Clinical Specialist Sonographer, ENT Ultrasound in Coventry

Clinical Specialist Sonographer, ENT Ultrasound

NHS AfC: Band 8A

Main area Radiology - Ultrasound Grade NHS AfC: Band 8A Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 218-AHP-B8A-8312936

Site University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Town Coventry Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 14/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

The successful candidate will independently perform, interpret and report specialist Head and Neck ultrasound examinations and undertake ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) procedures within a high-volume one-stop diagnostic service. Working as an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will support rapid cancer diagnosis, multidisciplinary decision-making, service development, clinical governance and workforce development.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced sonographer with substantial expertise in Head and Neck ultrasound, advanced clinical reasoning skills and a commitment to delivering high-quality patient-centred care within complex cancer and diagnostic pathways.

The role works closely with ENT Consultants, Radiologists, Pathologists, Clinical Nurse Specialists and wider multidisciplinary teams to provide expert diagnostic services supporting ENT, Maxillofacial and Head & Neck Cancer pathways.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• Independently perform and report specialist Head and Neck ultrasound examinations.
• Undertake ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) procedures.
• Assess and manage complex Head and Neck diagnostic pathways.
• Support rapid access and one-stop neck lump and cancer diagnostic services.
• Review relevant imaging and clinical information to inform patient management.
• Work collaboratively with ENT, Radiology, Pathology and Oncology multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide expert clinical advice to colleagues and contribute to MDT discussions.
• Ensure the delivery of safe, effective and patient-centred care.
• Support clinical audit, quality improvement projects and service development initiatives.
• Contribute to clinical governance and maintenance of professional standards.
• Supervise, mentor and support trainee and junior sonographers.
• Participate in teaching, training and workforce development activities.
• Monitor service performance and support delivery of cancer pathway targets.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive patient records and reports.
• Contribute to the strategic development of the Head and Neck Ultrasound Service.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create anenvironment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Clinical Specialist Sonographer (Head & Neck) will be an autonomous practitioner responsible for delivering a high-quality specialist ultrasound and ultrasound-guided intervention service, supporting both routine and urgent cancer pathways.
The post holder will independently perform, interpret and report complex Head and Neck ultrasound examinations, providing expert clinical assessment and contributing directly to patient diagnosis and management. The role includes undertaking ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) procedures within established governance frameworks and supporting one-stop diagnostic clinics.
Working within a multidisciplinary environment, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with ENT Consultants, Radiologists, Pathologists, Oncologists, Clinical Nurse Specialists and allied healthcare professionals to ensure timely investigation and management of patients with suspected Head and Neck pathology.
Key responsibilities include:

• Independently perform and report advanced Head and Neck ultrasound examinations.
• Undertake ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) procedures.
• Provide expert clinical opinion and diagnostic support for complex cases.
• Participate in one-stop neck lump and cancer diagnostic pathways.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to support patient management.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive clinical documentation and reports.
• Ensure compliance with professional, departmental and Trust policies and procedures.
• Contribute to service development, pathway improvement and innovation.
• Participate in clinical audit, quality assurance and governance activities.
• Support service performance monitoring and achievement of cancer and diagnostic targets.
• Provide teaching, supervision and mentorship to trainee sonographers, radiographers and other healthcare professionals.
• Support workforce development through education, training and competency assessment.
• Contribute to protocol development, standard setting and implementation of best practice.
• Maintain continued professional development and specialist clinical expertise.
• Act as a role model for excellent patient care, professionalism and clinical leadership.

This role offers an opportunity to work within an established specialist Head and Neck Ultrasound Service with strong multidisciplinary links, supporting the delivery of high-quality diagnostic services and improving outcomes for patients across ENT and Head & Neck Cancer pathways.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography HCPC Registration Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound (PgDip) or equivalent CASE-accredited qualification. Substantial specialist training and competency in Head and Neck Ultrasound practice. Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) relevant to specialist ultrasound practice. Qualification and competency to independently report ultrasound examinations.
• Master’s degree in medical Ultrasound, Advanced Clinical Practice or a related subject. Qualification in clinical leadership, education or service improvement. Independent Non-Medical Prescribing qualification. Teaching, mentorship or clinical assessor qualification.

