About this role
Job summary
We are looking for a dedicated Lead Sonographer for Maternity Services to join our forward-thinking team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
As the Lead Sonographer, you will be at the forefront of our maternity ultrasound service, providing expert clinical leadership, supporting the development of the team, and ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care aligned with NHS values.
The successful candidate will have significant experience in obstetric scanning, have proven leadership experience as well as excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.
Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:
As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role.
Applicants will be prompted in the application form to declare if they wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and their response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.
If you have any queries about expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please contact Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) in confidence via email [email protected]
Main duties of the job
You will:
Lead and manage the maternity ultrasound team on a day-to-day basis.
Oversee the delivery of high-quality obstetric scans in accordance with national guidelines (e.g., FASP, NICE).
Collaborate with obstetricians, midwives, radiologists, and other multidisciplinary colleagues.
Ensure robust clinical governance, participate in audit and service improvement initiatives.
Support workforce planning, training, and the development of junior staff and student sonographers.
Maintain accurate records and promote best practice in documentation and patient safety.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description Job responsibilities
To provide a high quality, efficient, responsive, safe evidence based maternity ultrasound service.
The post holder will work within Trust regional and national standards and lead change to ensure the best practice initiatives, underpinned by the national maternity improvement programme. The national maternity agenda provides the basis for this service to achieve better outcomes for mothers and babies. The post holder will be responsible for the professional leadership and line management of all midwife sonographers working within the service.
The post holder will work as a specialised sonographer demonstrating a high level of clinical competence and understanding across a wide range of examinations, including a variety of complex clinical presentations. They will provide clinical advice to less experienced sonographers and other staff groups demonstrating an expert knowledge with advanced decision-making skills. They will be able to demonstrate a high level of technical expertise whilst maintaining a high standard of patient care.
They will be responsible for developing & implementing departmental clinical & procedural protocols and policies in consultation with the relevant consultants and senior managers. They will lead on the clinical governance and risk management programme for ultrasound department. The post holder will undertake regular quality assurance scan image reviews for all midwife sonographers and putting plans in place to ensure that the service is safe and effective.
They will be integral to the development and implementation of failsafe processes within the maternity USS department to improve and prevent future clinical incidents as well as ensuring that the equipment across all maternity departments is maintained and repairs are completed in a timely fashion.
The successful candidate will take an active role in the regional and national working groups such as Fetal Growth Restriction, RCOG guidelines development group and FASP Quality assurance meetings to ensure that best practice is implemented timely within the maternity service. They will contribute to the development and implementation of the ultrasound services strategic aims in line with local and national guidance and to work collaboratively with the clinical leads for radiology and directorate managers contributing to the efficient operational management of the service and ensuring that strategic aims are being met.
To assist with the management of the clinical workload within the department restructuring the service to respond to long and short-term demands. Ensuring the daily workload is organised in line with clinical priorities. Rearranging work lists in case of equipment failure and being responsive to the inconvenience caused to patients.
To undertake flexible working hours and practices as required for the efficient running of the service. To contribute to a professional, high quality, effective, flexible, and efficient ultrasound service implementing best practice, local and national guidelines, and policies in line with national and local service strategies, NICE guidance, and emerging relevant NHS policies.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Midwife with the NMC or Sonographer registered with HCPC or relevant professional body One of the qualifications as listed below: Certificate/Diploma in Medical Ultrasound of the College of Radiology (CoR) with evidence of appropriate continuous professional development CPD) Post graduate Certificate in Medical Ultrasound (PgCert) approved and validated by a Higher Institute of education and accredited by the Consortium for Sonographic Education (CASE) or equivalent. The qualification must be relevant to obstetric ultrasound practice. Evidence of advanced professional development Evidence of management leadership training / skills Clinical mentor and assessor for students undergoing scanning courses
Experience Essential
Evidence of management and leadership skills Clinical mentoring and assessing for students undertaking scanning courses Evidence of continued CPD Evidence of risk management
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR5 1DD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)