Midwife Sonographer, Band 7

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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 patient’s 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 patient’s 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 patient’s 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.