Regional Lead Sonographer - South

Job summary The post holder will be expected to provide an ultrasound service comprising wholly of unsupervised scanning sessions and lead the sonographer regional team for Diagnostic Healthcares Ultrasound contracts in the South specifically Colchester and Essex.The post holder will be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the AQP/Trust contracts, providing a high quality and safe service and complying with all national standards.
Main duties of the job Key responsibilities will include staff induction and management, training and development and the monitoring and maintaining of the ultrasound Quality Assurance (QA) programme.
The ideal candidate must demonstrate a commitment to professional development and show a keen interest in the future of the company and their profession.
About us Established in 2004, Diagnostic Healthcare is a trusted provider of medical diagnostic imaging services.
From MRI, Ultrasound, and CT to X-ray and CBCT, we deliver over 300,000 scan appointments annually across 75 locations, serving both NHS and private patients.
We offer a diverse range of imaging modalities and the opportunity to work with cutting-edge equipment as we continuously invest in our imaging fleet and static locations.
Job description Job responsibilities Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe regional clinical ultrasound lead will: Deliver excellent front line clinical ultrasound service through management of clinical governance, performance management, information governance and specific ultrasound service development and quality improvement initiatives aligned to national programmes and up to date professional best practice guidelines.
Independently perform and report ultrasound examinations which are within their scope of practice and to support service change in response to local change and demand.
Act as the line manager for clinical staff (sonographers) working in AQP/Direct Access contracts sites and Trusts sites (sonographers and DIAs) in the relevant category undertaking annual appraisals and dealing with day to day concerns (including safeguarding and Prevent) and directing issues to the relevant person/s in DHC and the Trust/clinic.
When in Trust, act as the point of contact for Trust managers in respect of clinical issues and advise the operations team of any organisational issues.
Review and update company protocols and policies from national directives and professional best practice guidelines.
When working on Trust sites be familiar with Trust protocols and policies and ensure that staff working at sites adhere to the protocols.
Engage with senior management and input in day-to-day operational tasks, provide advice for bids and attend contract meetings.
Confirm the suitability of new AQP sites with operations.
Perform clinical assessments and induction of new clinical staff.
Perform audit and appraisals of the clinical team to support HR department in ensuring staff meet and maintain the expected level of competencies and mandatory training required for their role.
Ensure that sonographers participate in CPD and produce documented evidence of this.
Supervise and mentor staff undergoing formal ultrasound training and those staff for whom audit has identified training needs.
Ensure that any clinical or information governance issues are flagged and to assist the Compliance Manager in the investigation of any incidents.
Attend senior management meetings, clinical governance meetings, to provide guidance to the patient services team when requested and to provide administration support when required.Administration time will be allocated proportionately to role Undertake risk assessments for pregnant staff Support service development and work collaboratively with the other ultrasound leads, the operations team and the appointed Trust manager.
Support the operations team in the day to day running of the ultrasound service to ensure service continuity.
Support and promote ultrasound study days.
Promote the DHC philosophy of equality and diversity.
Act as lead in allocated area infection control, safeguarding, mental capacity, Caldicott guardian.Professional Experience:Relevant professional qualification and registration eg DMU, PgD or MSc in Medical Ultrasound (or equivalent), HCPC.Minimum of 2 years experience at reporting sonographer level.
Experience in General, gynae, small parts, DVT's and MSK trainedCPD commitment with portfolio evidence.Experience of working in a clinical supervisory role with students/staff.Experience of audit and appraisal.Competencies:Ability to work autonomously, unsupervised, independently, and also as part of a team.Willingness to undertake further post grad study and/or role extension should need arise.Able to use companys patient management databases and PACS.Excellent communication skills.Ability to prioritise.Good time management skills.Personal:Flexible with regard to working hours to meet changing needs of the service.Ability to remain calm and composed in stressful situationsAbility to work in a pressurised environment.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.In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers.
They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation.
All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.Health & Safety:The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include: attend risk management training and contribute to risk assessment audits.Equality and Diversity: The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable AdultsSafeguarding is everyone's responsibility and all employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well being of children and vulnerable adults.Familiarisation with, and adherence to, the DHC Safeguarding Policies and any associated guidance is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.All employees must ensure that they understand and act in accordance with this clause.
If you do not understand exactly how this clause relates to you personally then you must ensure that you seek clarification from your immediate manager as a matter of urgency.Equally, all managers have a responsibility to ensure that their team members understand their individual responsibilities with regard to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and PREVENT.Personal/Professional Development:The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the company as part of this employment, such training to include:Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.Quality:The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the company, and will:Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.Communication:The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:Communicate effectively with other team members.Communicate effectively with patients and carers.Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation:The post-holder will:Adhere to company policies and procedures.Propose Changes to working practices or procedures within own work area.Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.Participate in audit where appropriate Person Specification Qualifications Essential HCPC Registration