Job summary
- Main area
- AHP
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 388-7724512-PC&S
- Employer
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Torbay Hospital
- Town
- Torquay
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Principal Sonographer
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
We are seeking a Principal Sonographer to join Torbay South Devon Foundation Trust. You will be a qualified Reporting Sonographer and will lead the Ultrasound service, managing 15 Sonographers across Non-obstetric and Obstetric service. The service delivers 32,000 studies per annum, supported by an Independent Sector provided Community Diagnostic Centre.
You will join our team at a time of significant change in leadership in Radiology and be responsible for Ultrasound service delivery supported by the Radiology management team. You will provide strategic, managerial, clinical and professional leadership to the team and drive the service forwards contributing to directorate meetings, service planning and clinical governance with ambition to make significant quality improvements.
As a clinical Reporting Sonographer, you will work independently acquiring and interpreting diagnostic ultrasound images. The role includes acute and elective general ultrasound scans, obstetric work and includes weekend working.
Working in cooperation with Radiology support workers, sonographers, and consultant radiologists, you will lead the service, delegating tasks as required and engage in all four pillars of practice to assure to a high-quality ultrasound service that is resilient, progressive and committed to providing the best care possible.
Join us to lead to the delivery of a highly skilled patient-focused ultrasound service and a team that is strategically going on an improvement journey.
Main duties of the job
Leadership & Management
-
Manage the radiology and obstetric Ultrasound Service’s workforce
-
Ensure compliance with Trust policies and national targets
-
Represent Ultrasound at meetings
Clinical Excellence & Standards
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Undertake and supervise high-quality ultrasound imaging and reporting
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Vet referrals, prioritise clinical and managerial workloads
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Produce accurate clinical and management reports
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Provide expert clinical advice as required
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Promote evidence-based, safe and ergonomic practice
Quality Assurance & Governance
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Develop, deliver and monitor QA programmes, including national screening requirements
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Ensure equipment maintenance, servicing, QA testing and prompt resolution of faults
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Monitor service performance, manage risks incident reporting and complaints and support governance
Service Development & Innovation
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Lead strategic and operational planning for the Service, aligning with Trust and national priorities
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Use complex data to inform redesign, capacity planning and service improvement
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Modernise pathways embed innovation and challenge practices to improve patient flow and meet demand
Collaboration & Communication
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Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders
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Disseminate information to the ultrasound team and senior leadership
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Present complex information to committees and MDTs
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Engage sensitively with patients, often communicating difficult news
Working for our organisation
Our Sonography team is made up of 15 (12WTE) Radiographer and Midwife Sonographers who collectively support 25,000 examinations each year.
We operate across 10 modern ultrasound rooms: five within the Women’s Health Unit, three in the main Radiology Department, and two at Newton Abbot Community Hospital. Our service plays a key role in supporting a wide range of clinical teams, including Acute Medicine, Surgery, MAAT/DVT, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fertility, sexual health unit as well as GP, outpatient, and inpatient services. We also collaborate closely with a local Independent Sector Community Diagnostic Centre, which undertakes approximately 8,500 examinations annually.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for detailed overview of the requirements of role.
Person specification
Qualification and Training
Essential criteria
- Professional Registration
- Qualifications as defined in Person Spec
Desirable criteria
- Management Qualification
- Other relevant qualifications
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Evidence of Ultrasound Clinical experience
- Evidence of leadership and management experience
Desirable criteria
- Specialist ultrasound scanning experience in a specific area/procedure type
Other Aspects
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of involvement in change management
- Proven involvement in training activities
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
- James Reed
- Job title
- Deputy Radiology Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01803 655626
- Additional information
Emma Smith, Lead Sonographer
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