Obstetric Specialist Sonographer Hemel Hempstead

Job summary

Are you an experienced, highly skilled Sonographer looking for an exciting opportunity to work at an advanced level within a busy and evolving ultrasound service?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Band 8a Sonographer to join our team, working across Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Wycombe Hospital on a temporary basis until June 2027.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced sonographer to play a key role in delivering and developing a high-quality ultrasound service across a broad range of clinical specialties. Ultrasound is an essential part of our diagnostic pathway, supporting cancer targets, one-stop clinics and a wide range of specialist services across the Trust.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished practitioner with extensive experience in general medical, obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound, with the ability to work independently and confidently in a complex clinical environment.

Main duties of the job

The role will include:

• Independently performing and reporting general abdominal, small parts, obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound examinations, including trans-vaginal scanning.
• Providing specialist ultrasound expertise and advice to clinicians and other healthcare professionals.
• Undertaking examinations in a variety of challenging environments, including ITU, NICU, theatres and trauma settings, as well as examinations on sedated or anaesthetised patients.
• Supporting one-stop clinics and specialist clinical pathways.
• Recognising significant or unexpected findings and making appropriate referrals for urgent treatment or further diagnostic imaging.
• Providing sensitive and compassionate support and counselling to patients, including those experiencing pregnancy loss or receiving distressing news.
• Supporting biopsies and other sterile procedures, including patient monitoring and preparation of equipment.
• Undertaking mobile ultrasound examinations where required.
• Ensuring high standards of patient safety, infection prevention and equipment quality assurance.

You will also have a significant role in the education, training and supervision of others. This will include student radiographers, radiographers, clinical support staff and medical colleagues from Radiology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and other specialties.

About us

Here at NHS Professionals, we run England's largest NHS staff bank and are experts at putting people in places to care. Every year we help thousands of dedicated and highly skilled NHS workers enjoy better career opportunities, more flexible shifts, and a healthier work-life balance across our partnered Trusts.

Career Progression

access to Learning & Development opportunities, so that you can take on new roles and challenges

Work-life Balance

flexible shifts, committed shifts, wellbeing resources and build paid annual leave

Opportunity & Access

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Job responsibilities

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST

Ongoing staff supervision and training is a significant element of this role. This will regularly include medical staff in Radiology, Obs. and Gynae and occasionally from other specialities. Ultrasound is provided within the Obstetric and Gynaecological Directorate as well as in the Radiology Department. Ultrasound is a key modality for the achievement of cancer targets and provides a service to most clinical specialities. As one of the fastest growing areas of imaging it must be adaptable to change in line with the modernisation agenda of the Trust. The delivery of this service must be flexible and change to meet the demand from other clinicians. Many sessions now involve the support of one or more one-stop clinics. The post holder is expected to be able to perform a wide range of general abdominal, small parts, obstetric and gynaecological examinations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical

• a) Vet and accept imaging requests.
• b) Prioritise patients based on clinical history so the appointment clerks can allocate a suitable appointment.
• c) To assist with the development of a quality assurance programme.
• d) Provide specialist ultrasound advice both technical and diagnostic/image interpretation to a range of service users.
• e) To assist with the development of the ultrasound service by evaluating and incorporating new techniques.
• f) To assist with the development of protocols which optimise the technical ability of US equipment.
• g) To ensure imaging sequences used are appropriate to the patients history/condition.
• h) Undertake ultrasound examinations on sedated or anaesthetised patients (adult and paediatric) including the ITU, NICU, theatre and trauma settings.
• i) To independently undertake, interpret and report on all diagnostic ultrasound examinations performed including Obstetrics, Gynae (including trans-vaginal), abdominal, small parts, e.g., testes, and depending on clinical experience musculoskeletal, specialist paediatric work duplex and vascular scanning.
• j) To understand and adhere to the safety aspects of ultrasound ensuring that technical and professional standards are maintained within the ultrasound department by completing and recording regular quality control checks. To assist in quality assurance procedures and protocols relating to your work.
• k) Refer patients for further diagnostic imaging based on the ultrasound diagnosis.
• l) OBs and Gynae: Refer out-patients/GP patients requiring rapid/urgent admission to hospital to the relevant medical team based on the ultrasound diagnosis e.g., ectopic pregnancy, foetal abnormality and Gynae tumours. This will involve counselling patients
• m) Non-Obstetric US: Refer out-patients/GP patients requiring rapid/urgent admission/treatment to the relevant clinical team based on the ultrasound diagnosis, e.g., suspicion of malignancy, metastases, DVT, acute renal obstruction, appendicitis, liver abscess
• n) Counselling of patients, in particular those attending the early pregnancy assessment clinic, over the viability of their pregnancy and certain foetal anomalies
• o) To adapt ultrasound technique and manipulate and adapt equipment parameters to optimise image quality to aid image interpretation and diagnosis
• p) Lay-up trolleys for sterile procedures e.g., biopsies and assist with the procedure.
• q) Provide patient care and monitoring of condition during procedures.
• r) Undertake mobile ultrasound examinations.
• s) To comply with departmental and infection control guidance

2. Training and Supervision

• a) Induction, training and supervision of student radiographers, radiographers (CT staff and others on rotation) and clinical support staff.
• b) Monitoring and assessment of students.
• c) To assist with the organisation and participate in the delivery of formal teaching/ up-date sessions for radiographers, sonographers, students, and clinical support staff. As this is a complex imaging technique this may involve ultrasound equipment as well as clinical applications.
• d) Assist with the organisation of training programmes for medical staff (usually SPR) in Radiology (ongoing SPR rotation form Oxford), OBs and Gynae and other specialities as required.
• e) To assist, direct and teach staff in the development of ultrasound expertise.
• f) Responsible for ensuring own CPD is kept up to date.
• g) Complete mandatory and statutory training in line with national and Trust requirements.
• h) FASP online training in line with department requirements.

3. Management

• a) Monitor waiting times and waiting lists and take appropriate action to meet targets.
• b) Appraisal of staff, identification of training needs and professional development
• c) Assist with the development of procedures and protocols.
• d) Assist with the identification, planning and implementation of changes to service provision.
• e) Assist with the achievement of local and national targets.
• f) To liaise with equipment maintenance supplier over equipment faults/repairs and maintain equipment fault Logbook.
• g) Attend ultrasound user groups in Radiology and OBs & Gynae Depts.
• h) To help review ultrasound protocols on a regular basis, propose and agree changes with the relevant clinical teams.
• i) Assist with the set up and maintenance of an ultrasound equipment QA programme to monitor image quality.
• j) To help evaluate new ultrasound equipment for the Trust (value 100k+) prior to purchase.
• k) To deputise for the Ultrasound Service Manager in either the OBs & Gynae OR the Radiology Departments as agreed. Dealing with any staffing or clinical issues that arise on a day-to-day basis or leading on specific projects.
• l) To assist with the QA evaluation of equipment.

4. Communication

• a) Effective communication with a wide range of service users including patients, carers, and other professionals both inside and outside the Trust.
• b) Ability to communicate complex imaging procedures and gain the understanding and co-operation of patients of all ages and abilities.
• c) Counselling of patients in distressing circumstances e.g., in utero foetal death.
• d) To assist with the development and up-date patient procedures/information.
• e) Respond to complaints from service users and patients.

5. Audit

• a) To develop and undertake relevant audits both service and clinical - local and national e.g., Downs Syndrome.
• b) May be required to participate in research and development

6. Other

• a) As a referrer for other imaging techniques an awareness of Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 and IR(ME)R 2017 is required.
• b) Safe manual handling of patients and equipment on an ongoing basis.
• c) Accurate maintenance and updating of patient records. This will involve effective use of Computerised Radiology Information System, Viewpoint and PACS (Picture Archiving Communication System) as well as conventional film handling.
• d) Complete paper based clinical records if required
• e) Attend relevant Radiology performance and staff meetings.
• f) Attend and participate in relevant multi-disciplinary meetings.
• g) To assist in the development of Clinical Governance within ultrasound.
• h) To be responsible for the cleanliness and general care of all equipment and facilities within the working area, acting on faults and ensuring safety.
• i) Ensure equipment is decontaminated before maintenance and ensure equipment is working correctly before it comes back into clinical use.
• j) Attend and participate in relevant multi-disciplinary meetings.
• k) To assist in the development of Clinical Governance within ultrasound.
• l) To be responsible for the cleanliness and general care of all equipment and facilities within the working area, acting on faults and ensuring safety.
• m) Ensure equipment is decontaminated before maintenance and ensure equipment is working correctly before it comes back into clinical use.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc in Radiography or equivalent radiography qualification OR a Health care qualification to degree level standard
• PGD in Ultrasound imaging or equivalent ultrasound imaging qualification. Plus, relevant experience in US practices
• Evidence of CPD
• MSc in Ultrasound or equivalent experience in general medical and obstetric ultrasound
• Evidence of DQASS monitoring in the last 12 months
• Active HCPC or RCT Registration
• Regular attendance on short courses and conferences
• Counselling Skills Course
• Completion IR(ME)R eLFH referrer course or equivalent
• Sound understanding of cross sectional radiography imaging
• Excellent experience in obstetrics, gynaecology and general medical ultrasound
• A wide range of non- obstetric scanning
• Skills in counselling and giving bad news
• Equipment management and Quality Assurance in US or radiology
• Ability to show good use and understanding of US equipment to use image manipulation
• Teaching and training skills Assertiveness
• Individual Performance review
• Experience with dealing with complaints
• Management experience in either US or radiology
• Extensive knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy gained through radio-graphic and ultrasound practice
• Comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology and pathology relevant to extensive US practice
• Organisational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and empathy for counselling patients e.g. cancer or foetal death.
• Ability to write reports
• Ability to work autonomously taking responsibility for clinical interpretation and production of reports for referring clinicians
• Team worker
• Ability to plan and undertake audit of own and the work of others
• Evidence of CPD
• Good time management
• Teaching and training skills
• Awareness of Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 and IR(ME)R 2017
• Good keyboard skills for using PC and image reporting systems
• Extensive knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy gained through radio-graphic and ultrasound practice
• Comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology and pathology relevant to extensive US practice
• Organisational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and empathy for counselling patients e.g. cancer or foetal death.
• Ability to write reports
• Ability to work autonomously taking responsibility for clinical interpretation and production of reports for referring clinicians
• Team worker
• Ability to plan and undertake audit of own and the work of others

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.