Principal Sonographer

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Sevington; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Principal Sonographer to lead the Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service across the Trust. You will provide professional, operational and clinical leadership, ensuring safe, effective, patient‑centred care while supporting Sonographers and radiology staff.

You will oversee workforce planning, governance, audits and service improvements, align with national standards, and promote a culture of learning and wellbeing. Excellent strategic leadership is required.

Qualifications

• BSc Hons in Radiography or equivalent.
• HCPC registration current and evidenced.
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• MSc or Level-7 leadership/management qualification.
• Experience in service transformation and governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional, operational and clinical leadership for the Non-Obstetric Ultrasound Service.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team.
• Drive quality improvement and service development initiatives.

Skills

Ultrasound expertise

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Clinical governance

Quality improvement

Teaching & mentoring

PACS/RIS knowledge

Budget management

Project management

Communication skills

Change management

Health & safety

Education

BSc Radiography or equivalent

HCPC registration

MSc or Level-7 leadership/management

Postgraduate Level 7 qualification

Education/teaching qualifications

Tools

PACS

RIS

Clinical IT systems

Job description

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. 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., 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.

• 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, 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., 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).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.