Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To plan and perform complex ultrasound examinations in accordance with Trust and departmental agreed working protocols, ensuring high standards are maintained.

• To analyse clinical histories to perform the most appropriate technique/examination to answer the clinical question.

• To be responsible for the quality of work of all staff and that of students, other health professionals and medical personnel being trained within the department, ie act as a clinical role model.

• To ensure the highest standards are maintained to accommodate the clinical, physical, mental and cultural needs of the patient.

• Use of clinical skills to recognise and act swiftly in emergency situations, ie, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, MAJAX cascade.

• Assist Consultant radiologists with complex procedures.

• Supervise and support/mentor students and junior staff & undertake staff assessments when required.

• Ensure safety of patients, staff, carers and visitors when operating all ultrasound and related equipment within the department

• Participation in quality assurance programmes recording faults and take action where appropriate.

• Promote best practice, advising and sharing knowledge to the profession and beyond.

• Provide clinical counselling to the patient and their relatives following good, bad, unexpected unwelcome news, ie discovery of malignancy

• Acknowledging when changing care is required and having the authority to recommend further imaging.

• To communicate effectively with patients of all ages and abilities to gain a positive identification and co-operation in order to obtain high quality images

• To communicate effectively with all grades of staff and clinicians in and outside the clinical area

• Freedom to act independently on own interpretation of findings

• Ability to work autonomously when justifying the relevance of requests, taking into account previous examination and reports using clinical details and obtaining a verbal history

• Prioritising and managing workload as an individual and as part of a team

• Communicating results immediately in certain situations to enable rapid response from clinicians, ie when working on ITU/SCBU

• Instigating a fast track pathway where necessary to ensure appropriate treatment is commenced in a timely way, ie, Haematuria Clinics, TIA Clinics etc. Patients are prioritised with reports being typed immediately for “One Stop” clinic situation

• Provide care and support to women and their families following diagnosis of foetal abnormality

• Provide a high level of tact, empathy, discretion and sensitivity in emotional situations

• Develop new protocols using evidence based practice and participate in delivering strategies outlined in guidelines which have been produced

• Maintain awareness of current trends in all professional matters in the field of ultrasound

• Effective cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and ancillary equipment in line with the Trust policy on infection control

• Participate in MDT meetings, justifying accuracy of biopsies/reports

• Maintain personal contact with patient/clients and relatives and other HCPs

• Close involvement with the universities and medical schools involving setting out courses and content for future development of the service

• Participation in the attendance of courses to update knowledge and cascading of information to the rest of the team

• Completion of equipment check lists to ensure the use of new equipment is understood by all

• Taking responsibility for own CPD with accurate and up to date records

• Attendance of courses to update knowledge and cascading of information to the rest of the team

• Arrange equipment checks as and when required

• Assess equipment for suitability of purpose

• Collaborate with all service areas

• Participate in research and development and clinical trials as required

• Maintain awareness of current trends in all professional matters in the field of ultrasound

• Promote best practice, advising and sharing knowledge of the profession and beyond

• Bring up-to-date relevant reports, guidelines and policies on health and clinical practice and implement where required

• Organise the induction of new staff, including medical staff within the department

• Assess students undertaking ultrasound courses from the university as required throughout the region.

• To be aware and comply with the Trust and departmental and clinical/non clinical incident reporting

• To undertake quality assurance initiatives and audit projects related to all aspects of current practice

• Escalate reports of incidents to Team Leader/Service Lead with responsibility for risk management

• Ensure all equipment is in good working order and maintain a safe working environment for patients, staff and visitors

• Ensure safety of patients, staff, carers and visitors when operating all ultrasound and related equipment within the department

• Participation in quality assurance programmes recording all faults and bringing to the attention of the Team Leader /Service Lead

• Ensure all trust resources are utilised in an appropriate manner & not wasted.