Job summary
- Main area
- Radiology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (To cover evenings, weekends and bank holidays)
- Job ref
- 409-7311171
- Employer
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Whiston Hospital
- Town
- Prescot
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/08/2025 08:00
Employer heading
Ultrasonographer
NHS AfC: Band 7
After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to "name of trust" transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Job overview
We are looking to recruit a sonographer to join our team at Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (St Helens & Knowsley sites). Applicants must hold a recognised ultrasound qualification (PgCert, PgDip or DMU), and be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.
A wide range of obstetric and non-obstetric examinations are undertaken across two hospital sites (Whiston Hospital and St Helens Hospital). We also provide ultrasound services at four community sites (St Helens Millennium Centre, Newton Community Hospital, Widnes Urgent Care Centre, and St Helens Lowe House). We act as a clinical placement site for the University of Cumbria’s Direct Access MSc Ultrasound programme and there are opportunities to engage in the training and mentorship of student sonographers.
Mersey & West Lancashire Trust fully supports role extension and we have sonographers undertaking HyCoSy examinations, ultrasound guided joint injections and breast interventional procedures. The department also undertakes seven-day working and the successful candidate will be expected to undertake evening and weekend duties.
the JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change
Main duties of the job
- Responsible for autonomously performing Ultrasound examinations and clinically interpreting the images.
- Responsible for providing a high quality Ultrasound scans in accordance with protocols within the Ultrasound department.
- Responsible for supervision and teaching of junior and medical staff.
- Responsible for keeping up to date with current Ultrasound techniques and maintaining a CPD portfolio.
The team provides ultrasound services to health community, providing inpatient, outpatient and GP services to a broad spectrum of client/patient groups.
Working for our organisation
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our Services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
- Perform obstetric, gynaecological, abdominal, vascular and small parts Ultrasound examinations.
- Report all Ultrasound examinations by clinically interpreting images and providing a written report in accordance with the scheme of work and departmental protocols.
- Liaise with referring clinicians to discuss the Ultrasound findings if the need arises
- To deputise in the absence of the Lead Sonographer to ensure the smooth running of the department.
- Abide by scanning protocols developed within the Ultrasound department
- Undertake patient referrals to specific clinics with reports where appropriate.
- Maintenance of a good working relationship with all other departments and staff, providing an effective and efficient Ultrasound service to all users and patients.
- Assist in the day-to-day running of the unit, to include administrative, clerical duties; booking of scans at appropriate times.
- Be competent in the use of all Ultrasound machines and their associated equipment.
- Perform regular QA checks on all Ultrasound equipment
- To perform weekly and daily checks on emergency equipment e.g. cardiac arrest box.
- To report all equipment malfunctions to the Lead Sonographer and if necessary undertake any further action to ensure the safe operation of a faulty unit.
- To maintain and recommend improved standards of technique in association with the Lead Sonographer.
- Maintain electronic records/ ultrasound films, updating patient electronic records as necessary.
- Provision of reporting of Ultrasound scans as per departmental policy on role development of Sonographers.
- Responsible for data collection and interpretation of information.
- Promote quality initiatives, ensuring the quality of patient care and compliance of quality standards.
- Ensure effective communication within the Ultrasound department, and throughout other departments within the Trust and other agencies.
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- To be responsible for adhering to Ultrasound examination protocols.
- Provide clinical support and advice to staff within the Trust and other agencies.
- Ensure clinical and professional standards are met at all times.
- To perform all aspects of clinical/ technical procedures within the Ultrasound department as per departmental policy, providing specialist knowledge when necessary.
- Responsible for audit of personal reporting activities and participation in clinical audit.
- Responsible for breaking bad news to obstetric patients and their relatives when a foetal death or abnormality is found, and formulating the report.
- Responsible for performing invasive procedures. (Transvaginal/transrectal scanning).
- Responsible for musculoskeletal health whilst scanning, aware of posture and scanning position to reduce the effects of known WRULD (work related upper limb disorders).
- Establish and maintain effective communication with various individuals and groups on complex matters overcoming and potentially stressful topics in a range of situations.
- Maintain a patient, courteous manner in all aspects of communication with patients and staff.
- To ensure delivery of a patient focussed service including care comfort and dignity of all patients
- To take an active role in the general cleanliness and professional image of the department
- To be responsible for assuring the safety of him/herself and others in accordance with Trust and departmental protocols e.g. COSHH, Radiation Protection etc.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsible for accurate data entry on the Radiology Information System
- To ensure the accuracy of data quality in line with departmental policies and procedures (i.e. name, date of birth, address, postcode, GP and telephone number) are all current and correct
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Responsible for the training and clinical assessment of postgraduate students.
- To supervise and teach Radiology Specialist Registrars Ultrasound scanning, technique and interpretation of images.
- Contribute to the continuing education programme by attending courses and keeping abreast of current medical developments.
- Contribute to the departments’ CPD programme by the presenting of lectures.
- Provide highly specialist knowledge and support to the wards, departments and clinical staff within the field of Ultrasound.
- To attend other training courses relevant to the post
RESEARCH & AUDIT
- Participate in the audit of current techniques; keep up to date with the research and development of new techniques.
- Ensure compliance with all Trust research governance procedures.
- To support the Trusts clinical governance agenda by understanding the key priorities for change and ensuring that new developments utilise the objectives within the governance agenda.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- PgDip in ultrasound or equivalent
- HCPC registration (or equivalent)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Single handed working
- Demonstrate the ability to scan accurately
- Ability to prepare clinical reports
Desirable criteria
- Student assessor
- Audit analysis
- Evidence of audit
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to interact within a multidisciplinary team
- Organisational skills
- Time management
- IT literate
Desirable criteria
- Counselling skills
- Presentation skills
Other
Essential criteria
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Diplomatic
- Tactful
- Courteous
- Team player
- Flexible approach to work
- Commitment to quality
- Ability to cope under pressure
- Ability to demonstrate substantial professional interests and motivation
- Willingness to undergo further training according to the needs of the post
- Satisfactory attendance record
Desirable criteria
- Satisfactory CPD portfolio
- Membership of professional bodies
- Attendance at professional meetings
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Anna Davies
- Job title
- Lead General Sonographer
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0151 430 1893
- Additional information
- Karen Lord (Lead Maternity Sonographer) on 0151 430 1378
- Lauren Kendell (Clinical Tutor) on 0151 430 1893
- Colin Diment (Ultrasound Service Manager) on 0151 430 1521
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