Senior Sonographer

Join our Ultrasound Leadership Team

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals is looking for enthusiastic and forward-thinking Senior Sonographers to help lead and develop our expanding ultrasound service. These Band 8a roles offer the opportunity to combine expert practice with operational leadership, education, governance, research and service development. Working alongside a highly skilled multidisciplinary team, you will provide clinical expertise, support workforce development and contribute to the strategic direction of ultrasound services across the Trust.

If you are passionate about delivering exceptional patient care, developing others and driving innovation, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

As a Senior Sonographer you will be a key member of the ultrasound leadership team, providing expert clinical practice alongside operational leadership. In these roles you will undertake and independently report complex ultrasound examinations, support service development, governance and quality assurance and contribute to workforce planning and education. You will use expert clinical knowledge and professional autonomy to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centred care aligned with Trust objectives and national standards.

Working collaboratively with radiologists, clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, the Senior Sonographers will provide specialist advice, lead service improvement initiatives, support training and professional development and promote evidence-based practice. The role includes responsibility for supervising and developing staff, maintaining high clinical standards, and contributing to research, audit and innovation activities that enhance patient pathways and service performance.

The post holders will also play a significant role in the day-to-day management of the ultrasound service, ensuring efficient use of resources, effective team working and continuous improvement of clinical outcomes. They will provide professional leadership in collaboration with the wider leadership team and support the Trust's commitment to delivering outstanding diagnostic services.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Ultrasound from a CASE accredited course or demonstrable equivalent experience with modules in two major areas of ultrasound e.g. general abdominal, obstetrics and gynaecology or specialised Vascular ultrasound qualification (or equivalent experience at postgraduate level in medical ultrasound).
• HCPC registration where applicable or registration on a relevant voluntary register e.g. RCT/AVS
• Evidence of on-going professional development and CPD

Desirable

• Registered teaching qualification
• Attendance specialist short Courses/seminars

Experience

Essential

• Holds experience required to act in lead advisory role to the medical imaging management, all clinical referrers and the Trust regarding all practical and theoretical matters in relation to medical ultrasound
• Experience of contributing to service planning, operational management or governance activities as part of a leadership or management team
• Demonstrable experience in a wide range of ultrasound procedures and modalities such as general ultrasound, obstetrics and NT scanning and MSK OR Specialist expertise in vascular US
• Held a senior position of responsibility requiring additional knowledge and experience to other sonographers.

Evidence of implementing research based practice.

Experience of working across professional and organisational boundaries both internal and external.

Experience in working under pressure, maintaining a professional manner whilst dealing with conflicting demands.

Experience of Quality Assurance

Desirable

• Experience of Audit and acting on findings.
• Experience of Research methodologies
• Experience of writing for publication/ recent peer reviewed articles.
• Experience in conducting conference presentations.
• Evidence of leading or implementing service development and quality improvement initiatives.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to undertake and independently report ultrasound studies at the same level required by a Radiologist.
• Highly developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised ultrasound imaging to Msc level (or working towards/equivalent considerable post graduate experience in Ultrasound at a senior level).
• Ability to develop protocols for clinical imaging in order to support evidence based Practice.
• Expert knowledge of professional policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of current issues, patient pathways, and the key role of the chosen specialised area of ultrasound imaging.
• Experience of clinical governance, quality assurance, audit and service improvement activities.
• Strategic vision and planning skills.
• Ability to work autonomously, unsupervised, independently, and also as part of a team.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Ability to take daily responsibility for, and direct, the organisation and workflow within designated team.

Advanced knowledge of modifications in imaging technique whilst adhering to H&S legislation

Desirable

• Ability and experience of coordinating, developing or leading ultrasound education and training programmes.
• Awareness of NHS Financial flows.
• Experience of delegated line management responsibilities including appraisal, development and attendance management.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Be able to demonstrate leadership qualities.
• Commitment to extended scope with portfolio evidence.
• Maintain a professional portfolio with a willingness to undertake further training, post graduate study and/or role extension should the need arise.
• Motivated to positively lead and embed service improvement/change.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including being able to communicate effectively across all disciplines- clinical, managerial and to a wide audience.
• Credibility and ability to negotiate and influence within your expertise at a senior level.
• Act as a role model and motivator for others within the service.
• Takes responsibility for their own and team development.
• Professional manner, good communicator able to manage both stressful situations and the emotional needs of anxious stressed patients.
• Ability to work flexible hours to provide 7 day service.
• Holds good personal practices to ensure an appropriate level of fitness required of the role.
• Exercises initiative within the scope of their role.

Multi-site working: must be able to meet the travel requirements of the post.

About the employer

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its employees. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.