Cross Site Modality Lead for Ultrasound

Job overview

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGT) are looking for a dynamic and highly motivated individual to lead the Ultrasound Service; a fantastic opportunity to work in a busy and demanding clinical environment and to be part of an innovative, dynamic Imaging service at a time when it is expanding.

The Ultrasound service is based on our acute sites, at University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), and provides a full range of diagnostic studies,

This role will be suitable for someone who is looking for a new challenge as an Modality Lead in Ultrasound and has a proven interest in managing an Ultrasound service, teaching, and clinical governance. It is a great opportunity to make an impact at an exciting time, and to lead and inspire your own team to provide exceptional services to patients within  excellent Ultrasound Departments at LGT and at the Eltham Community Diagnostic Centre.

The post holder will be a highly experienced, qualified Sonographer, leading and developing the Ultrasound service and accountable for the modality.

Main duties of the job

You will be directly responsible for leading, developing and co-ordinating the multi-disciplinary team of Sonographers and other clinicians in the delivery of a high quality, safe and effective Ultrasound service across the Trust and its Community sites. You will  encourage the highest professional and technical standards in all staff by using personal example and ensuring a good team environment.

You will work as  part of a senior Radiology leadership team including modality leads, the Clinical Director, and Head of Imaging to ensure that the workforce within the modality are professionally led and managed in order to develop a highly motivated and empowered workforce creating an environment where everyone can excel.

You will create a working environment and open culture which fosters high morale and commitment among all staff across all sites, to promote the well-being, professional and personal development of all staff. Building and leading a stable workforce through the current challenges that the Trust faces will be essential to this role.

The post holder will provide expert knowledge and leadership within the modality for the development of strategies to improve quality, efficiency and productivity. You will ensure the efficient and effective provision of all aspects of the Ultrasound  service; managing activity, resources, people, and information to achieve agreed levels and standards of delivery.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be the Trust designated responsible person for the delivery of a high quality, safe and effective Ultrasound service across both Trust sites and the Community Diagnostic Centre at Eltham.

To work collaboratively with the Clinical Director, Head of Imaging to ensure that the workforce within the modality are professionally led and managed in order to develop a highly motivated and empowered workforce creating an environment where everyone can excel.

The post holder will provide expert knowledge and leadership within the modality for the development of strategies to improve quality, efficiency and productivity.

Building and leading a stable workforce through the current challenges that the Trust faces will be essential to this role.

The post holder will be a highly experienced, qualified Sonographer, leading and developing the Ultrasound departments and accountable for the modality’s professional actions. To be directly responsible for leading, developing and co-ordinating the multi-disciplinary team of sonographers and other clinicians.

The Modality Lead will provide and develop a working environment and open culture which fosters high morale and commitment among all staff across all sites, to promote the well-being, professional and personal development of all staff.

1.         Partnerships

1.1       To develop co-ordinated and comprehensive protocols for the management of patients throughout the Trust with the relevant multi-disciplinary team

1.2       To work collaboratively and in partnership with other practitioners, including medical consultants, divisional clinical directors, clinical leads and Modality Leads, providing cross-cover as required.

1.3       To cross professional and organisational boundaries in the interests of patients and clients to improve health outcomes.

1.4       To maintain and develop effective communication and collaborative links between other professional groups to enhance co-ordinated approaches to the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care.

1.5       To liaise and meet with specialist groups within other hospitals, hospices and teams in the community to disseminate appropriate policy, procedures and good practice on the correct management of Ultrasound investigations.

1.6       To lead on developments and innovations in care, between the trust and other agencies

1.7       To offer advice and specialist knowledge and to assist with any changes in service or with new developments

Internally:

Divisional Management teams

HR Business Partner/HR Advisors

Financial Team

Patients, carers and service users

Clinical Leads and other consultant and junior medical staff

Strategy and Development Business Partners

Matrons, Senior Nurses and other nursing staff

Heads of Professions and other Allied Health Professional staff

Staff within the Service

Heads of Departments

Externally:

All Commissioning bodies

Local Authority

NHS London (Strategic Health Authority)

General Practitioners

Other Trusts/Providers

Clinical Networks

Educational Bodies

Voluntary Bodies

Other Relevant External Agencies

NHS Elect

2.         Key Result Areas & Performance

2.1       To lead and develop extended roles within the modality.

2.2       To provide clinical leadership and an expert Ultrasound advice within the modality.

2.3       To practice at an advanced level demonstrating a high level of autonomy and clinical decision-making. Carrying out diagnostic and complex radiological procedures using safe practice and departmental protocols so that the highest possible standard is obtained for the patient.

