Principal Sonographer

Nhs View All Jobs; Ashford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Principal Sonographer (Non-Obstetric Ultrasound) to provide professional, operational and clinical leadership across the Trust. You will lead Sonographers, trainee Sonographers and department staff while maintaining a clinical role and driving service development.

The role emphasizes workforce planning, staff development, performance management and cross‑department collaboration to improve patient access and diagnostic quality.

Qualifications

• BSc Hons in Radiography or equivalent required.
• Current HCPC registration evidenced with PIN.
• MSc or Level-7 leadership capabilities e.g., NHSE ACP e-portfolio.
• Postgraduate Level-7 qualification in leadership/management or equivalent experience.
• Qualifications in education/teaching and/or leadership/clinical research.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience with Quality Management Systems (e.g., Q-pulse).
• Experience in organisational change management or cross-department initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with clinicians, managers, patients and external partners.
• Knowledge of PACS, RIS and other clinical IT systems.
• Advanced anatomy/pathology knowledge relevant to ultrasound.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional, operational and clinical leadership for the Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service.
• Lead and develop the ultrasound team across the Trust, ensuring safe, patient-centred service delivery.
• Drive service recovery and performance against national standards (DM01, RTT, Cancer).
• Lead quality improvement initiatives to enhance access, diagnostic quality and productivity.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, retention, appraisal and staff development.
• Promote a culture of learning, wellbeing, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Engage with governance, risk management, audits and incident investigations.
• Support business planning, service transformation and adoption of new technologies.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Mentoring

Communication skills

Quality governance

Project management

Education

BSc Hons in Radiography or equivalent

HCPC registration confirmed by PIN

MSc or Level-7 leadership qualifications

Postgraduate Level-7 qualification in leadership/management

Education/teaching and/or leadership/clinical research qualifications

Experience in workforce planning & talent development

5+ years post-degree experience; last year at band 7 or above

≥3 years ultrasound experience post-qualification

Job description

Working closely with the Senior Radiology Management Team and Clinical Director, you will provide professional, operational and clinical leadership, ensuring the delivery of a safe, effective and high-quality ultrasound service. You will lead and support Sonographers, trainee Sonographers and Radiology department assistants, while maintaining a regular clinical role and contributing to the future development of the service. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on patient care, staff development and service innovation within a progressive and supportive Radiology department. Main duties of the job As Principal Sonographer (Non-Obstetric Ultrasound), you will provide professional, operational and clinical leadership for the Trust-wide Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service, ensuring the delivery of a safe, effective and patient-centred service. You will maintain advanced clinical expertise, undertaking complex ultrasound examinations while promoting excellence in clinical practice. The post holder will lead and develop the team, fostering a culture of learning, wellbeing, accountability and continuous improvement. You will be responsible for workforce planning, recruitment, retention, appraisal, staff development and performance management, supporting a skilled and sustainable workforce. Working with the Senior Radiology Management Team, Clinical Director, Service Managers and multidisciplinary colleagues, you will drive service recovery and performance improvement against key national standards, including DM01, RTT and Cancer pathways. You will lead quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient access, diagnostic quality, productivity and service efficiency, including optimising opportunities through Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs). The role includes responsibility for clinical governance, audit, quality assurance, risk management, incident investigation and complaints handling, ensuring learning is embedded into practice. You will contribute to business planning, service transformation and the introduction of new technologies, pathways and workforce models., For full details of the role, responsibilities and essential requirements, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification. Job description, For full details of the role, responsibilities and essential requirements, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification. Person Specification Qualifications & Training Essential

• BSc Hons in Radiography or equivelent
• Current HCPC registration- evidenced with PIN
• MSc or demonstrable Level-7 capabilities (e.g., NHSE ACP e-portfolio)We are seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Sonographer to lead our Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service across the Trust. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled clinical leader to shape service delivery, drive quality improvement and support the development of a high-performing, patient-focused team.
• Postgraduate Level 7 qualification relevant leadership/management or evidence of equivalent experience.
• Qualifications in education and teaching and/or leadership and/or clinical research.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop a multidisciplinary team
• Skilled in delegation, workload management, and supporting staff autonomy.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, managing challenging staff or patient situations effectively.
• Experience of working with Quality Management Systems, i.e. Q-pulse.
• Experience in organisational change management or leading cross-department initiatives.
• Able to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive team culture
• Ability to mentor and coach staff at all levels, encouraging professional development and continuous improvement.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, liaising confidently with clinicians, managers, patients, and external partners.
• Strong understanding of local and national guidance relevant to medical ultrasound
• Ability to provide accurate, concise clinical reports in line with local policies and procedures.
• Knowledge and experience of clinical governance and risk management
• Ability to work flexibly to meet service needs and manage competing priorities
• Effective decision-making based on clinical knowledge and operational circumstances
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting complex information.
• Ability to deliver against agreed performance targets and KPIs
• Commitment to personal CPD to maintain advanced technical and theoretical skills
• Experience in workforce planning and talent development
• Minimum 5 years post degree experience with the at least the last year at band 7 or above.
• Minimum of three years qualified (post preceptorship) ultrasound experience
• Proven experience in clinical leadership, promoting high-quality patient care and team performance.
• Evidence of inter-professional and multidisciplinary team working, with excellent interpersonal skills and understanding of other professional roles.
• Knowledge of PACS, RIS, and other clinical IT systems.
• Advanced knowledge of anatomy and pathology relevant to ultrasound practice.
• Knowledge of ultrasound equipment and its operational impact on service capacity.
• Knowledge of health & safety regulations related to ultrasound practice.
• Familiarity with Patient Safety Incident Response Framework processes and NHS operational standards.
• Recent NHS working experience.
• Experience of equipment procurement and evaluation
• Evidence of published work, presentations, or research activity.
• Experience in strategic service planning and implementation
• Experience leading audit, quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing delegated budgets
• Specialist scanning experience/ qualification (e.g. MSK, Head & Neck)., BSc Hons in Radiography or equivelent
• Current HCPC registration- evidenced with PIN
• MSc or demonstrable Level-7 capabilities (e.g., NHSE ACP e-portfolio)
• Postgraduate Level 7 qualification relevant leadership/management or evidence of equivalent experience.
• Qualifications in education and teaching and/or leadership and/or clinical research.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop a multidisciplinary team
• Skilled in delegation, workload management, and supporting staff autonomy.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, managing challenging staff or patient situations effectively.
• Experience of working with Quality Management Systems, i.e. Q-pulse.
• Experience in organisational change management or leading cross-department initiatives.
• Able to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive team culture
• Ability to mentor and coach staff at all levels, encouraging professional development and continuous improvement.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, liaising confidently with clinicians, managers, patients, and external partners.
• Strong understanding of local and national guidance relevant to medical ultrasound
• Ability to provide accurate, concise clinical reports in line with local policies and procedures.
• Knowledge and experience of clinical governance and risk management
• Ability to work flexibly to meet service needs and manage competing priorities
• Effective decision-making based on clinical knowledge and operational circumstances
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including presenting complex information.
• Ability to deliver against agreed performance targets and KPIs
• Commitment to personal CPD to maintain advanced technical and theoretical skills
• Experience in workforce planning and talent development
• Desirable
• Experience of equipment procurement and evaluation
• Evidence of published work, presentations, or research activity.
• Experience in strategic service planning and implementation
• Experience leading audit, quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing delegated budgets
• Specialist scanning experience/ qualification (e.g. MSK, Head & Neck).We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application.