Job summary

The post holder will provide support to the Ultrasound Superintendent to maintain a high-quality service. The post holder will assist in the planning and development of services and the team.

The post holder will deputize for the superintendent in their absence and will be expected to undertake line management roles commensurate with their grade.

The post holder will take a leading role in positively encouraging and maintaining the highest professional and technical standards in all staff, using personal examples of exemplary patient care, technically excellent imaging, and professionalism.

The post holder will be expected to participate in a 7 day working week (including Bank holidays) in a clinical capacity when required.

The post holder with be required to perform and report ultrasound examinations as an independent practitioner ensuring a high quality service is provided in these areas

Main duties of the job

To ensure the efficient and effective provision of a high-quality Ultrasound service, undertaking quality control to ensure that the highest possible standards are achieved and maintained by the team.

To supervise, as necessary, the work of all staff working in the Ultrasound departments.

To assist in the development of an efficient team to maximize patient care in terms of quality, quantity and timelines and to assist in the design and implementation of systems of work improve efficiency and effectiveness.

The post-holder will assist with recruitment, selection and induction of staff.

The post-holder will ensure the accurate recording and retention of staff records in terms of attendance and annual, study and sick leave.

About us

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organization and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as \Good by CQC. We have achievednumerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Operational Management

To ensure the efficient and effective provision of a high-quality Ultrasound service, undertaking quality control to ensure that the highest possible standards are achieved and maintained by the team.

To supervise, as necessary, the work of all staff working in the Ultrasound departments.

To assist in the development of an efficient team to maximize patient care in terms of quality, quantity and timelines and to assist in the design and implementation of systems of work improve efficiency and effectiveness.

To assist with stock control, ordering and revenue consequences of consumable items used by the department.

To liaise with service users and key stakeholders to provide the optimum standard of service possible within the resources available.

To assist with implementing a Quality Assurance Programme in the areas managed, liaising with Consultant Radiologists and Physicists as applicable.

To manage equipment breakdown, servicing and QA schedules, reporting faults to the relevant key stakeholders e.g., Medipass. You must ensure that appropriate handover sheets are provided for the above scenarios.

To be responsible, if required, for the production of meaningful statistical information.

Personnel Management

The post-holder will assist with recruitment, selection and induction of staff.

The post-holder will ensure the accurate recording and retention of staff records in terms of attendance and annual, study and sick leave.

The post-holder will assist in introducing and maintaining an effective communications system for staff.

The post-holder will assist with the development of a training programmes for staff.

General

To ensure that you use all equipment safely and in accordance with operating/manufacturer instructions and that you and all staff using equipment are competent and trained to do so.

To undertake training on the Patient Management System (PMS), the Radiology Information System (RIS) and the Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) to ensure that patient information is stored and retrieved accurately.

Be familiar with or willing to undertake training as required on ViewPoint and Badgernet systems to ensure that all patient records are accurate

To participate in the vetting of appropriate referrals in line with radiology authorisation guidelines.

To ensure a clean, tidy, and safe working environment, adhering to the cleaning SOPs in place for each clinical area.

To work flexibly to cover annual leave and sickness absence, working additional sessions as required/agreed.

Maintain fitness to practice with the Professional Code of Conduct through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and mandatory training (Fire, Infection Control, Manual Handling, Information Governance and CPR).

To wear the uniform provided and to promote the Radiology Directorate in a positive manner at all times.

To assist the Superintendent in the drawing up of the Directorates Healthcare Plan.

To participate in the 7-day working roster which includes Bank Holidays.

To be familiar, or willing to train on e-rostering and be able to perform administrative duties on e-roster

The post-holder will be subject to annual appraisal.

This job description is a guide to the main duties and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. You may be required to undertake other duties that are commensurate with the post and grade and which have been discussed with you.

Clinical

Performing and reporting a wide range of ultrasound examinations with a focus on Womens Health. Additional skills in general ultrasound or the willingness to develop are desirable.

