Sonographer/Midwife Sonographer

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen to join Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust due to the expansion in urgent & emergency care services at the Trust. As a result of a widening catchment area of patients attending Walsall Manor ED, following the opening of Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, WHT are seeking staff to continue to support the Trust’s journey to be a leading provider of care for our community. The investment is part of a wider suite of investments across our Trust in recent years, including

• The introduction of a new £40 million UECC.
• A £10 million capital development to include extension to the A&E Department, AMU, Hot Imaging Suite, Same Day Emergency Care Unit and Staff Support Facilities
• £7.2 million/year investment to expand our workforce across ED, SDEC, Acute Medicine, and Emergency Surgery including roles for Doctors, Nursing and Advanced Practice

The Trust is also proud to deliver

• Virtually no vacancies across Registered Nursing positions
• Formal recognition from NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Urgent & Emergency Care Team, including for an “Outstanding culture”, “Patient centred at all times”, and “Exemplary Professionalism”
• Regionally and nationally leading performance across Ambulance Handovers and admitted patient flow
• Professional & personal development opportunities
• An environment encouraging innovation, with readily available access to an award-winning QI Team and R&D Dept.

We are looking for driven and ambitious individuals to join us

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will work within the Obstetric and Imaging ultrasound departments, in line with competency, to provide a high quality ultrasound service, prioritising the workload and producing comprehensive independently written ultrasound reports.  The post holder will communicate complex information to clinicians and patients, and will take part in the training of others in this modality.  To  ensure high standards of ultrasound provision in terms of quality, safety and access to services, providing the  Ultrasound leadership with regular feedback regarding agreed key performance indicators for this service. To supervise  junior staff and trainees within the department
• To be responsible for maintaining professional and technical standards relevant to ultrasound services
• To take part in the planning, coordinating and implementation of new services and strategies concerning patient care to develop and improve patient pathways
• To keep the Imaging leadership fully informed of issues within ultrasound and pertaining to the delivery of the service
• To attend relevant meetings as directed, both internally and externally to the Trust
• To establish and maintain effective communication with all members of the Imaging and multidisciplinary team, in particular those associated with ultrasound.
• To challenge, in a positive manner, current working practices and promote a culture of continuous improvement .
• To participate with the recruitment and selection of staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To independently undertake and use analytical and judgmental skills to report on  ultrasound examinations, differentiating between normal and pathological findings.
• To use analytical and judgemental skills to view the scan images taken, to assess their technical quality and to have the ability to identify reasons for performing additional views appropriately.
• To be aware of the importance of other diagnostic investigations. To make recommendations when reporting for further imaging assessment and referral where necessary after consultation / discussion with a Radiologist.
• Maintain fitness to practice with Professional Code of Conduct and through CPD
• To inform appointment scheduling and be responsible for one’s own caseload.
• To prioritise patients independently and to organise workload from a range of referral pathways, within a pressurised environment.
• To receive telephone enquiries from patients, ward or medical staff regarding clinical procedures or results
• To maintain patients dignity whilst frequently undertaking examinations of an intimate nature, where there is a high risk of exposure to bodily fluids
• To deal with a range of operational pressures and developments within ultrasound on a day to day basis providing specialist support to staff
• To independently assess and justify examinations using department protocols / guidelines.
• Ensure the implementation of examination protocols
• Attend appropriate clinical meetings, feeding back to the team and informing service improvement as appropriate
• To maintain a flexible approach to working hours such as extended days and weekend working to promote a 7 day service.
• Acts as a role model to all other staff.
• To assist in developing a learning environment within the Department by maintaining an up to date professional knowledge through CPD and   demonstrate a proactive commitment to improving standards of service and maintaining standards
• Train, supervise and assess Undergraduates, Post Graduates and clinicians in the specialist field of ultrasound and the use of high specification ultrasound equipment
• Provide guidance, support and mentorship to less , experienced sonographers
• Accountable for own professional activities using a high degree of autonomy within the limitations of personal expertise and skill
• To possess a high level of knowledge over a range of ultrasound procedures and /or a high level of expertise in a particular area of ultrasound
• To give specialist and expert opinion to a wide range of Health Care professionals. To give information that can directly affect diagnosis or treatment
• To supervise the activity of less experienced sonographers, assistants and trainees within the ultrasound workplace. To undertake prolonged periods of intense concentration to obtain, interpret and record suitable images in a dynamic environment. To maintain concentrations during frequent interruptions from patients and staff.
• To have well developed hand / eye coordination combined with special awareness which enables precise acquisition of diagnostic images
• To relate to and communicate with all patients and visitors in a sensitive and empathetic manner.  To give clear explanations to patients about ultrasound examinations including risk, accuracy and limitations especially regarding procedures that require consent.  To use appropriate levels of tact and persuasion when dealing with aggressive behaviour, cultural differences, special needs and those with newly diagnosed illnesses.
• To promote best practice when advising and disseminating knowledge to the profession and beyond.
• To be competent in the operation of the Radiology Information System / PACS System.

Previous applicants need not apply.