systems (CRIS), Viewpoint (SBLv3) and picture archiving communications systems (Insignia PACS)
• Good understanding of health and safety requirements
• Sound awareness of data protection, freedom of information and confidentiality issues within NHS
• Must have specialist expertise underpinned by theory and extensive practical experience in the range of ultrasound techniques which are required by trust (i.e., obstetrics, gynecology, generals, MSK, ultrasound guided interventional procedures, vascular ultrasound)
• Must hold experience of working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) and be competent to write a concise and accurate ultrasound report
• Evidence of up-to date-CPD
• Ability to undertake audit or R&D
• Required to participate in trust quality assurance and clinical governance programmes
• Experience at writing protocols / guidelines and patient care pathways using research-based evidence of best practice

Skills

Essential

• Good organizational and time management skills
• High level of self-motivation and ability to learn and develop.
• Logical approach to decision making and problem solving.
• Ability to work to agreed protocols and standards of good/ best practice.
• Accountable for own professional actions.
• Ability to prioritize own workload and work effectively under pressure.
• Flexible attitude to service provision and enthusiasm for change
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently as part of a team.
• Ability to cope with the physical demands of the role which will include manual support/ lifting of patients and equipment safely and efficiently.
• Ability to work using own initiative but also to know when to seek assistance and guidance from peers
• Proven ability to assess clinical situations & indications and act appropriately (i.e., vetting process).

Personal and people development

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate confidentiality and trustworthiness.
• Deal calmly and politely with members of hospital staff who are working in areas of extreme pressure.
• Interest and willingness in teaching / training less experienced staff & students when in ultrasound and help attending students in their training and development
• Maintain continued professional development as required by HCPC.
• Patient centered and customer focused.
• Aspires to develop leadership and management potential.

Communication

Essential

• Good written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills.
• Consistently demonstrates a friendly professional attitude and approach in the workplace.
• Good empathic skills and the ability to manage issues in a caring, compassionate, and considerate manner.
• Ability to work across disciplines and with a wide range of professional groups.
• Keep all records up to date in a clear, accurate and concise manner on a day-to-day basis.
• Professional in appearance and conduct

Specific requirements

Essential

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
• To participate in the departmental shift system across 7 days of the week including out of hours
• Satisfactory pre-employment checks. Occupational Health and Disclosure and Barring Service clearance and references spanning 3 years.
• Has an acceptable attendance and punctuality record at work.
• Ability to travel to all trust sites including community diagnostic centres

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).