Experience

• Experience performing ultrasound guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) procedures within Head and Neck services. Significant experience in Head & Neck ultrasound practice as an autonomous practitioner. Demonstrable expertise in the assessment and reporting of neck lumps, thyroid pathology, salivary gland disease and cervical lymph node abnormalities. Experience working within Head & Neck cancer pathways, including urgent suspected cancer referrals and one-stop diagnostic services. Experience contributing to multidisciplinary team (MDT) decision-making. Experience providing independent ultrasound reports and communicating complex findings to referrers.
• Experience performing ultrasound-guided core biopsy procedures. One-stop neck lump clinic experience. Service development experience. Research activity. Teaching and training experience. Leadership responsibilities within a specialist ultrasound service.

Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of Head and Neck anatomy, pathology and ultrasound imaging techniques. Advanced knowledge of Head and Neck cancer pathways and national cancer standards. Knowledge of ultrasound-guided FNA procedures and associated governance requirements. Advanced knowledge of PACS, RIS and ultrasound reporting systems. Understanding of clinical governance, audit and quality assurance within ultrasound services
• Additional postgraduate training relevant to Head and Neck/ENT imaging, interventional procedures, or advanced clinical practice Additional formal training in areas such as leadership, education, research, or quality improvement

Skills

• Advanced communication skills. Expert Head & Neck ultrasound scanning and reporting skills. Competence in ultrasound-guided FNA procedures. Ability to independently manage complex diagnostic pathways. Ability to prioritise and manage competing clinical demands. Advanced clinical reasoning and judgement.
• Experience leading clinical service improvement. Experience supporting specialist training programmes. Experience presenting at MDT meetings.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s values. (As detailed in UHCW’s Values in Action document below) Applicants applying for job roles with managerial responsibility will be required to demonstrate evidence of promoting equal opportunities through work experience

To ensure that we provide world‑class patient care, UHCW recruits people that can demonstrate the Trust’s Values and Behaviours in their everyday life. Therefore, if you are invited to interview, you will be undertaking a Values Based Interview/Assessment, which explores not only what you do but how and why you do it.
Before applying, we encourage you to review the Trust’s Values and Behaviours which can be accessed on the right side of this page under the job description.
The Supporting Information Section in your application should therefore reflect your understanding of the Trust’s Values and associated Behaviours. You will be expected to provide us with examples from work experience and/or personal life which demonstrate these values through your behaviour.

The Trust is committed to Equal Opportunities within the workplace. All vacancies will be considered for Job Share unless otherwise stated. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the job will be interviewed. Where a post has an overwhelming response, this Trust may use random selection in order to reduce numbers to interview, any disabled applicants will automatically be guaranteed an interview and will be exempt from this process.

In submitting an application form, you authorise University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust to confirm from your previous or current NHS employer and other prior employers; previous NHS service details and personal data held about you, including Occupational Health data (inoculations and screening tests). This data will be transferred using NHS Electronic Staff Record and third‑party systems via an automated process and only used for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining accurate employment records, should you be appointed to the post.

UHCW NHS Trust, by virtue of its Green Plan, is committed to ensuring that the way we provide services minimises the impact on the environment and the future health of the public e.g. zero waste to landfill, reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our recycling and reuse percentages.

If you are successful at interview you will receive a conditional offer of employment and we’ll ask you for information so that we can carry out pre‑employment checks. You must successfully complete all pre‑employment checks to progress to a final unconditional offer.

We must confirm the identity of our staff and their right to work in the United Kingdom. We will ask you to submit proof of your identity and right to work documents via a secure digital platform approved by the Home Office, named TrustID. Alternatively, you may ask to attend our office with original documents.

Depending on you level of exposure with patients you may be required to undertake a Standard or Enhanced DBS. The cost of this check will be charged to you and will be deducted from your salary over the first 3 months of employment at the current rate.

All correspondence will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk/SPAM folders

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Navninder Gill Job title General & Ultrasound Superintendent Radiographer Email address Navninder.Gill2@uhcw.nhs.uk

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