Scans include:

Detailed Obstetric scans to look for structural abnormalities

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic for diagnosing e.g. ectopic pregnancies and early fetal demise

Confirming intrauterine death

Assessing high risk third trimester pregnancies, using Doppler ultrasound when appropriate Dating/NT scans

General gynaecology scans

Paediatric scanning e.g. Renal, hip and neonatal head scan

To give specialist and expert advice to a wide range of healthcare professionals. Evaluate which ultrasound requests have the appropriate clinical history to require an ultrasound examination and ensure the correct preparation is carried out for the patient.

The scan results must be communicated accurately to the clinicians to ensure the correct aftercare is given to the patient. Ultrasound policies/guidelines and working practices are developed in a multidisciplinary team to ensure seamless working with other clinics/wards.

Maintain fitness to practice within the Professional Code of Conduct and through CPD.

To work well in a multidisciplinary team and to develop and promote good working relationships with other multidisciplinary teams.

To participate in scanning and co-ordination of research within ultrasound.

To enhance the patients experience

To be courteous and helpful towards patients, visitors, staff and referring clinicians/GPs and to always offer a high-quality service.

To provide first line assistance in the event of a patients query or complaint and escalating the matter to a more senior member of staff where appropriate. This will at times require a high level of communication skills to diffuse confrontational situations. The post holder is required to have knowledge of the Trusts Complaints Procedure.

To undertake Datix management training and to respond to Datix incidents as required.

To develop the performance of the team

To assist in the training of new members of staff, supporting them through their induction programme.

To act in the capacity of assessor and mentor as required for different staff groups including newly qualified sonographers and students.

To manage appraisals, sickness reviews, capability, disciplinary and other line management tasks for the staff groups under your responsibility. Where required, to undertake relevant training identified to support the above activities.

To identify opportunities for an individual or team to develop in areas relevant to their role, adding skills and knowledge to the team and positively contributing to staff retention.

To undertake staff annual appraisals.

To ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organisations objectives

To be familiar with and comply with all appropriate Trust and Radiology Directorate Policies, Procedures and Practices, making suggestions which could lead to improvements in the service.

To attend such courses/lectures/in-service training as required by the needs of the service and of this post.

To ensure that Risk Management, Health and Safety Regulations, COSHH Regulations, Major Incident Plans and Ionising Radiation Regulations are adhered to, including the Local Rules, and manage accidents/untoward incidents/hazards in the absence of the Superintendent.

To be familiar with and uphold the quality standards of the Trust and Radiology Department.

Clinical Governance

To be familiar with the principles of clinical governance and to strive to maintain and improve the quality of patient care.

To actively participate in the Directorates Clinical Governance Programme and to attend the Directorates Risk Management Group when required.

To ensure that Risk Assessments are carried out for all areas of responsibility and reviewed annually or earlier should the need arise.

To ensure that the Health and Safety Policies and the Ionising Radiation Regulations are adhered to, including the local rules.

To assist with setting and monitoring quality standards in your area of responsibility.

To investigate complaints and report the findings to the Ultrasound Superintendent, and to learn lessons from these complaints. Putting these into lessons into practice to improve services.

To ensure that all staff are competent to perform the duties assigned to them, issuing competency certificates where necessary.

To undertake audits as required. To work with the Screening Support Sonographer to ensure all auditing and reporting is timely and accurate.

You have a responsibility for the identification of risks in your area which have a potential adverse effect on the Trusts ability to maintain quality of care and the safety of patients, staff and visitors, and for the taking of positive action to eliminate or reduce these risks where possible.

Person Specification

Experience,team player,innovative

Essential

• BSc (Hons) or Equivalent HCPC registered. Post Graduate qualification in Medical Ultrasound
• Experience with planning and implementing change in a service. Experience of organising rotas, managing sickness, booking annual leave and undertaking appraisals
• Excellent verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with patients, colleagues, Consultants, Junior Doctors
• Participation in the 7 day working rota
• Involvement with setting up new systems of work. Fast track, one stop clinics

Desirable

• Management and Leadership qualification

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

225-Div3-4964191-A-B