Sonographer

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

About

All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as “competent and caring staff” by our patients.

As Wirral’s largest employer, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the thriving heart of the local community. Comprising Wirral’s only Emergency Department, it is one of the biggest and busiest acute NHS Trusts in the North West.

We operate from two main sites, Arrowe Park Hospital and Clatterbridge Hospital, while also providing a range of services in community sites. Our hospitals are friendly, supportive environments for patients and staff alike. Strong team work, a helpful attitude and great co-operation is what enables us to deliver the best care to our patients. We employ over 6,000 staff who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North-West area. We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide with a financial turnover of approximately £337m.

With state-of-the-art facilities based within a fast-paced and ever-developing environment, this forward-thinking Trust is on an exciting journey of transformation. We are enormously proud that we continue to have low mortality rates, impressive results in national audits such as stroke, children’s inpatient services and maternity and breast services as well as some outstanding patient feedback. One patient wrote to us; “My recent experiences with the NHS have proven to me how lucky we are to have such an excellent service for us available”.

The Trust has been recognised by numerous national awards over the past 12 months in areas including dermatology, dementia, patient experience, patient safety, scientific innovation and staff engagement to name just a few.

As a Trust we are committed to ensuring that diversity and inclusion is integrated in business as usual. It is important to us that our services are accessible to all members of our community, that they are delivered equally regardless of any differences and that our staffing reflects the communities we serve.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is also really important to us and our latest NHS Staff Survey reflects this. It’s great to know our engaged staff are feeling positive and enthusiastic by recommending the Trust as a place to work.

Wirral has a stunning coastline and a beautiful countryside, making it a great place to live and work. It offers 50 miles of rural walking routes, cycle areas, beaches and serene landscape and ideal for those who like to unwind with a round of golf, as it boasts 14 golf courses. Wirral also has two of Britain’s most famous rivers, the Mersey and the Dee, running along its Eastern and Western coastline.

The cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as North Wales are easy to reach with various transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry. National parks, the Peak District and Lake District are also easily accessible.

Excellent housing is available in nearby suburbs and there are a variety of schools to choose from. The University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Chester are also within short travelling distance

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Key details

Location

SiteArrowe Park HospitalTownWirralPostcodeCH49 5PEMajor / Minor RegionMerseyside

Contract type & working pattern

ContractPermanentHours37.5 hours per week (Full time shift pattern 08:00-18:00, over 4 working days. Part-time alternatives also available)

• Full time
• Part time

Salary

Salary£46,148 - £52,809 per annum pro rata. RRP is also offered for this role.Salary periodYearlyGrade(Band 7)

Specialty

Main areaDiagnostics

To discover why you should consider applying for a role at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, please watch our video and hear directly from our staff about what it’s truly like to work at WUTH and its surrounding areas:https://youtu.be/Z5oMaNXprn8

Job overview

We are currently seeking enthusiastic, passionate, and proactive Sonographers, to join our Ultrasound team at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH).

You will become part of our supportive and dynamic team of sonographers, who take pride in delivering excellent patient care and clinical standards. We have recently developed a new preceptorship programme, for both our newly qualified students and any newly qualified sonographers joining our trust.

We provide a 7-day service, across 4 key sites on the Wirral Peninsula. As part of this role, you may be required to work across all 4 sites (Arrowe Park, St Catherine’s, Victoria Central and our new Clatterbridge Diagnostic Centre). The service covers both obstetric and general ultrasound departments as well as a variety of sub-specialties including head/neck, MSK and paediatrics. We actively encourage career development and have regular training opportunities available.

Applicants must hold a recognised ultrasound qualification (PgCert, PgDip or Direct-Entry Masters) and be eligible to work in the United Kingdom with HCPC/NMC/ Equivalent registration. Nuchal Translucency accreditation is desirable for obstetric sonographers, although training will be provided if required.

Typical full-time hours are 08:00 – 18:00, 4 working days (working days to be negotiated, over a 7-day service). However, part-time roles, weekend only and alternative working patterns can be discussed at interview.

