Vascular Scientist/Sonographer

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over staying comfortable; Listening over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

We are seeking exceptionally motivated individuals to join our friendly dynamic team of Vascular Ultrasound Team.

Our sonographers deliver a wide range of examinations including obstetrics, gynaecology, general abdominal, vascular, small parts, MSK and

paediatrics across both sites

We actively encourage our team to participate in non-clinical activities, such as audit and clinical vetting in line with Pan London guidance.

They will engage actively in vetting and actioning ultrasound requests and giving advice and reports to patients and clinicians.

The post holder will be working closely within a multidisciplinary team, deputising in the absence of senior staff.

The Radiology Department provides high quality diagnostic imaging services to the Trust, in line with the requirements of clinical needs and targets. The patients, from a diverse population, are referred from the Community and all departments across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

The role is split between Ultrasound Departments at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Lewisham Hospital. Patient population will be from a diverse background, which can include those from high dependency units and the critically ill.

To work within multi-disciplinary team and hold strong communication /team work skill sets.

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To independently undertake and report diagnostic ultrasound procedures, maintaining high professional standards of technical competence and ensuring excellent standards of care at all times.
• To be accountable for own professional actions and work within codes of Practice and professional guidelines
• To interpret complex data in order to ascertain and identify any pathological or incidental findings observable. Consider and report diagnoses as appropriate.
• To assess and adapt techniques following assessment for each procedure to meet the individual needs of the patient. To analyse the clinical information and determine most appropriate scanning method, utilising judgement and skill to incorporate different techniques (on which training and competencies are maintained) in order to obtain required information. • To handle potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an appropriate empathetic manner.
• Assist patients as required, i.e. disabled, elderly patients with undressing and dressing.
• To maintain knowledge and be fully aware of the safety aspects and hazards, and related emergency procedures for the working area
• To independently assess and adapt/modify techniques and protocols following assessment for each procedure, possibly on a patient by patient basis.
• To take responsibility for the care of the patient whilst undertaking the procedure. This includes manual handling, moving patients in wheelchairs, beds and trolleys.
• To provide appropriate support for carers, recognising their anxieties and concerns.
• Being able to work using visual display units for long periods of time is required, to enable the correct images to be processed.
• Provide a comprehensive diagnostic report on images obtained to relevant medical personnel.
• To offer advice and guidance to patients, carers and other health professionals on ultrasound procedures and issues taking due Interviewer information pack consideration of patients conditions.
• To supervise and provide clinical assistance to Radiologists, Vascular Surgeons, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Assistant Practitioners, Radiology Department Assistants and Trainee Sonographers
• Ensure the safe use of specialist ultrasound equipment.
• To identify and report equipment failures immediately, by liaising with EBME to arrange services and emergency call out for faulty equipment.
• To use own initiative to re-arrange work lists in the event of equipment failure, organise alternative cover and ensure relevant staff in the Trust are informed, particularly if this occurs out of normal working hours.
• To assist in the evaluation and procurement process for any new equipment within the Radiology Department.
• Be fully conversant of appropriate actions to take in the event of an untoward incident in the area.
• To work the required shift patterns between 08:00 and 20:00 to enable our patients to scanned in a timely manner.
• To ensure accurate use, including recording and reporting, on the Trust’s computerised information systems.
• To train new staff, student radiographers, student sonographers, specialist registrars, medical students and work experience students in specialist areas.
• To be actively involved in departmental quality groups and pro-active in the sharing of good practice.
• To give lectures and presentations within the Trust and to outside organisations on areas of special interest.
• To be actively involved in recruitment processes for new staff.
• To be responsible for leading and co-ordinating the team in an allocated area in the absence of the Lead Sonographer. This will involve being able to cope with frequent interruptions from both colleagues and other medical and non-medical staff of the Trust.
• To make proposals for, assist and/or lead in the implementation of changes in working practice as agreed by departmental working groups.
• To be able to continually prioritise the imaging of patients within the department throughout the day.
• To identify and act in accordance with local guidelines, any potential high-risk diagnosis either whilst imaging or directly following completion of an examination.
• To maintain a clean working environment, this includes clearing blood body fluids in accordance with policy

Person specification

Qulaification

• DCR, BSc in Radiography or equivalent State Registered with HPC
• Pg Dip in medical ultrasound or equivalent

• Relevant post grad certificate

Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrate high standards of technical skills Enthusiasm for training students
• Able to demonstrate a responsible attitude to teamwork.
• Progressive attitude and evidence of CPD
• Able to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Competent in the use and care of a range of US Equipment

• Post Grad training courses

Skills and Ability

• Excellent communications skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Confident to act on own initiative.
• Ability to present information in a clear and logical manner
• Excellent interpersonal, persuasive and motivational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Good problem solving skills
• Able to demonstrate an aptitude for training and developing staff in specialist areas.
• Ability to give effective feedback to other Clinical staff

Personal Qualities

• Professional & responsible attitude Demonstrate effective leadership qualities Reliable, stable & self motivated
• Able to promote a high standard of customer care Ability to carry out moderate physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the service including cross site working
• Able to cope with all types of patients coming with particular reference to A&E patients
• Able to work alone
• Able to personally reflect on own performance and ability

• Innovative approach to department working practice

We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date, please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.

We have a number of active staff networks including Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Women’s staff networks to bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.

Please note, not all roles will meet the criteria for a skilled worker visa.