Trainee Sonographer

This is a 12-month training post employed directly within Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The post holder will undertake a Postgraduate Certificate offered by the University of Hertfordshire, starting in October 2023.

• Gain all clinical and academic competencies to independently perform ultrasound examinations in General Medical and Gynaecology.
• Gain all clinical and academic competencies to provide a diagnostic report on ultrasound examinations undertaken.
• Work within the ultrasound departmental guidelines and Trust policies.
• Work across all OUH sites (John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Horton Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Bicester Community Hospital, Chipping Norton Community Hospital).
• To participate in any future 7-day service as required.
• Learn the skills to undertake a coordinating role for the day-to-day planning of the operational workload of the department when required.
• Work as a team member within a multi-disciplinary team, providing a high-quality ultrasound service whilst maintaining high standards of patient care.
• Maintain effective relationships and have regular communication with the ultrasound team, Radiologists and with all areas of Radiology.
• Partake in departmental audit and case review programme.
• Responsible for own professional development and education.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk

The Trust comprises of four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

To complete all academic and clinical training with the goal of becoming an independent practitioner who can complete most examinations and reports independently within local scope of practice.

• Individual responsibility in accepting to undertake any given ultrasound examination, working in accordance with professional body guidance and local ultrasound guidelines.
• Individual responsibilities for patient/client care, treatment and therapy where appropriate to the examination / area / specialty.
• To communicate scan findings to the referring clinician and patient (if appropriate).
• To record care/treatment/advice/tests accurately and in an agreed format.
• To provide information and advice to patients, relatives and other healthcare professionals about the limitations and the safe use of ultrasound.
• To work as a reflective practitioner with the responsibility to critically evaluate systems / processes / pathways involved with various areas covered by the ultrasound service. Ideas and information to be discussed with the Ultrasound Modality Manager and or Advanced Practitioner Sonographer in the relevant field of practice.
• To work within the ultrasound departmental guidelines.
• The post-holder would be expected to have an awareness of protocols and guidelines within the trust.
• To support the Ultrasound Modality Manager in the appropriate use of resources and consumables including the use of highly specialist equipment which requires careful use and attention to detail.
• To participate in the maintenance and testing of specialised ultrasound equipment, reporting and recording faults as appropriate and following department schemes of work.
• Have a shared responsibility for the security of patients and other staff working within the ultrasound department in the absence of the Ultrasound Modality Manager.
• Be responsible for reporting and if necessary, removal of any equipment or resource which has become faulty or which poses a risk to patients, staff or the Trust.
• Manage personal patient and administrative workload effectively.
• Individual responsibility for the accurate and appropriate use of information resources and information systems (both hardware and software (e.g. medical records) whilst undertaking ultrasound examinations.
• Arrange and undertake mandatory training as per the Trust training policy and procedures and within the appropriate time frame.
• Undertake annual self-audit of practice against department case review and disagreement audit programme.