Sonographer

Job responsibilities

• Additional Responsbilities:
• To manage unpredictable patient demands effectively patients/relatives may be difficult, emotionally distressed and potentially aggressive.
• To contribute to the training in ultrasound of others, as agreed with the Clinical Regional Lead Sonographer. This includes radiographers, radiology registrars and other medical staff and HCPCs (on approved training programmes).
• To play an active role in audit and clinical governance activities as directed by the Clinical Regional Ultrasound Manager.
• To be committed to lifelong learning and produce evidence of CPD maintaining 'fitness to practice'.
• To participate in the annual appraisal process.
• To remain up-to-date with changes and current trends in medical ultrasound.
• To maintain the highest personal, professional and ultrasonographic standards.
• To adhere to Diagnostic Healthcare and NHS Health and Safety Policies, and to use any equipment or personal protective equipment provided safely.
• To promote the DHC philosophy of equality and diversity.
• To respond to the needs of the company and patients as necessary.
• To be prepared to work flexibly to meet service demands.

Qualifications

Essential

• Post Graduate Diploma in Ultrasound from a UK CASE Accredited institution

Experience

Essential

• Communication and Relationship Skills
• To provide highly complex and sensitive information.
• To impart this information in a sensitive and empathetic manner in terms that the patient can understand.
• To act upon complex information received from referrers and to communicate effectively with them.
• To deal sympathetically with distressed patients.
• Knowledge, Training and Experience
• Must hold a professional qualification, either the DMU or PGC/D in medical ultrasound imaging and relevant professional registration e.g. HCPC.
• Professional/clinical specialist knowledge of ultrasound acquired throughout a post-graduate qualification and extensive clinical practice.
• To have a degree of personal and professional autonomy.
• To have the ability to make clinical judgements and critical decisions of the highest order, using knowledge, skills and experience.
• Able to use company patient management databases and PACS.
• Planning and Organisational Skills
• Plans and prioritises own workload, accepting urgent referrals and additions to list as required whilst maintaining an efficient throughput of patients and ensuring best patient care at all times.
• Responsibility for Human Resources
• Regularly responsible for providing training within own discipline to students and medical personnel.
• Freedom to Act
• To give professional advice to staff, health professionals and clinicians.
• To adhere to national guidelines and to Diagnostic Healthcare and NHS Trust protocols.
• Accountable for own professional actions including issuing of independent reports.
• Confidentiality
• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
• Health & Safety
• The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include: attend risk management training and contribute to risk assessment audits.
• Equality and Diversity
• The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
• Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well being of children and vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with, and adherence to, the DHC Safeguarding Policies and any associated guidance is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training. All employees must ensure that they understand and act in accordance with this clause.
• If you do not understand exactly how this clause relates to you personally then you must ensure that you seek clarification from your immediate manager as a matter of urgency.
• Equally, all managers have a responsibility to ensure that their team members understand their individual responsibilities with regard to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and PREVENT.
• Personal/Professional Development
• The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the company as part of this employment, such training to include:
• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
• Quality
• The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the company, and will:
• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
• Communication:
• The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
• Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation
• The post-holder will:
• Adhere to company policies and procedures.
• Propose Changes to working practices or procedures within own work area.
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
• Participate in audit where appropriate.

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).