Advert

Applicants will be expected to have experience in one or more: Obstetric, General Abdominal, Pelvis and small parts scanning. Experience in MSK and paediatric scanning is desirable.

If additional clinical training is required, this can be negotiated at interview.

Working for our organisation

All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as “competent and caring staff” by our patients.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.

We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral’s only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.

The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see Job overview & attached Job description for further information about the Sonographer position available with WUTH.

Apprenticeship Eligibility Criteria

Should this vacancy be recruited as an apprenticeship, the following criteria will apply:

UK nationals or other persons with a right of abode have an eligible residency status if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK or the British Overseas Territories, or the Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of the apprenticeship.

You are required to apply for this role via apps.trac.jobs and this is where you will be able to track the progress of your application. This will ensure we deal with your application quickly and efficiently.

Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application throughout the process.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust viewing and managing the information contained in the application.

Please note; that if you are offered a position, your personal details will automatically be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR).

The Trust reserves the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum amount of applications from which to make a shortlist. To prevent this happening please complete and submit your application without delay.

Trust policy requires that the cost of submitting & processing a DBS application is met by the successful applicant/s. DBS costs are recovered via salary deduction following starting in post.

If the post you are applying for requires a DBS - Inline with Trust policy the cost of submitting and processing a DBS for successful applications would be met by the individual themselves. The amount would vary depending on the level required: Standard Disclosure £21.50+£6.50 or Enhanced Disclosure £49.50+£6.50 (please be aware the additional sum is an administration fee and may increase due to inflation). This will be deducted from your salary, in manageable monthly instalments for up to 3 months following commencement of employment.

The Trust would encourage all post holders who require a DBS for their role to registered with the DBS Update Service. You can find out more information and guidance on how to do this at https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a new publication to support overseas candidates looking to work in health and care in the UK.

The new guidance provides information on the recruitment process that candidates should expect when applying for work in the UK. Please follow the below link:

New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all unborn babies, children and adults and is signed up to both the Wirral Safeguarding Childrens Partnership and the Wirral Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board associated policies and procedures. All Trust staff must be familiar with, and adhere to these procedures. It is the post holders responsibility to attended the Trusts mandatory training Protecting Vulnerable People training, and to follow the relevant Trusts polices and practice guidance.

Applicant requirements

warning You must have appropriate UK professional registration. info 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.

Person specification

Qualifications, Specific Experience & Training

Essential criteria

• BSc in Diagnostic Radiography or DCR Equivalent or degree in Health related subject
• Registered with HCPC or other Regulatory Body
• Post Graduate diploma/certificate or equivalent in medical ultrasound, obstetric ultrasound or stand alone Ultrasound qualification if Direct Entry
• Current up to date portfolio demonstrating interest in Ultrasound
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• Basic knowledge of ultrasound scanning
• Able to communicate emotional, sensitive issues with empathy
• Willing to learn and develop new skills in ultrasound via additional training or courses
• Adhere to the Professional Code of Conduct
• Able to demonstrate computer literacy
• Understands when to use initiative and when to escalate issues to more senior staff.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of Training/Leadership of students and new staff

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria

• Ability to communicate with all levels of staff and adapt approaches to meet needs of patients.
• Demonstrate empathy and understanding
• Provide at all times a safe environment for all patients and staff alike
• Demonstrate the values and behaviours of WUTH.
• To be an advocate for our patients.

Other Requirements

Essential criteria

• Flexible and adaptable in meeting service needs.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Comply with the Trust’s policies of data protection, confidentiality, equality and diversity, Health and Safety.
• Must be able to work across-site when required

Desirable criteria

• Access to own transport

Documents

• Job Description & Person Specification (, 170.4)PDFKB
• OH Risk ID form (, 179.8)PDFKB
• Guidance Notes for Applicants (, 734.3)PDFKB
• Vision Values Behaviours (, 515.6)PDFKB
• WUTH GDPR Privacy Notice for applicants DBS - May 2022 (, 290.4)PDFKB

Further details / informal visits contact

NameCiara WilliamsJob titleUltrasound ManagerEmail address [email protected]Telephone number0151 604 7262Additional information

Ciara Williams, Ultrasound Manager

[email protected]