A rare opportunity has arisen to join Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust as a Midwife Sonographer. This exciting opportunity comes at a time of transformation within the Trust, including expanding our obstetric ultrasound capacity across our Maternity services.
We are looking for a driven and ambitious individual to undertake this role, which involves working closely with the wider multi-disciplinary team including obstetric consultants, specialist midwives, and senior midwives.
The post-holder will be expected to work across all sites within the Trust.
- To perform and report ultrasound scans and manage ultrasound lists.
- To communicate the results of the ultrasound scans to the multi-disciplinary team, where appropriate
- Assist with audits and research within the department
- To support and develop learning opportunities for junior members of staff from all disciplines
- To support the Senior Midwifery team in the on-going development of the maternity and ultrasound services
- Work as part of the team who are responsible for the effective and efficient operational management of the ultrasound service within maternity
- If registered as a midwife, to maintain clinical midwifery competencies to ensure NMC revalidation
- To provide the highest standard of safe, effective and compassionate care through the effective use of evidence based practice in line with agreed local and national standards, including the Fetal Abnormality Screening Programme (FASP) standards and the NMC Code.
- To provide a continuously improving service in line with the clinical governance framework, Trust objectives, and the NHS performance framework.
- To support and continually develop staff to ensure they have the appropriate level of skill, knowledge and competence to meet service/specialty requirements.
Communication:
- Applies effective communication/leadership skills in clinical practice with a caring and compassionate attitude at all times,
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective patient education and teamwork.
- Establishes and maintains effective communication with individuals, the wider multi-disciplinary team, and other health professional regarding patients ultrasound scans and obstetric conditions
- The ability to communicate highly sensitive information regarding abnormal findings of second and third trimester scans and support the multi-disciplinary team to provide seamless care to these families.
- Works with the ultrasound team to ensure effective communication with patients relatives and carers, explaining medical or ultrasound findings, and investigations taking into consideration level of understanding, culture and background.
- Be able to provide appropriate counselling when necessary
- Actively manages barriers to communication across all areas of responsibility to ensure positives outcomes.
- Effectively manages difficult and/or complex communication situations e.g. breaking bad news, dealing with concerns and complaints, performance management issues.
- Actively participate in professional groups and forums within, and where appropriate external to the organisation.
- Produces accurate and complete records of communication consistent with legislation policies and procedures.
- Communicates regularly and effectively with the Matron for the area regarding all aspects of clinical care and provision, including budgetary, personnel and environmental issues.
Clinical responsibilities:
- Proficient in operating ultrasound equipment and interpreting ultrasound images and diagnosis
- Strong clinical assessment skills and the ability to provide compassionate patient care.
- Work as an autonomous practitioner with the support of the multidisciplinary team
- To be aware of the pathways re management option for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies
- Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
- Work in partnership with obstetricians for those women identified as high risk or requiring more specialist care
- Experienced in aspects of fetal medicine or work closely with fetal medicine consultant when outside of competent sphere of practice
- To provide practical training and assessment to postgraduates and clinicians in basic and advanced obstetric ultrasound
- To be competent and accurate with the inputting of any information or reports on to the computer system.
- To accurately fill in forms destined for laboratories.
- To independently undertake and report on a wide range of midwifery and ultrasound examinations using high level of specialist knowledge in line with local, regional and national guidelines where applicable.
- Have the ability to give clear explanations to patients regarding the examinations they are having, including risks, benefits, accuracy and limitations in order for them to give informed consent.
- Discuss antenatal screening connected with obstetric ultrasound; Obtain, record and interpret relevant antenatal screening results
- Receive information concerning patients history, which is potentially highly complex and sensitive. There may be special needs that will require assessing and planning using skills of empathy and reassurance.