2.4       To advise on further possible radiological treatment on the basis of the images and experience.

2.5       To select and prioritise patients on the Ultrasound list, understanding the implications of doing so. Ensuring that the patients are done in the best possible order especially in regard to clinical priority and infection control. In particular understanding the implications of infection on patients.

2.6       To ensure that the medical devices relevant to the modality are used in the correct situation safely and appropriately.

2.7       To comply with Health and safety regulations, IRR 99 & IR(ME)R 2000, COSHH and local rules within radiology and the hospital, ensuring the safety of patients and staff at all times.

2.8       To attend Directorate and Trust meetings on behalf of the imaging department

2.9       To communicate to patients and their families complex and sensitive information obtained from investigations; the implications and risks.

2.10     To lead, manage, co-ordinate the activities of multi-disciplinary teams of staff across all sites.

2.11     To lead, manage and develop all aspects of the Ultrasound modality provided within the Imaging Department spread across both Trust sites.

2.12     To be responsible for providing a high quality diagnostic imaging service, encouraging the highest professional and technical standards in all staff by using personal example.

2.13     To be responsible for carrying out specialised Ultrasound imaging to a high standard and in a professional manner, working to departmental guidelines whilst being accountable for own actions.

2.14     To deputise for the Head of Imaging in running the department in their absence.

2.15     To take responsibility for the supervision of Sonographers and members of the multi-disciplinary team.

2.16     To carry out all responsibilities with regard to all Trust Policies and relevant legislations within the Trust.

2.17     To independently undertake diagnostic Ultrasound procedures maintaining high professional standards of technical competence and ensuring standards of essence of care at all times.

2.18     To undertake enough modality procedures to maintain competence and be fully aware of the safety aspects and hazards, and related emergency procedures for the working area.

2.19     To independently assess and adapt/modify techniques and protocols following assessment for each procedure, possibly on a patient by patient basis. This will include incorporating, developing and evaluating local, national and international guidance relevant to the specific area.

2.20     To take responsibility for the care of the patient whilst undertaking the procedure. This includes manual handling, moving the patients in the wheelchairs, beds and trolleys and the using mobile equipment.

2.21     To offer opinion on Ultrasound images obtained to relevant medical personnel.

2.22     To supervise and provide clinical assistance to Sonographers, assistant practitioners, Radiology Department Assistants and students.

2.23     To be fully conversant with all Ultrasound safety issues and maintains contact with external safety committees and relevant professional bodies in representing the Trust to enable provision of highly expert specialist advice and support to multidisciplinary colleagues within and external to Trust..

2.24     To be ultimately responsible for ensuring standards and systems of internal control are designed implemented and reviewed adequately to constantly safeguard all users of Ultrasound and to ensure research and development of all aspects to be detailed in the Ultrasound operational policy and protocols.

2.25     To ensure that regular QA tests are undertaken and the safe use of equipment.

2.26     To report equipment failures immediately, by liaising with third party equipment support centres to arrange services and emergency call out for faulty equipment.

2.27     To assist in the evaluation and procurement process for any new equipment within the Modality.

2.28     To operate advanced software on specialist equipment, requiring good hand-eye co-ordination.

2.29     To use counselling and negotiating skills to obtain informed consent from distressed patients and relatives prior to undertaking procedures and to ensure that all information is clearly understood.

2.30     To use communication skills in an empathetic manner to patients or relatives who are distressed, terminally ill, injured or claustrophobic.

2.31     To cannulate and administer contrast agents and other procedures as required and implement and supervise training programmes for other staff to be able to do so.

2.32     To be the lead investigator for all clinical, non-clinical and serious untoward incidents or complaints, within your specialist areas in accordance with the Trust Risk Management Policy. To make recommendations and implement changes to practice as appropriate.

2.33     To be responsible for the development and daily management of the computer booking appointment system for the services. This includes being responsible for the re-arrangement of work lists in the event of equipment failure/ staff sickness and communication of this throughout the Trust

2.34     To ensure accurate recording of patient and examination details, including full confirmation details are entered onto the Radiology Information System.

2.35     To implement measures and controls to ensure archiving of all examination images to Picture Archive Computer System (PACS) is complete.

2.36     To monitor, supervise, report and correct any defects in the data integrity of the Radiology Information Systems, PACS and other related computer systems.