Overview
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Midwife Sonographer. The closing date is 30 October 2025.
Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust has approximately 4200 births per annum. The maternity unit Calderdale Royal Hospital is a secondary care unit for obstetric and neonatal complications. The post-holder will provide midwifery ultrasound care working autonomously and closely with other health-care professionals to deliver a flexible, accessible pathway over a seven-day service.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is an expert clinical practitioner of midwifery, trained in obstetric ultrasound, who provides midwifery and ultrasound care for both low risk and high-risk women. The post-holder will work in collaboration with the antenatal care team to provide ultrasound and midwifery care. The post carries continuing responsibility for the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care and setting standards of care. The post-holder is expected to perform the full range of obstetric ultrasound procedures involved in pregnancy, being familiar with normal anatomy and variants as well as the range of pathology. This is a highly specialised clinical service with the postholder expected to independently scan, interpret and report obstetric ultrasound examinations and document relevance accordingly.
About us
We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients\' homes. We also have almost 150 volunteers at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children\'s and young people\'s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services. We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS, yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members — patients, staff and the local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in changes to local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
Job responsibilities
To work autonomously performing and reporting a wide range of transabdominal and transvaginal obstetric ultrasound examinations across all trimesters, including Doppler assessment and assessing for intrauterine death.
Use the necessary documentation, reporting and image storage systems, adhering to departmental and ultrasound SOPs.
To provide accurate dating based on fetal ultrasound measurements in the pregnant woman, crucial to the calculation and confirmation of the expected date of delivery, and for the planning of antenatal care and tests.
Carry out a range of clinical examinations related to midwifery, independently interpreting and acting upon the findings in adherence with trust guidelines.
Participate in the provision of screening service in line with departmental and national protocols to assess for fetal abnormalities.
Monitor growth in the at-risk fetus and management of multiple pregnancy.
To have responsibility for obstetric ultrasound examinations and reports, and to liaise directly with the obstetric clinician, midwife or multidisciplinary team where appropriate.
To use analytical and judgement skills to interpret highly complex images, accurately differentiating between normal and pathological findings. To advise the clinicians directly when delay may have a direct impact on morbidity and mortality.
Discuss the findings or scan results with the expectant parents, including delicate and/or sensitive information (fetal demise, fetal abnormalities) and give advice on appropriate follow-up or referral.
To prioritise, organise and plan patient workload. To assess the urgency and appropriateness of an ultrasound referral given the clinical history. Where necessary, have direct discussions with clinicians/patients as to additional relevant information.
Be accountable for own actions and omissions and may need to advise other members of the team regarding their actions and omissions.
The post holder may be required to identify and diffuse areas of potential conflict. Investigate and respond to incidents and complaints within midwifery and ultrasound.
Lead in developing, maintaining, implementing and reviewing ultrasound provision policies and guidelines in collaboration with the radiology department and working with the senior managers.
To audit and evaluate own practice with peers, and work within and contribute to the multidisciplinary team. To audit activity against standards required.
To possess excellent communication and counselling skills. To impart distressing information and discuss complicated issues, when necessary, with patients and their relatives in a clear and empathetic way.
To take responsibility for the implementation and outcome of own professional decisions/actions.
To be willing to collect and have an active role in audit and clinical governance activities, as directed by the Deputy head of service and/or consultant from other clinical service units, where applicable.
To maintain patients dignity and confidentiality whilst frequently undertaking examinations of an intimate and often highly unpleasant nature, where there is a high risk of exposure to bodily fluids.
Communicate effectively and professionally, including when dealing with emotionally distressed, challenging, or potentially aggressive patients and their relatives, using de-escalation techniques and ensuring a compassionate approach to care.
To ensure that information is organised and recorded in a legible, concise manner when issuing own reports. To acquire adequate IT skills to document procedures and protocols where necessary.
To accurately record data to comply with The Data Protection Act / General Data Protection Regulations 2018 and NMC standards.
To perform quality assurance checks on equipment and troubleshoot potential equipment problems. To document equipment malfunctions in a timely manner and notify the clinical manager.
To take part in evaluation and selection of ultrasound equipment appropriate to the clinical need.
To be willing to embrace change and comply with duties outside the normal scope of practice after the appropriate training and assessment.
To be involved with the training and mentoring of other healthcare professionals including trainee sonographers and midwives. Provide supervision and support to students and promote a positive learning environment and ensuring safe, high-quality care.
Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures, and escalate any concerns appropriately in line with local and national guidance.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING
* Registered midwife
* Recognised Postgraduate Obstetric Ultrasound Qualification
* Teaching/Mentoring accreditation: ENB 997/PGCE or equivalent
* Professional Midwifery Advocate or willingness to undertake
* Accredited management training course
* NLS course
* PROMPT trainer
* Recognised postgraduate gynaecology ultrasound qualification
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
* Significant experience of Midwifery practice with recent relevant experience in a more senior role
* Ability to demonstrate experience in midwifery practice
* Leading elements of service provision and of supporting staff in the clinical environment.
* Knowledge, skill and competence in complex care
* IT expertise
* Ability to compile, analyse and disseminate complex information
* Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Demonstrable achievement in: I.Changing clinical practice II.Developing self and others III.Mentorship and ensuring others maintain current registration
* Able to demonstrate a broad knowledge of health policy in relation to midwifery
* High Dependency Experience or relevant course for women requiring complex maternity care
* Evidence of innovative practice that involves research or audit
* Evidence of research experience
* Experience of multi-agency working
* Demonstrable achievement in Leadership
* Up to date Knowledge Up to date knowledge of current trends in obstetric ultrasound
COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)
* Excellent report writing and presentation skills
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
* Ability to influence and motivate others
* Negotiating skills and ability to resolve conflict
* Ability to make decisions and be accountable for them
* Highly motivated with a positive attitude
* To be committed and reliable
* Knowledge of midwifery issues and their impact on service delivery
* Networking
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
£47,810 to £54,710 per annum, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Reference number
372-FSS2904
Job locations
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
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