Chief Echocardiographer

King's College Hospital; Bromley; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment & Retention Premium 15%

Flexible working

Job summary

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London is seeking an experienced Band 7 Echocardiographer to join the advanced cardiac diagnostics team. You will independently perform and interpret diagnostic echocardiography including 3D imaging and GLS, delivering reports in line with BSE standards and Trust protocols.

Applicants should hold a BSc in Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) or equivalent, with recognised echo accreditation (BSE, EACVI or equivalent).

Qualifications

• BSc Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) or equivalent.
• HCPC accredited.
• Advanced echo training and accreditation (BSE/EACVI or equivalent) desirable.

Responsibilities

• Act as a specialist echocardiographer within a multidisciplinary team delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.
• Independently perform and interpret a broad range of diagnostic echocardiography studies including 3D imaging and GLS.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of national/international guidelines and ensure clinical excellence.
• Manage workload and coordinate inpatient/outpatient activity to ensure timely studies and reports.
• Support service development, quality improvement and supervision of junior staff.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teaching/Training

Stress Echo & TOE

Publications

Education

BSc Clinical Physiology (Cardiology)

HCPC accreditation

I LS / ALS

Tools

ISCV

TomTec

Philips

GE

Job description

Employer King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site King's College Hospital Town London Salary £55,524 - £62,652 per annum pro rata including HCA + 15% RRP Salary period Yearly Closing 25/10/2026 23:59

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£2.1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.

This post attracts a Recruitment & Retention Premium of 15%

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly skilled Band 7 Echocardiographer to join our internationally recognised Echo service. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a dynamic cardiac diagnostics department at a leading UK teaching and research hospital; and is ideal for an experienced echocardiographer seeking career progression within a supportive, forward‑thinking and high‑profile cardiac centre

Applicants must hold a BSc in Clinical Physiology (or equivalent), relevant specialist cardiac training, and recognised echo accreditation (BSE, EACVI or equivalent). Experience in advanced echo techniques, including stress, 3D and contrast imaging, is highly desirable

The department is a fully digital service equipped with state‑of‑the‑art cardiac ultrasound systems, including Philips and GE platforms. Reporting and post‑processing are supported by ISCV and TomTec, ensuring high‑quality, standardised echo reporting

We deliver a comprehensive range of investigations, including transthoracic echo with 3D and GLS, stress echo (Dobutamine, Exercise and Valve), contrast /bubble studies, and TOE

You will work with a high degree of autonomy, providing advanced clinical practice while contributing to service development, quality improvement, and the training and supervision of junior staff. The department has a strong academic profile and actively encourages involvement in research, innovation and service transformation

Main duties of the job

• Act as a specialist Echocardiographer within a multidisciplinary team, working collaboratively with principal physiologists, imaging consultants, administrative staff, junior colleagues and support services to deliver high‑quality, patient‑centred care.
• Independently perform and interpret a broad range of diagnostic echocardiography studies, including advanced techniques such as 3D imaging and GLS, producing accurate, timely reports in line with BSE standards and Trust protocols.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of national and international guidelines to ensure ongoing clinical excellence and technical competence.
• Effectively manage and prioritise workload to meet service demands, coordinating inpatient and outpatient activity and ensuring timely completion of studies and reports.
• Contribute to the operational delivery of the service through participation in appraisal, performance review, service development and delegated supervisory or managerial responsibilities.
• Support the monitoring and management of echocardiography equipment and consumables, escalating issues as required to maintain service continuity.
• Promote a patient‑focused, multidisciplinary approach and actively contribute to innovation, service improvement and the adoption of advanced echocardiography practice across the department and wider Trust

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person‑centred, digitally‑enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Practice as a specialist autonomous professional in adult echocardiography and show proficiency in exercising clinical judgement when required.
• Practice safely and effectively, interpret and act upon results of the tests, investigations and measurements in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Perform diagnostic echocardiography using advanced techniques such as 3D and GLS to produce a clinically comprehensive report in accordance with BSE guidelines and local standards/protocols
• Perform echocardiography in a range of settings, including portable scans at bedside, ITU and cardiac catheter labs.
• Administer appropriate medications and contrast agents as part of advanced clinical practice.
• Participate in setting excellent local standards in Echocardiography, and to continually develop and update these to ensure they incorporate current professional recommendations and evidence‑based practice.
• Keep abreast of developments in Echocardiography and disseminate new information to other members of staff effectively.
• Comply with national and international guidelines such as BSE, ASE, NICE, ESC and SCST as well as local clinical guidelines; and ensure that these guidelines are adhered to.
• Ensure that King’s Echo service communicates with other centres and external stakeholders in a professional and productive manner, facilitating the exchange of patient records and minimising disruption to services
• Perform regular audits to ensure compliance with local and national standards.
• Apply and promote evidence‑based practice and use of relevant clinical protocols and procedures at the complex and advanced level; as well as acquire and maintain a high level of professional competence in the performance of all tests, investigations and measurements.
• Comment and advise on new proposals and protocols, especially for service improvements.
• Adhere to infection control guidelines including correct use of PPE and uniform policy.

Education and Training

• Provide training, mentorship and support to junior staff, SpRs and Echo Fellows, with a view to improve their echo knowledge and skills.
• Assist in echocardiography education throughout the Trust, including medical students, PTP and STP trainees.
• Maintain own proficiency in echo and other technical skills by keeping up to date with current guidelines.
• Ensure that own mandatory training certificates are current.
• Actively participate in his/her own performance review and own professional development.
• Maintain BSE and/or other transthoracic echocardiography accreditation
• Maintain/ work towards additional professional accreditation as appropriate.
• Complete relevant training and competencies to provide advanced clinical practice.
• The post holder will be encouraged to maintain and/or obtain HCPC registration, further educational qualifications and memberships with professional bodies.
• Administer appropriate medications and contrast agents as part of advanced clinical practice.
• Write up interesting case studies / clinical abstracts and submit to appropriate journals.
• Actively participate in educational sessions and journal club.

Qualifications

• BSc Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) or equivalent
• Possess Adult TTE BSE/ equivalent accreditation
• Intermediate Life Support (ILS)
• Highly developed IT skills
• HCPC accredited
• Clinical assessment Level 7 Module
• Advanced Life Support (ALS)

Skills/ experience

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Leadership skills and ability to work as part of a team
• Skills in teaching/ training
• Experience in Stress Echo and TOE
• Publications such as clinical case studies / abstracts
• Ability to understand financial and budgetary information
• Awareness of current NHS challenges and Long-Term Plans / Strategy which may affect he Future direction of Echocardiography
• Awareness of DM01 waiting lists

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success because automatically generated answers:

• might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
• often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
• could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.