Band 8b - Lead Sonographer – Quality and Governance, Radiology in Watford

We are seeking to recruit a part-time Lead Sonographer with a dedicated lead responsibility for Quality and Governance in Ultrasound. This is a cross-site role covering Watford General Hospital, Hemel Hempstead Hospital, and St Albans City Hospital, with additional leadership oversight of the community ultrasound clinic at Elstree Way. The post is for 22.5 hours per week, worked between Monday and Friday. The successful candidate will join the Sonographer Leadership triumvirate and will hold strategic responsibility for quality and governance across Ultrasound Radiology Services within West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Governance, quality assurance, education, training, and active participation in research form key components of the scope of practice for this role.

Main duties of the job

• Responsible to the Head of Radiology for West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals Trust (WHTH) for the operational management of the ultrasound departments at WHTH, with a specialist interest and responsibility for quality and governance.
• The postholder will be an expert clinical practitioner, managing a complex caseload.
• They will have a key role in governance, leadership, quality assurance, teaching and supervision, in addition to maintaining their own clinical caseload.
• The post holder will be dynamic, innovative and forward-thinking, contributing proactively to service development.
• The post holder will lead and manage a multidisciplinary team including Advanced Practitioners, Enhanced Practitioners, Practitioners and Assistant Practitioners within the ultrasound department.
• The post holder will work closely with all stakeholders to deliver a high-quality ultrasound service within a safe environment for both staff and patients.

Person specification

• Education and qualifications: DMU or PgD in Ultrasound Management qualification. MSc in healthcare related science or business/service management. HCPC / NMC / RCT registration or equivalent registration with a professional body. Hold or working towards an MSc. Advanced clinical study.
• Knowledge: Complex knowledge of pathologies. Detailed knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy. Actively participates in CPD including facilitating audit and undertaking research relevant to service development and professional needs. In-depth knowledge of Governance and Risk. Understanding of RTT and PTL for cancer pathways. Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion. Service developments and NHS long term plans. Maternity bereavement investigation handling.
• Experience: Proficient NHS ultrasound experience in Obstetrics, gynaecology and general medical ultrasound. Previously worked at Advanced Practice Sonographer level. Experienced manager with regard to appraisal, recruitment, recognition. Audit completion, at personal and service level. Other clinical governance experience. Complaint handling and response writing. Sub‑specialisms to include head and neck, breast, interventional and breast imaging. Development of local NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme (FASP) compliance.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire. As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

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.