A Candidate Advanced Practice Radiographer in sonography will develop competency at a higher level across the four pillars of advanced practice: Clinical Practice, Leadership and Management, Education and Facilitation of Clinical Learning, and Evidence, Research and Service Development. The role involves practicing autonomously and as part of a team, using advanced knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and evidence to deliver the highest quality clinical practice. The candidate will be supported to create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, and to develop capabilities for comprehensive service user management. This includes advanced clinical reasoning, shared decision-making, and evidence-based practice to achieve optimal outcomes. The role requires a high level of knowledge regarding disease patterns, differential diagnosis, and treatment options, including recognition of complex presentations and the need for expedited referral. The candidate will develop expertise and decision-making skills for differentiated and undifferentiated presentations, synthesizing information from multiple sources to make evidence-based judgments and/or diagnoses. This involves planning, implementing, and evaluating care delivery. Under supervision, the candidate will play a direct role in managing complex service users, including assessment, developing investigation strategies, interpreting results, and agreeing on management and treatment plans in partnership with service users, families, carers, medical staff, and the multi-professional team. The position also involves providing timely and courteous ultrasound services, communicating complex information, positioning patients, taking patient histories, ensuring safe patient transfers, and establishing effective communication with service users, carers, and healthcare professionals. The role includes working with consultant radiologists, contributing to standard setting and policy formation, and liaising with other departments to provide a comprehensive Ultrasound Service. Ensuring patient safety, assessing referral justification, and reporting findings are key responsibilities. The candidate will also be responsible for updating patient records, maintaining databases, and teaching student radiographers. Leadership and Management involve developing leadership skills, fostering a safe and supportive working environment, performing professional supervision and peer review, acting as a role model, supervisor, coach, and mentor. The role requires building capabilities to critically apply advanced clinical expertise, influencing clinical practice to enhance quality and promote best practice. Team leadership, resilience, and managing complex situations are essential. The candidate will supervise, train, and appraise students and senior sonographers, manage patient images and data, and promote compliance with policies and procedures. Reporting equipment faults, ensuring compliance with Health and Safety policies, and reporting Adverse Incidents are also required. The role involves attending MDMs, cascading information, and using feedback to maintain high scanning standards. Developing capabilities to assess and manage change, monitor its impact, and consider cost, efficiency, access, and quality in decision-making are crucial. Contributing to strategic review and innovation in services, and continually developing practice in response to changing population health needs are expected. Daily organization and planning of time and resources for an efficient service, dealing with unpredictable workloads, and working flexibly are necessary. The candidate will be responsible for their own professional actions, working unsupervised, and supervising junior staff and students. Deputizing for the modality lead and acting as a first-line response for issues are also part of the role. Education and Facilitation of Clinical Learning involve critically assessing and addressing learning needs, negotiating personal development plans, and engaging in self-directed learning. Collaboration with the wider team to identify and address developmental needs, supporting capacity and capability building through evidence-based practice and interprofessional learning, and educating and developing others are key. Advocating for continuous learning, promoting the profession, and sharing learning through presentations are expected. Acting as an educator, supervisor, mentor, and coach, and collaborating with higher education institutions to provide practice education are also required. Maintaining and updating skills and knowledge, contributing to staff training, and providing professional support to other radiographer sonographers are important. Developing and adapting learning programs, assisting in the design and delivery of education programs, and providing practice placement opportunities are also part of the role. Evidence, Research, Development & Audit involve critically evaluating and synthesizing evidence, making judgments on implementation, and ensuring a person-centred, evidence-based approach. Leading and developing a culture of enquiry that promotes participation in evidence-based practice, research, service evaluation, quality improvement, and audit is essential. Identifying gaps in the evidence base, alerting appropriate individuals and organizations, and planning and delivering research to address these gaps are required. Leading audit of service and evaluation of clinical activities to enhance quality, safety, productivity, and value for money are crucial. Bringing critical analysis to the evolving clinical/scientific specialism, regularly reviewing research and evidence, and evaluating own practice are necessary. Assessing demand and specification for evolving services, undertaking audits, contributing to practice development, participating in clinical research, and working with others in the development of research protocols are also part of the role. Exercising professional judgment in policy development, risk management, and supporting teams to ensure safety are key. Identifying, assessing, managing, and monitoring risk within the area of responsibility is required. Having a working knowledge of HIQA Standards and complying with HSE protocols is essential. Supporting sustainable energy, water, and waste initiatives and engaging in the HSE performance achievement process are also required. The job specification is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to perform other duties as assigned.
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Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed