Sonographer

Job overview

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust is looking for skilled, enthusiastic sonographers to join our innovative and forward-thinking ultrasound team.

We are looking for sonographers qualified in general abdominal, gynaecology, musculoskeletal or vascular ultrasound. As a department, we actively encourage and support advancements in sonographer clinical practice.

There is opportunity to support rotation across different areas of ultrasound and a  positive approach to flexible working.

Should a suitable candidate be identified, this post may be open to radiographers looking to train in ultrasound under the Annex 21 framework.

Main duties of the job

• To independently perform all routine ultrasound examinations, clinically evaluating the information gained, recording relevant images in line with departmental protocols and issuing a written report of the examination findings to a high standard.

• To participate in any extended day, weekend, on-call and bank holiday service provided by the Ultrasound Department, and to work cross-site as required by the service.

Please see the Job Description for full details.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To provide specialist advice and care to patients and to sensitively communicate clinical condition related information, including breaking bad news, on the findings of the ultrasound examination.
• To work independently, being accountable for the efficient and effective management of a clinical caseload, making a diagnosis, giving opinion, writing reports and making decisions regarding the clinical management of the patient.
• To communicate with patients to obtain a more detailed clinical history prior to ultrasound examination, to explain the findings of the examination relaying clinical condition related information which may include breaking bad news. To act in the patients’ best interests arranging urgent referral to the appropriate clinician.
• To deal with body fluids e.g. sweat and blood. Cleaning and decontamination of patients and equipment in accordance with the Control of Infection Guidelines.
• To provide written and verbal explanation and advice for the investigation, patient preparation, and aftercare, ensuring that the patient fully understands complex information regarding the examination, consents to the procedure and knows how and when he/she will receive the results.
• To be an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team maintaining and promoting effective working relationships and working practices and contributing to:
• Individual patients’ case discussions
• Evaluating developing and implementing changes to ultrasound sessions/practice
• Monitoring waiting lists and planning workloads to optimise resources
• Assessing the urgency of cases and prioritising and allocating appointments accordingly
• To participate in the development of multi-professional Clinical Care Pathways to improve patient care.
• To establish working relationships with all other members of the health care team to develop clinical practice.
• To be responsible, in the absence of a Lead Sonographer, for the designated areas of work, as agreed. To plan, prioritise and organise the workload efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management, use of time and workload prioritization, including professional demands of the service.
• To liaise with service providers to arrange routine equipment servicing, maintenance and attendance for equipment breakdown. To be responsible for ensuring that any scheduled patient appointments are rescheduled according to clinical urgency.
• Ensure that infection control procedures are adhered to in relation to personnel and equipment.
• Ensure that patient confidentially is maintained within the ultrasound department.
• To manage own time effectively whilst ensuring all patients are cared for to the highest of standards.
• Be professionally accountable, flexible and autonomous with freedom to act and refer independently.
• To ensure a working knowledge of the trust incident reporting system and to report on near misses or incidents in a timely manner.
• We are also involved in actively teaching ultrasound to our AHP colleagues, medic's, midwifery and other students.