Lead Sonographer - General and MSK Ultrasound

NHS; Ormskirk; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A public health trust is looking for a Lead Sonographer specializing in General and MSK Ultrasound to manage and coordinate the ultrasound service. Responsibilities include performing high-quality examinations, training staff, and ensuring compliance with protocols. The ideal candidate should have substantial ultrasound experience and appropriate qualifications. This position offers career growth in a supportive environment committed to high-quality healthcare.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in ultrasound.
• Experience in training/mentoring student sonographers.

Responsibilities

• Perform a wide range of ultrasound examinations.
• Report all ultrasound examinations by clinically interpreting images.
• Liaise with referring clinicians to discuss findings.

Skills

Demonstrate ability to scan accurately

Ability to prepare reports

IT Literate

Able to act within a multidisciplinary team

Counselling skills

Audit analysis

Education

DMU, PgCert, Pg Dip or MSc in ultrasound

Additional Masters level postgraduate module in specialist area of ultrasound

Job description

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Lead Sonographer - General and MSK Ultrasound

The closing date is 05 January 2026

An opportunity has arisen for a Lead Sonographer for General and Musculoskeletal (MSK) Ultrasound to join the Ultrasound Service at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust based at Ormskirk Hospital.

We are committed to meeting the needs of modern healthcare and providing the best possible services to our patients; as a result we have an exciting opportunity, which represents great career opportunities for the right person.

• Successful candidate will be responsible for the management, coordination and clinical leadership of the General and MSK Ultrasound Service.
• Autonomous performance of ultrasound examinations and clinical interpretation of images.
• Provision of high‑quality ultrasound scans in accordance with department protocols.
• Supervision and teaching of junior and medical staff.
• Keeping up to date with current ultrasound techniques and maintaining a CPD portfolio.

Interviews will take place on 22nd January 2026

Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Main duties of the job

Perform a wide range of ultrasound examinations.

Report all ultrasound examinations by clinically interpreting images and providing a written report in accordance with the scheme of work and departmental protocols.

Liaise with referring clinicians to discuss findings when needed.

Abide by scanning protocols developed within the ultrasound department.

Undertake patient referrals to specific clinics with reports where appropriate.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

• Acute Care – Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
• Primary Care – Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services – Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital continues rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
• Specialist Regional Services – We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for the Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Job responsibilities

Maintenance of a good working relationship with all other departments and staff, providing an effective and efficient ultrasound service to all users and patients.

Be competent in the use of all ultrasound machines and their associated equipment.

Responsible for the QA program in the general ultrasound department.

Maintain electronic records, updating electronic records as necessary.

Provision of reporting of ultrasound scans as per departmental policy on role of advanced ultrasound practitioners.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• DMU, PgCert, Pg Dip or MSc in ultrasound
• Additional Masters level postgraduate module in specialist area of ultrasound

Knowledge and Experience

• Significant experience in ultrasound
• Experience in training/mentoring student sonographers

Skills

• Demonstrate ability to scan accurately
• Ability to prepare reports
• IT Literate
• Able to act within a multidisciplinary team
• Student assessor
• Counselling skills
• Audit analysis

Other

• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to be diplomatic
• To be a team player
• Process a flexible approach to work
• Be committed to quality
• Ability to cope under pressure
• Able to demonstrate substantial professional interests and motivation
• Willingness to undergo further training according to the needs of the post
• Satisfactory CPD portfolio
• Membership of professional bodies
• Attendance at professional meetings

Our Values

• We are Kind
• We are Open
• We are Inclusive

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.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust