Ultrasonographer

Job overview

Maternity Cover

Band 7 Sonographer - with additional Recruitment & Retention Premium (RRP)

Our Ultrasound department consists of 16 rooms: 6 General, 6 Obstetrics, 1 EPAU, 1 ACU 1 ACU and 1 satellite clinic. All our rooms are all equipped with the latest GE machines. We are a busy and dynamic department doing a wide variety of examinations such as Obstetric, Gynae, General Abdominal, Small Parts, Vascular, Paediatric and MSK ultrasound.

We have a culture which fosters innovation and supports new ideas whilst also ensuring our people are well supported so that they have high rates of employee satisfaction and are professionally developing to be the leaders of tomorrow.

The successful candidate will work mainly at the Chelsea and Westminster site but may cover West Middlesex Hospital site when services require.

The minimum scanning requirements for this role: Obstetrics US (FASP & GAP knowledge and application), Gynaecology and general abdominal ultrasound is essential. This includes scanning, independent reporting and onward recommendation of all modalities in line with national and local guidelines and protocols.. Small parts, MSK, vascular and paediatrics (including GRAF hips) ultrasound skills are desirable.

Previous candidates need not apply.

Main duties of the job

Job Summary

• To independently scan and report examinations in obstetrics, gynaecology and general abdominal ultrasound. Paediatric, vascular and MSK ultrasound may also be performed depending on experience and training.
• Please refer to the job description for more details

Key working relation relationships

• All members of staff within the Department
• All levels of hospital staff, patients and members of the public
• He/she will develop a particularly close relationship with consultants and senior nursing and administrative staff

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Roles and responsibilities

Communication and Relationship Skills

• To communicate with other staff members to ensure the smooth running of the Department.
• To communicate with patients and relatives in a professional and reassuring manner, especially in difficult or emotional circumstances.
• To deliver distressing news/results to patients regarding fetal abnormalities with the appropriate empathy.

Knowledge and Experience

• To undertake all ultrasound duties independently, efficiently and to provide a highly specialised clinical service.
• To produce accurate reports and formal diagnostic opinion in a timely manner based on examinations undertaken.
• To ensure that patients receive a high standard of care throughout all ultrasound specialties.
• To display competence and confidence to undertake intimate procedures including transvaginal scans ensuring relevant consent procedures have been adhered.
• To have the appropriate precise skills required for ultrasound techniques such as nuchal measurements in obstetric medicine.
• To be able to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in the use of highly specialised equipment.
• The post-holder will be expected to be proficient, and to teach, in the more specialised techniques practiced in ultrasound scanning and the Obstetric Unit. To be able to propose a review of clinical procedures and protocols in the department.
• To assist with the practical training and mentoring of more junior staff and student sonographers and to be capable of providing instructions/information to those staff in a motivational manner.  They will also be required to train radiology registrars in ultrasound techniques.

Judgment and Analysis

• To be able to offer good clinical judgment when assessing and interpreting images produced by themselves or more junior staff.

Organisational Skills

• To report and record all equipment faults. To be able to assist with the diagnosis and remedy of routine faults and assist with daily maintenance on all ultrasound imaging equipment.

Physical Skills and Requirements

• To demonstrate and employ the high degree of dexterity required to position complex equipment used in the acquisition of images. To be able to accurately manipulate and position patients to ensure most accurate diagnosis.
• To comply with, and be able to demonstrate and instruct, safe manual handling techniques and apply those techniques to both patients and equipment.

Direct Patient Care

• To contribute to, and feedback from, meetings relevant to the imaging service i.e to attend MDT meetings relevant to patients who have been in their care.

Research

• To become involved in any on-going audit/research programmes as appropriate.

Service Development

• To monitor and propose amendments, where necessary, to policies and protocols in current area of work/supervision.
• To ensure that the local rules and protocols are strictly adhered to.
• To participate in the departmental quality assurance programmes as required.
• With appropriate training and experience, to oversee and manage the effective operation of any sub-modality within ultrasound. This will involve a close working relationship with the radiology team.
• To become involved in any on-going audit/research programmes as appropriate.

Personnel

• The post holder will be required to actively participate in a periodic performance appraisal, in accordance with the Trust guidelines.
• The post holder is encouraged by the department to attend both personal and professional development activities that assist in their role and the service

Please review the attached job description for full details of the role.