Job summary
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.
About us
At the Dudley Group our patients and staff are at the heart of all that we do and that is to provide a world class service that aligns with our vision of "excellent health care, improved health for all". We are seeking to recruit staff who share our vision and values of making Dudley Group an incredible workplace.
As part of the NHS People Promise, your wellbeing is our priority, and we are committed to ensuring our employees achieve a healthy work-life balance supported by our flexible working options and by making reasonable adjustments where possible. We believe no-one should have to sacrifice family, friends, or their personal interests for work. We are a modern employer able to attract and retain high quality staff through our commitment to the NHS People Promise.
As an employer, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best. We want to ensure that our workforce is representative of the population we serve. More information - inclusive practice people promise.
Dudley Group offer many opportunities for our staff to develop and grow within their roles through our Learning & OD Team. These include topics such as communication, wellbeing, team development, cultural competency, and values.
Please click below to view our EDI page: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion - The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust (dgft.nhs.uk)
Job description
Job 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.
Job description
Job 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Ultrasound
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- Diploma of the College of Radiographers or BSc in Radiography or equivalent qualification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience within an ultrasound department.
- Knowledge of strategic governance processes and their application
- Ability to use problem solving techniques to ensure identified risks to patient safety are effectively managed.
- Highly developed organisational skills. Must be able to demonstrate an ability to work to deadlines and to management targets
- Evidence of IT skills
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate evidence of teaching and assessing staff in current role
- Safe use of expensive or highly complex equipment.
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Essential
- Handling highly confidential material, complying with Caldicott principles and the Data Protection Act.
- Ability to start new projects where standards are continuously changing, requiring rapid grasp of the requirements and medical concepts.
- Evidence of decision making when presented with complex issues.
Planning & Organisational Skills
Essential
- Working to tight deadlines.
- Used to working in complex organisation with competing priorities
- Time management and ability to prioritise workload effectively.
- Experience of assisting service planning taking into account finance, manpower, equipment and organisational factors.
- Must be able to concentrate intensely for long periods of time with frequent interruptions
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Trust Values
Essential
- Able to provide safe, caring, and effective services
- Values and behaviours that reflect the Trust values of Care, Respect and Responsibility
- Commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination and where people feel they belong and their contribution is valued
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Ultrasound
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- Diploma of the College of Radiographers or BSc in Radiography or equivalent qualification
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience within an ultrasound department.
- Knowledge of strategic governance processes and their application
- Ability to use problem solving techniques to ensure identified risks to patient safety are effectively managed.
- Highly developed organisational skills. Must be able to demonstrate an ability to work to deadlines and to management targets
- Evidence of IT skills
Desirable
- Able to demonstrate evidence of teaching and assessing staff in current role
- Safe use of expensive or highly complex equipment.
Analytical & Judgement Skills
Essential
- Handling highly confidential material, complying with Caldicott principles and the Data Protection Act.
- Ability to start new projects where standards are continuously changing, requiring rapid grasp of the requirements and medical concepts.
- Evidence of decision making when presented with complex issues.
Planning & Organisational Skills
Essential
- Working to tight deadlines.
- Used to working in complex organisation with competing priorities
- Time management and ability to prioritise workload effectively.
- Experience of assisting service planning taking into account finance, manpower, equipment and organisational factors.
- Must be able to concentrate intensely for long periods of time with frequent interruptions
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Trust Values
Essential
- Able to provide safe, caring, and effective services
- Values and behaviours that reflect the Trust values of Care, Respect and Responsibility
- Commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is free from discrimination and where people feel they belong and their contribution is valued
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust
Address
The Dudley Group of Hospitals, Russell's Hall Hospital
Pensnett Road
Dudley
DY1 2HQ
Employer's website
https://www.dgft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
