Lead Echocardiographer

37.5 hours per week (4/5 day working pattern). Permanent. Salary: £55,690 - £62,682 per annum. This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly. All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.

A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community; get in touch to find out more.

The post-holder will work in co-operation with the Clinical service manager for physiological sciences to ensure operational delivery of the highest standards of patient care in both standard and advanced echocardiography. As a Lead Echocardiography clinical scientist, you will be required to work as an advanced independent practitioner in echocardiography, providing highly specialised technical services that impact directly upon the clinical management of patients.

• The post holder is expected to train staff members both medical and nursing staff in advanced imaging modalities such as stress echo, 3D echo and TOE (Transesophageal Echocardiogram).
• The post holder is responsible for organising and delivering theoretical and practical training in echocardiography cardiac physiology to a wide range of staff.
• Support the medical team by providing highly specialised and advanced procedures within the echocardiography service.
• Develop and maintain clinical pathway/protocols and ensure they reflect national guidance and development of knowledge base.
• Perform highly specialised cardiac investigations and interpret the results.
• Calibration and quality assurance checks are performed on a broad range of equipment to ensure the accuracy and validity of results.
• Assess and monitor risk in own and others’ practice, acting on results to ensure safe delivery of care.
• Responsible for the safe use of complex and expensive equipment (e.g., ultrasound equipment) and for adapting clinical techniques to meet individual patient needs.
• Quality assurance of routine and specialised tests within the department, including external assessment and internal monitoring with corrective action as needed.
• Disseminate highly complex scientific knowledge gained through private study and research developments by peer-reviewed publications and presentations at local and national meetings.
• Initiate, participate in and supervise local and national research projects and audits within the department to achieve improved clinical governance.
• Possess IT skills required for Microsoft Office (report writing, audit and data management, presentations), statistical packages (e.g., SPSS, Stata), laboratory computer systems, and online databases for literature searches.
• Support the Clinical service manager in achieving long-term objectives of the department and its strategic direction, including devising and revising COPs and guidelines as needed.
• Deputise for the Clinical service manager for echocardiography science services in their absence.
• Oversee quality of echocardiography science services and ensure protocols/procedures are followed and work is well documented.
• Ensure good communication and efficient performance within the department by actively participating in regular operational meetings.
• Participate in competency-based assessments and training of junior staff; identify and report areas of concern in clinical and operational performance to the Clinical service manager.
• Implement National, Trust and Departmental policies; produce local and regional policies within broad professional and NHS guidelines to improve working practices and performance.
• Maintain a high personal standard of professional practice and behaviour to meet required standards (e.g., HCPC, IQIPS (UKAS)) and encourage others to do likewise.
• Work flexibly to cover the work of colleagues during peak periods or absence.
• Responsible for the transfer of new technologies, tests or testing methods into routine diagnostic service.
• Ensure IT systems and clinical technology support data entry, spreadsheet use and report writing for the department.
• Recognise opportunities to plan and initiate cost improvements and income generation schemes via service reviews and audits.
• Interpret national and international policies for disease testing and standardise validation practices in the department.
• Ensure that appraisal and personal reviews for allocated staff are completed.
• Participate in recruitment of staff.
• Be actively involved in departmental quality groups and share good practice; lead in changes in working practice as agreed by departmental working groups.

IT skills: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for report writing, audit and data management and presentations. Statistical packages for analysing data (e.g., SPSS, Stata). Laboratory computer systems for entering, retrieving and validating results. Online databases for literature searches. Knowledge of quality standards and accreditation processes relevant to echocardiography services.

• On-site nursery
• 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible working
• Extensive in-house course learning directory
• Buying and selling of annual leave
• Subsidised restaurant
• Tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking