Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Obstetric Sonographer

The closing date is 19 June 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for an exciting leadership role in Obstetric Ultrasound?

Musgrove Park hospital (MPH) is looking for an experienced obstetric scanning professional to lead the existing obstetric ultrasound team.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dynamic and experienced Lead Obstetric Sonographer to join our Radiology team based at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton. The hospital operates 4 obstetric scanning rooms at MPH. This post provides an exciting opportunity to take overall clinical and operational responsibility for obstetric ultrasound services within the maternity setting.

The successful candidate will lead and manage a dedicated team of sonographers, uphold national screening standards, and serve as the Screening Support Sonographer (SSS) for the NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme. A balance of clinical scanning and leadership duties is expected, with protected time for administrative, governance, and service development responsibilities.

Main duties of the job

  • Lead the day-to-day delivery of the obstetric ultrasound service across Musgrove Park Hospital and peripheral clinics.

    Act as the local Screening Support Sonographer (SSS), ensuring adherence to FASP and National Screening Committee standards.

    Undertake advanced level obstetric scanning (minimum 16 hours per week) and provide expert clinical advice.

    Supervise and support the training of sonographers, radiographers, midwives, students, and medical staff.

    Manage clinical governance, incident reporting, and service audit to uphold imaging quality and patient safety.

    Represent the service at Trust meetings, contributing to strategic planning and service improvement.

    Oversee staffing, sickness, appraisals, recruitment, and performance monitoring within the ANC ultrasound service.

    Lead multidisciplinary image review sessions and liaise with DQASS on quality improvement and training outcomes.

    Coordinate departmental resources including staff rotas, ultrasound equipment usage, and escalation planning.

    Support audit, research, and data submission to maintain high clinical and operational standards.

    Ensure accurate documentation and data entry via hospital IT systems, including statistical analysis for performance reports.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

Flexible working options to help you balance work and life

NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security

Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax

A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

Date posted

05 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-PU-2670

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this fantastic role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this fantastic role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current HCPC or NMC registration
  • Accredited by the Fetal Medicine Foundation and FASP for Nuchal Translucency
  • Proven experience of working in either an NHS Ultrasound or Maternity department

Desirable

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Management or equivalent experienceSignificant post-registration experience in obstetric ultrasound

Experience

Essential

  • Proven leadership or management in a healthcare settingIn-depth understanding of obstetric scanning and FASP standards and awareness of NHS screening programme requirementsKnowledge of clinical governance and quality standards (e.g. UKAS, CQC)Advanced clinical scanning and autonomous reporting

Desirable

  • Experience in training/mentoring clinical staffExperience implementing clinical policy or procedural change

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Ability to manage a team and complex service deliveryWell organised with ability to prioritise and work under pressureCommitted to service improvement and patient-centred careExcellent communication and empathetic counselling skills

Desirable

  • High-level IT and data analysis skills
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current HCPC or NMC registration
  • Accredited by the Fetal Medicine Foundation and FASP for Nuchal Translucency
  • Proven experience of working in either an NHS Ultrasound or Maternity department

Desirable

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Management or equivalent experienceSignificant post-registration experience in obstetric ultrasound

Experience

Essential

  • Proven leadership or management in a healthcare settingIn-depth understanding of obstetric scanning and FASP standards and awareness of NHS screening programme requirementsKnowledge of clinical governance and quality standards (e.g. UKAS, CQC)Advanced clinical scanning and autonomous reporting

Desirable

  • Experience in training/mentoring clinical staffExperience implementing clinical policy or procedural change

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Ability to manage a team and complex service deliveryWell organised with ability to prioritise and work under pressureCommitted to service improvement and patient-centred careExcellent communication and empathetic counselling skills

Desirable

  • High-level IT and data analysis skills

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).

Additional information

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Adam Turner

radiologypa@somersetft.nhs.uk

01823342406

Details

Date posted

05 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-PU-2670

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Supporting documents

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