Sonographer

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust opened in 1948 and provides a range of elective, non-elective, surgical, medical, women’s, children’s, diagnostic and therapeutic services to a population of more than 350,000 people.

The hub of the Trust is located on the outskirts of Nuneaton and its services cover a large footprint, including north Warwickshire, south west Leicestershire, and north Coventry. We also provide primary and community services across Coventry, Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Our vision is "to EXCEL at patient care". If you think you've got what it takes, help us realise this and join #TeamEliot.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour aren’t as likely to apply unless they meet every qualification of non specialist roles.

We’re dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role and meet our values, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with everything in the Job Description or Person Specification– apply anyway or email the Recruiting Manager to discuss the role further

We are proud to support the Armed Forces community. We are a Veteran Aware and Reservist Friendly organisation and welcome applications from Veterans, Reservists, Cadet Instructors, and family members of serving personnel.

Job overview

1. 5 Hours per week (7 day working)

Permanent

Interview Date: 14th May 2025

This post may close early due to high numbers of applications so you are advised to apply promptly.

All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.

A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community – get in touch to find out more

#JoinTeamEliot

To support the department’s Sonographers in the provision of a professional extended 7 day ultrasound service.

The role of the post holder (sonographer) is to perform and report independently on a wide range of non-obstetric ultrasound examinations. This includes MSK, renal, abdominal, Doppler, gynaecological and some small parts scans, plus early pregnancy scanning as required by our gynaecology run Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit.

As well as writing reports for the medical profession and keeping appropriate records, the sonographer is required to communicate potentially distressing diagnoses directly to patients, and refer these patients appropriately.

The maintenance of a high standard of patient care and medical ethics is essential.

The sonographer is involved in the clinical training of ultrasound trainees and other medical personnel.

• The sonographer provides a highly specialist clinical technical service using ultrasound scans to carry out diagnosis. The sonographer analyses complex data and is expected to obtain maximum possible diagnostic information taking into account any anatomical or pathological limitations
• The sonographer must possess a high level of specialist knowledge over a wide range of ultrasound procedures and/or the highest level in-depth expertise in a particular area of ultrasound comparable to senior clinicians
• The sonographer is required to have the appropriate technical skill to operate the ultrasound machinery safely and effectively
• The sonographer must carry out and report on abdominal and gynaecological ultrasound scans. These are usually unsupervised, but consultation with peers, referring consultants and consultant radiologists may be necessary in some difficult cases. These scans may arise from in-patients, out-patients, A&E or GP referrals
• The sonographer is expected to scan in a variety of settings and locations: scans are performed in the main and satellite departments, also in other specialist departments including one-stop clinics

Working for our organisation

Here at George Eliot our vision to ‘excel at patient care’ takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:

Effective Open Communication

excellence and safety in everything we do

Challenge but support

Expect respect and dignity

Local health that inspires confidence

Benefits: On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, extensive in-house course learning directory, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication:

Good communication is essential for the following reasons:

• To make them feel at ease and able to cooperate.
• To provide verbal reports to all early pregnancy patients, and other patients if appropriate, to try to relieve any anxiety in having to wait for results.
• To communicate complex, often distressing and emotional information to patients clearly, with tact and sensitivity; then to overcome the barriers to understanding and give reassurance. This is frequently necessary in regard to early pregnancy loss.

• To provide a clear, written diagnostic report for the referring clinician to assist in patient management.
• To liaise when required with colleagues and clinicians to discuss potential problems seen on scans and directly or indirectly refer patients e.g. To specialist centers as appropriate.
• To liaise with doctors and appointment staff regarding allocation of ultrasound appointments and emergency bookings.

Leadership / Management

The sonographer needs:

• To ensure that appropriate clinical examinations are carried out by liaising and discussing requests with other health professionals and being able to alter requests, without direct clinical referral, within national and departmental guidelines.
• To devise an appropriate daily schedule of work including, where possible, the extra workload due to emergency cases.
• To organise and supervise any staff assisting in the ultrasound department to ensure that the best possible attention is given to the ultrasound patients and to the efficient running of the department.
• To be aware of and willing to undertake management responsibilities within the role.
• To use the radiology computer system for recording, entering and tracking information. Have knowledge of clerical and assistant duties required in ultrasound and to be able to undertake these duties when required.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, for more information please see the attached Job Description and Personal Specification.

Person specification

Experience

• Advanced technical knowledge related to the efficient use, safety and maintenance of ultrasound equipment.
• Ability to use the Imaging IT systems.
• Attend manual handling, basic life support and fire safely lectures
• Ability to impart clinical skills to trainee sonographers and other students on secondment.
• Able to use initiative when undertaking emergency duties, i.e. on-call etc
• Well developed specialist knowledge which is underpinned by theoretical knowledge and practical experience -

• Knowledge of administrative practices.
• Expected to work towards Master's level ultrasound qualification plus extensive experience gained working, which enables scanning and report writing to be carried out without clinical supervision.

Qualifications

• DCR (R)/BSc/DMU/PGD or MSC in Medical Ultrasound
• Registration with Health Professions Council. (HPC) – Radiographer
• CASE accredited MSK Ultrasound qualification

Skills

• Development skills
• Organisational skills/ leadership skills
• Problem solving
• Ability to motivate staff and be a good role model
• Ability to communicate highly sensitive complex information relating to pregnancy loss or abnormality or the patient's medical condition with empathy and reassurance..
• Need to have the ability to overcome barriers to understanding and have good counselling skills. Then to cope with the needs of people in distress.
• Ability to communicate the information gained from the scan by written report and/or verbally to professional clinical staff.
• Capability to discuss diagnosis and the best course of action for patients Able to employ frequent, moderate physical effort to move and position patients and equipment.
• Regular need to make precise small accurate movements on control panel and sometimes to employ pressure whilst making awkward twisting and leaning movements to manipulate the probes
• Consistent frequent high-level of concentration throughout the day whilst scanning and writing reports. Very intense concentration when investigating a major abnormality followed by breaking bad news to the patients.

Personal Qualities

• On a daily basis need to cope with highly distressing, emotional circumstances – greactionsiving bad news to patients/relatives and coping with their reactions
• Also stress from 'difficult' patients and relatives.
• Ability to be able to support other staff members.

Other

• Need to be able to work in adverse conditions, sometimes in a hot confined area and urgent telephone calls.their workload though various distractions i.e. doctors requiring urgent scans in half-light, often under severe pressure and to be able to manage

Trust Values

• Effective open communication
• Excellence and safety in all that we do
• Challenge but support
• Expect respect and dignity
• Local healthcare that inspired confidence

Please note:

You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages via the NHS Jobs website. Furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any emails/messages sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

By applying for this post you are consenting to George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system, TRAC.

The Job application data you provide will be used to assess your application for employment at GEH, to verify your information and conduct reference checks, and to communicate with you. If you accept employment with GEH, the information collected will become part of your employment record and will be used for employment purposes.

All information provided will be used for recruitment purposes only and processed in a lawful, fair and transparent manner.

Other:

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of individuals and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of our safe recruitment practice, if appropriate for the role, it is a mandatory requirement for all newly appointed staff to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service application.

In response to NICE guidance and to support the reduction of health harm from tobacco, the Trust has a smoke-free site policy which applies to anyone on Trust sites. Staff who smoke will be supported to quit or not smoke whilst on Trust sites.

We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – taking pride in that we value employees, job applicants, students, volunteers, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our excel behaviours with a vision to create a workplace that represents a culture of kindness, joy and inclusion.