Sonographer

Job overview

Sonographer

37.5 Hours per week (7 day working)

Permanent

Salary: £46,148 - £52,809 per annum

Closing Date: 5th May 2025

Interview Date: 14th May 2025

This post may close early due to high numbers of applications so you are advised to apply promptly.

All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.

A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community – get in touch to find out more

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To support the department’s Sonographers in the provision of a professional extended 7 day ultrasound service.

The role of the post holder (sonographer) is to perform and report independently on a wide range of non-obstetric ultrasound examinations. This includes MSK, renal, abdominal, Doppler, gynaecological and some small parts scans, plus early pregnancy scanning as required by our gynaecology run Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit.

As well as writing reports for the medical profession and keeping appropriate records, the sonographer is required to communicate potentially distressing diagnoses directly to patients, and refer these patients appropriately.

The maintenance of a high standard of patient care and medical ethics is essential.

The sonographer is involved in the clinical training of ultrasound trainees and other medical personnel.

Main duties of the job

• The sonographer provides a highly specialist clinical technical service using ultrasound scans to carry out diagnosis. The sonographer analyses complex data and is expected to obtain maximum possible diagnostic information taking into account any anatomical or pathological limitations
• The sonographer must possess a high level of specialist knowledge over a wide range of ultrasound procedures and/or the highest level in-depth expertise in a particular area of ultrasound comparable to senior clinicians
• The sonographer is required to have the appropriate technical skill to operate the ultrasound machinery safely and effectively
• The sonographer must carry out and report on  abdominal and gynaecological ultrasound scans. These are usually unsupervised, but consultation with peers, referring consultants and consultant radiologists may be necessary in some difficult cases. These scans may arise from in-patients, out-patients, A&E or GP referrals
• The sonographer is expected to scan in a variety of settings and locations: scans are performed in the main and satellite departments, also in other specialist departments including one-stop clinics

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication:

Good communication is essential for the following reasons:

With patients

• To make them feel at ease and able to cooperate.
• To provide verbal reports to all early pregnancy patients, and other patients if appropriate, to try to relieve any anxiety in having to wait for results.
• To communicate complex, often distressing and emotional information to patients clearly, with tact and sensitivity; then to overcome the barriers to understanding and give reassurance. This is frequently necessary in regard to early pregnancy loss.

With staff

• To provide a clear, written diagnostic report for the referring clinician to assist in patient management.
• To liaise when required with colleagues and clinicians to discuss potential problems seen on scans and directly or indirectly refer patients e.g. To specialist centers as appropriate.
• To liaise with doctors and appointment staff regarding allocation of ultrasound appointments and emergency bookings.

Leadership / Management

The sonographer needs:

• To ensure that appropriate clinical examinations are carried out by liaising and discussing requests with other health professionals and being able to alter requests, without direct clinical referral, within national and departmental guidelines.
• To devise an appropriate daily schedule of work including, where possible, the extra workload due to emergency cases.
• To organise and supervise any staff assisting in the ultrasound department to ensure that the best possible attention is given to the ultrasound patients and to the efficient running of the department.
• To be aware of and willing to undertake management responsibilities within the role.
• To use the radiology computer system for recording, entering and tracking information. Have knowledge of clerical and assistant duties required in ultrasound and to be able to undertake these duties when required.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, for more information please see the attached Job Description and Personal Specification.