Advanced Practitioner Ultrasound / Sonographer

Job overview

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts responsible for managing two major hospitals in Coventry and Rugby, which between them serve a population of over one million people. We are the principle teaching hospital for Warwick Medical school and work in close co-operation and partnership to develop innovative programmes in clinical research. We are looking for highly motivated and professional individuals with a flexible approach to working and a desire to further develop the ultrasound service.

Main duties of the job

The Imaging department is seeking an enthusiastic sonographer to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. You will have opportunity to train, mentor and develop other staff to work to high standards. We are a modern department, fast paced, dynamic and vibrant with an interesting and challenging case load especially our in-patient departments. The service covers both obstetric and general ultrasound departments as well as a variety of sub-specialties including MSK, paediatrics, vascular and interventional. The ultrasound service is provided across 3 sites, University Hospital Coventry , Rugby St Cross and the Coventry City Centre. The service will be expanding into the Community Diagnostic centre and the development is planned currently for 2025.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

If you are invited to attend interview you will be asked to set up an account with the Trac recruitment system in order to confirm your interview time

Job Summary

• To evaluate the request, perform and report ultrasound examinations independently to Department Protocols and to be accountable for own professional actions including reporting.
• To act as an autonomous practitioner to carry out a full range of ultrasound examinations across all patient pathways to a consistently high standard and produce high quality, independent reports ensuring compliance with imaging protocols.
• To produce and interpret high-quality images of the body to diagnose and confirm normality and abnormality, injuries and diseases
• To teach and supervise radiographers, students and SPR’s. To support the Lead for the day to day organisation of the ultrasound service in accordance with Trust/departmental protocols.
• To perform examinations and high quality diagnostic ultrasound images, in line with governmental and departmental protocols.
• To carry out procedures/examinations and prepare independent clinical reports for completed ultrasound scans, in line with departmental protocols.
• Manage all “designated” procedures to assess patient's needs, adapting and modifying imaging techniques according to the patient's condition. Attending to patients' welfare and safety at all times.
• To discuss the findings of the ultrasound examinations with patients where appropriate
• Provide expert clinical and professional advice and support the multidisciplinary team within the UHCW NHS Trust and as appropriate with other Trusts within the region
• Be responsible for the operational supervision and management of allocated area, assessing and managing workflow to utilise available resources to deliver prompt efficient and effective service.
• To participate in request validation, vetting and justification in accordance with departmental protocols
• To check patient identification and documentation, and ensure the appropriate radiographic/imaging examinations are carried out in accordance with departmental protocols and clinical requests.
• To evaluate resultant images for quality, instigating remedial actions as appropriate and alert clinicians of any abnormality as appropriate.
• To be accountable for own professional actions and to act as a role model within the department, setting and maintaining high standards of professionalism and patient care and encouraging the development of a strong and flexible multi-disciplinary team Regularly helping to develop and draft changes to ultrasound protocols, ensuring best practice through evidence based information.
• To participate in the departmental Quality Assurance programme to ensure the efficient operation of the highly technical equipment, and to ensure compliance with best practice
• To support 7 day working service delivery.
• To support booking/reception staff when responding to queries generated by patients or staff regarding requests for ultrasound examinations.
• To facilitate communication between the department and all service users, patients, relatives, staff and external users, including any adherence to Trust policies, including participation in annual appraisal/review systems.
• Communicate with patients and professional colleagues in situations that may be traumatic due to pressures of work or where the patient’s condition may be a barrier to comprehension and compliance, e.g. Claustrophobia, learning difficulties or injury traumatised.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information to patients and clients in a professional manner at all times, explaining procedures and obtaining consent when necessary
• To assist in the implementation of all manual and electronic information systems ensuring consistently accurate data collection and recording, in support of standard data collection, performance activity, audit and Capacity and demand analysis.
• To attend specialist MDM meetings and audit meetings, contributing to peer review and specialist service redesign/modernisation planning

For further details please see the attached job description.