Job summary
We currently have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced Obstetric Sonographer to lead the Obstetric Ultrasound Service at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust. We are a regional tertiary referral centre for fetal and maternal medicine, with a large team of midwife sonographers and radiographer sonographers. If you are a dynamic and motivated individual with excellent leadership skills looking to embark on a new opportunity, we would like to hear from you!
You must be able to demonstrate initiative and prioritise a complex workload whilst working both as an autonomous practitioner and as part of a multidisciplinary team. The right candidate will have strong organisational skills, ability to use own initiative and work under pressure, as well as excellent communication skills to deal appropriately with complex, sensitive, or contentious issues with patients and colleagues of all grades.
The successful candidate must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and be committed to providing and developing a high-quality obstetric ultrasound service. They should ensure that appropriate imaging, reporting and management of patients is achieved.
- Interview Date 13/06/2023
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
Main duties of the job
- Provide highly specialist knowledge and care to patients, referring clinicians and team members with relation to Obstetric Sonography.
- Perform and independently report obstetric ultrasound scans.
- Line manage a team of sonographers in relation to appraisals, absence management, competency assessments/reviews, rosters etc.
- Ensure that service provision matches demand and there is efficient use of available resources (staff and equipment).
- Be responsible for the coordination of the training and supervision of sonography students.
- Be involved in local and regional ultrasound strategy, planning and development.
- Liaise with maternity colleagues including screening coordinators and service managers.
- To provide expert guidance and opinion to the Antenatal Services Matron.
About us
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of £1 billion.
Rated 'Outstanding' by theCQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Trust wide responsible for delivery of an effective and efficient high quality obstetric ultrasound service and patient care that meets the needs of patients and referrers. Provides highly specialist knowledge and care to patients, referring clinicians and team members.
- Acts as the lead radiographer sonographer/midwife sonographer in the obstetric ultrasound department, setting and maintaining standards, managing and providing direction to the staff and expert advice on specialist equipment to the directorate, as well as advice to users, patients, colleagues etc.
- To perform and independently report obstetric ultrasound scans.
- Liaise with the wider Trust, NENC LMNS Foetal Medicine and other Regional / National bodies as necessary for ultrasound strategy, planning and development.
- Co-ordinate service requirements that arise from our role as the NENC Foetal medicine centre.
The postholder will line manage a team of obstetric sonographers providing supervision and specialist advice and expertise to them, as well as the wider Maternity team. They will provide regular feedback on compliance with key performance indicators for this service and ensure all aspects of clinical governance are delivered and monitored.
You will coordinate service requirements that arise from our role as a tertiary centre and will liaise with Regional and National colleagues within the field of Obstetric Ultrasound, to maintain a high quality service.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Trust wide responsible for delivery of an effective and efficient high quality obstetric ultrasound service and patient care that meets the needs of patients and referrers. Provides highly specialist knowledge and care to patients, referring clinicians and team members.
- Acts as the lead radiographer sonographer/midwife sonographer in the obstetric ultrasound department, setting and maintaining standards, managing and providing direction to the staff and expert advice on specialist equipment to the directorate, as well as advice to users, patients, colleagues etc.
- To perform and independently report obstetric ultrasound scans.
- Liaise with the wider Trust, NENC LMNS Foetal Medicine and other Regional / National bodies as necessary for ultrasound strategy, planning and development.
- Co-ordinate service requirements that arise from our role as the NENC Foetal medicine centre.
The postholder will line manage a team of obstetric sonographers providing supervision and specialist advice and expertise to them, as well as the wider Maternity team. They will provide regular feedback on compliance with key performance indicators for this service and ensure all aspects of clinical governance are delivered and monitored.
You will coordinate service requirements that arise from our role as a tertiary centre and will liaise with Regional and National colleagues within the field of Obstetric Ultrasound, to maintain a high quality service.
Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Registered Midwife with the NMC or Registered Radiographer with the HCPC.
- BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography or BSc (Hons)Midwifery (or equivalent)
- Master's degree or working towards, i.e., established pathway and able to provide evidence of academic achievement at this level
- Post Graduate qualification in Medical Ultrasound with extensive post graduate clinical experience in Obstetric Ultrasound at Band 7 level
- Teaching and assessing qualification with experience of training staff
- Evidence of ongoing continuous professional development (CPD)
Desirable
- MSc or Post Graduate Diploma (Pg. Dip) in Medical Ultrasound
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience in all Obstetric Ultrasound scanning including transvaginal, Doppler and Nuchal translucency
- Proven leadership and interpersonal/communication skills with evidence of participation in change management and practice development
- Knowledge of trust policies, professional issues and radiation protection regulations (IRM (E) R).
- Extensive knowledge of guidelines relating to clinical specialist area
- Committed to the improvement of patient care with a dynamic and flexible approach to care delivery.
Desirable
- Previous experience in managing complex sonography equipment i.e., in scheduling routine service, involved in replacement and procurement.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Effective organisational and time management skills
- Good IT skills
Desirable
- Proven management skills / experience or postgraduate management qualification
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Registered Midwife with the NMC or Registered Radiographer with the HCPC.
- BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography or BSc (Hons)Midwifery (or equivalent)
- Master's degree or working towards, i.e., established pathway and able to provide evidence of academic achievement at this level
- Post Graduate qualification in Medical Ultrasound with extensive post graduate clinical experience in Obstetric Ultrasound at Band 7 level
- Teaching and assessing qualification with experience of training staff
- Evidence of ongoing continuous professional development (CPD)
Desirable
- MSc or Post Graduate Diploma (Pg. Dip) in Medical Ultrasound
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience in all Obstetric Ultrasound scanning including transvaginal, Doppler and Nuchal translucency
- Proven leadership and interpersonal/communication skills with evidence of participation in change management and practice development
- Knowledge of trust policies, professional issues and radiation protection regulations (IRM (E) R).
- Extensive knowledge of guidelines relating to clinical specialist area
- Committed to the improvement of patient care with a dynamic and flexible approach to care delivery.
Desirable
- Previous experience in managing complex sonography equipment i.e., in scheduling routine service, involved in replacement and procurement.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Effective organisational and time management skills
- Good IT skills
Desirable
- Proven management skills / experience or postgraduate management qualification
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
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).
