Dorset County Hospital Foundation NHS Trust
Sonographer: Band 8a Full time; flexible working can be considered.
Relocation assistance available, subject to terms and conditions being met.
We are looking for an experienced, highly skilled Sonographer to join our team in a new role as Deputy Lead Sonographer. This is an exciting opportunity for you to develop your managerial and clinical skills within our friendly supportive department. You will be able to contribute to the strategic planning and development of the Ultrasound service.
You will support excellence in all areas of ultrasound practice: clinical practice, education, research, leadership, and management.
The total annual workload is approximately 32,000 cases per year. The obstetrics and gynaecology ultrasound service, including fetal medicine, is based in the Women’s Health Department; this is a dynamic cohesive unit with good support from MDT colleagues.
The general medical service comprises of general, Elastography, small parts, soft tissue lumps and bumps, hernia, vascular, MSK, HyCoSy, and Paediatric ultrasound examinations. We support one-stop clinics and aim to support additional services when the local CDC opens this year.
The ultrasound team is multidisciplinary, hardworking, and dedicated with a wide skill mix and years of experience. We are committed to the development of our staff and are currently funding and supporting staff to complete their MSc in Medical Ultrasound. We are evaluating further areas to extend the scope of practice for the team.
Quality is integral to everything we do, and the Radiology department achieved QSI accreditation in 2020 and recently became one of the first NHS Trusts in the country to achieve the new 2021 standards set by UKAS.
We have high specification ultrasound equipment (Philips EPIQ and Canon 1700 systems). The post is based at Dorset County Hospital, but you will also be expected to participate in the provision of a community-wide ultrasound service across 4 satellite sites. Participation in weekend ultrasound cover will also be required.
Dorset County Hospital is a busy modern district general hospital situated in the vibrant county town of Dorchester, only 7 miles from the Jurassic coast. The Trust is the main provider of acute hospital services to a population of around 250,000 people, living within Weymouth, Portland, West Dorset, North Dorset, and Purbeck. The Trust has recently secured funding for a new Emergency department and critical care unit to be built in 2026. The hospital has good rail links to Southampton, Bristol, and London, and has outstanding nurseries and schools. Dorchester has undergone significant investment and redevelopment in the Brewery Square area and Poundbury, providing new shops, bars, restaurants, and residential property. Dorset offers a brilliant work-life balance and it is a great place for families. There is the choice of coast or country for leisure activities such as water sports, wild swimming, coastal walking, horse riding, festivals, and historic and cultural towns.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Assist in day-to-day management of the ultrasound service, ensuring resources are optimized to ensure a safe, responsive, and effective service.
2. Deputise for Lead Sonographer to ensure continuity of service.
3. Line manage Sonographers, trainee Sonographers, and support staff.
4. Justify, perform, and report a wide range of ultrasound examinations, ensuring best practice and excellent patient care is delivered according to departmental guidelines.
5. Coordinate and participate in the delivery of ultrasound training for trainee Sonographers, undergraduates, and medical staff.
6. Support clinical governance, excellence in all areas of ultrasound practice, and assist in maintaining QSI status.
Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect, and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application, please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.
Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.
For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values, search Dorset County Hospital online. #J-18808-Ljbffr