Sonographer (General and MSK Specialist)

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Sonographer to join our team at Healthshare Group. As a Sonographer, you will be responsible for performing high-quality ultrasound examinations in various specialties, including Musculoskeletal (MSK) and General Ultrasound. If you have experience in all aspects of MSK and General Ultrasound, including abdominal, gynaecological, urinary tract, thyroid, and testes, we would love to hear from you. However, if you have experience in some or most of these areas, we would still like to discuss your application and help you realize your full potential.

Main Responsibilities

• Perform high-quality ultrasound examinations in MSK and General Ultrasound specialties.
• Evaluate and prioritize ultrasound referrals according to clinical protocols.
• Seek clinical clarity where ultrasound requests are equivocal.
• Undertake ultrasound scanning in accordance with national guidelines and agreed local protocols.
• Manage your personal ultrasound workload and contribute to the wider service requirements.
• Maintain the highest level of accuracy while performing each ultrasound examination.
• Assess clinical information and select the most appropriate scanning approach.
• Ensure optimum sterility is maintained throughout invasive examinations.
• Adhere to relevant company protocols in respect of hand hygiene and infection control.
• Act as a patient advocate in ultrasound scanning issues.
• Exercise the highest standard of patient communication and care to proactively improve the patient's experience.
• Ensure appropriate consent has been acquired, depending on the clinical protocol.
• Assess individual communication needs of patients and ensure necessary advocacy is arranged.
• Examine, diagnose, and assist in the treatment plan of patients.
• Offer and seek advice and support from colleagues when necessary.
• Undertake and report examinations, advising referral to the appropriate specialists when required.
• Liaise with the Consultant Radiologist as required for the most clinically appropriate imaging or management.
• Ensure urgent findings are communicated to clinicians without delay, in accordance with our protocols.
• Act as a mentor in the training of other Sonographers in MSK, Thyroid, and Vascular ultrasound.
• Undertake other duties as required by the demands of the service or by the Operations Manager.

Operating Responsibilities

• Liaise with the team to ensure the highest quality of service to patients and clinicians.
• Work effectively with all disciplines of staff, providing support and advice where necessary.
• Liaise and communicate with the Operations Manager to ensure all targets and quality standards are achieved.
• Be responsive to changes in service, patient, or company need.
• Ensure effective stock control of consumables.
• Use Radiology Information System (RIS) and Picture Archiving System (PACS) effectively, recording all necessary data and images accurately.
• Participate proactively in clinical audits to facilitate personal professional development.
• Embrace the clinical audit process of other Sonographers as they broaden their scanning skillset.
• Be involved in the review of imaging protocols, systems of work, and contribute suggestions and ideas for their improvement.
• Be involved in the Quality Assurance (QA) regime of Ultrasound equipment, undertaking tests and reporting faults as per the QA protocol.
• Support the Information Technology (IT) Department through timely reporting of IT issues of data integrity and encourage team members to do likewise.
• Follow the Health and Safety at Work Act and ensure adherence to all protocols and policies.
• Assist the Bookings team with any queries when requested.
• Undertake administrative and other duties as required by the service.
• Attend meetings where requested.
• Report Clinical and Non-Clinical incidents in line with our policies.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Support the Operations Manager in ensuring that imaging practice standards are monitored and continuously updated to maintain the highest possible quality of service.
• Support marketing, delivery, and quality of products and services.
• Liaise with doctors, patients, suppliers, subcontractors, universities, and the public as required.
• Ensure that the organization is consistently depicted in a strong, positive image to all stakeholders.
• Relationship building – it is expected that this position will develop relationships within and outside of the business. To foster team building with peers and co-workers to promote a positive working environment.
• Reporting of equipment and software faults to the Operations Manager.
• Providing relevant information and data to management for statistical analysis and reports.
• Facilitate the assessment and implementation of new policies, procedures, or practices, resulting from evidence originating from both within and outside Diagnostics.
• Participate in all relevant Audits, modifying practice if required.
• Assist in the implementation of QA and Clinical Governance to ensure quality standards are achieved.
• Ensure continuing familiarization with the current QA measures in place within the Department.
• Attend Clinical Governance meetings as required.
• Support risk assessment to provide an environment, equipment, and working procedures that are as safe as reasonably practicable for patients and staff.

Training, Research & Development

• Actively participate in the induction process for new staff.
• Facilitate the training and mentoring of Sonographers as they broaden their skill-set.
• Share expertise and act in an advisory capacity to other staff.
• Provide training in the use of clinical equipment and computer information systems for other staff.
• Evaluate new technology and its clinical value.
• Constantly evaluate working practice to ensure that competency can be measured and proven.
• Help promote effective communication amongst all users and providers of the ultrasound service.
• Maintain an up-to-date Continuing Professional Development portfolio.
• Visit the Intranet on a regular basis to keep informed of any recent changes to guidelines, policies, and practices.

General Responsibilities

• Confidentiality: In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
• Equal Opportunities: The post holder must at all times carry out his/her/their responsibilities with regard to Healthshare's Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Health and Safety: Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors, and employees.
• No Smoking Policy: Diagnostics operates a no smoking policy.
• Terms and Conditions of Employment: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; this means that any criminal conviction must be made known at the time of application. The post will be subject to a criminal record check (DBS).
• Review of this Job Description: This is an outline job description and should not be regarded as an inflexible specification. Responsibilities will be reviewed periodically in line with service priorities and duties may change or new duties be introduced after consultation with the post holder.

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