Ultrasound Imaging Care Assistant Team Leader

The Ultrasound Department is advertising an opportunity to recruit an Ultrasound Imaging Care Assistant (ICA) Team Leader (band 4) who will be the line manager for the team of ICAs within the Ultrasound service. This position is a fixed term 18 month contract to cover for maternity leave.

The Ultrasound service operates from Derriford Hospital and other locations off site such as Cumberland centre. The Plymouth Community Diagnostic Centre will become operational next year with additional 4 ultrasound rooms. We provide a comprehensive and varied service which extends into the evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

The Ultrasound ICA Team Leader will be expected to support daily operational flow for inpatient and outpatient Ultrasound services, on site and off site. The post holder will be expected to be in departmental mainly during the weekdays, although there may be a need to work some evenings, weekends and bank holidays to support the service. There should be cross cover between the Team Leader and the Senior Ultrasound ICA to be present at the daily morning huddle and link in appropriately with Imaging Production Board. The post holder is required to work closely with the Ultrasound team and the wider team in Imaging.

Flexible working patterns can be supported if they fit in with service needs.

For more details, please refer to the documents attached.

Main duties of the job

• To act as operational line manager for the ICA team in accordance with Trust policy and procedures.
• Proactively respond to the changing requirements of the service daily, under the direction of the Ultrasound Department and Imaging Service Line Management Team.
• To rota the ICA team appropriately, encompassing 7 day working with extended hours as required by ultrasound service.
• Ensure all modalities are adequately staffed and that all ICAs take their requisite leave, have appropriate rest periods, whilst ensuring all duties are appropriately covered.
• Produce staff roster ensuring the rota including overtime, sickness and other absences are accurately documented on Healthroster.
• Ensure all ICAs are up to date with mandatory training.
• Ensure all ICAs receive an annual appraisal and are supported in their development.
• To act as lead for the education of the ICA team, responsible for CME events, CPD and PDP of individuals in collaboration with the Imaging Educational Team. Establish a clear career pathway and develop opportunities for role progression where appropriate.
• Ensure required staffing levels are available to meet needs of the service.
• PLEASE SEE JOB DESCRIPTION ATTACHED FOR FULL LIST OF MAIN DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities

• Be team leader for the ICAs and maintain a regular presence in the department, balancing the complex demands of the service whilst taking into account individual opinion and communicate effectively with tact and empathy.
• To act as a point of contact for the Ultrasound Department and Imaging Service Line Management in relation to ICA staff performance, regularly review the ICA role and workforce plans in line with current and future service demands and developments.
• Proactively manage the ICA team in line with department and Trust policy in respect to sickness, unplanned absence, annual leave and additional duties.
• To have good understanding of ultrasound service needs and support service with ICAs across weekdays and weekends, including extended working days and evenings, within Derriford Hospital and peripheral sites where appropriate. This requires an understanding of skills mix within ICA team, particularly when there is staff sickness and absence to maintain adequate service provision.
• Produce staff roster ensuring the rota including overtime, sickness and other absences are accurately documented on Healthroster.
• Work closely with the Ultrasound Rota Coordinator.
• Be able to manage NHSP shifts, where appropriate.
• Respond to non-routine situations as directed by the Ultrasound and service line management teams and to manage the team to respond effectively to day to day issues.
• To have line management responsibility for the ICAs including liaison with Staff Health and Well-Being and HR regarding sickness and absence, performance and conduct issues as required, undertaking meetings with staff in line with Trust Policy. This includes holding regular meetings with the ICA team, communicating sensitive information and undertaking meetings with the support of HR which might result in formal action being taken against the member of staff.
• Manage requests for flexible working/retirement or changes to working patterns/ hours. Ensure that service delivery is unaffected by changes whilst accommodating requests were able. Liaise with senior manager and HR when necessary. Ensure requests are reviewed annually or if service needs change

11. To communicate with the ICA team through email and regular staff meeting, producing meeting minutes to ensure those who do not attend are kept up to date with current issues. This includes to communicate sensitive information, maintain confidentiality, deal with conduct/performance management of individuals. Document discussions routinely. Undertake meetings with the support of HR which might result in formal action being taken against the member of staff.

• To act as lead for the education of the ICA team, responsible for CME events, CPD and PDP of individuals in collaboration with the Imaging Educational Team. Establish a clear career pathway and develop opportunities for role progression where appropriate.
• Ensure all ICAs are up to date with Trust requirements for mandatory training.
• Undertake annual appraisals for ICAs in line with Trust policy ensuring the completion rate exceeds the minimum expectations of the trust as monitored on the service line dashboards.
• Manage grievance, conduct and capability procedures and respond to complaints which involve the ICAs.
• To be a mentor and support every new member of ICA team through local induction in order to ensure that each ICA is trained to the required standard for ultrasound service delivery and maintain the competency record for ICA team. This encompasses various safety aspects required to maintain health and safety of both staff and patients.
• Have a firm understanding of DATIX, be able to undertake investigations where appropriate in collaboration with Modality Clinical Leads and SLM team. Provide feedback to relevant stakeholders and share areas for learning with the ICA group.

18. To hold a Care Certificate and act as mentor to undertake Care Certificate assessments for new team members.

19. To become ANTT trainer and be able to assist in ultrasound procedures such as MSK injections and FNAs, and other more complex ultrasound procedures where appropriate.

20. To be able to accurately record patient observations and care given with counter signature from a Registered Practitioner during recovery following specific non-invasive/invasive investigations, reporting any abnormality of the patients condition to the appropriate person.

• To assist in the care of maintaining skin integrity over pressure points, recognising and reporting all adverse findings to the appropriate person.
• To prepare notes/documentation for clinics, ensuring necessary medical results and reports are present in the notes.
• To be competent to escort patients pre and post minor procedures under the direction of the Registered Nurse/Practitioner.
• Undertake infection control audits and environmental cleanliness checks, where appropriate, and review results in conjunction with Sonography team.
• To provide support for patients in accordance to their needs, chaperone patients during their scans (in accordance to policies/procedures). This includes escorting patients to and from the department, and where necessary to assist with dressing and undressing and attending to their needs.
• Under the direction of a Sonographer, assist with weekly resuscitation trolley checks, undertake daily resuscitation trolley checks.
• To assist in the maintenance of stock levels, bringing to the attention of the appropriate individual and be able to raise orders for some commonly used items. This will require and awareness of regular materials management linking in with Stores and ability to utilise EPROC.

28. To have a sound knowledge of CRIS, SALUS, ICM, Synbiotix and other relevant programmes essential for ultrasound service delivery.

29. To have a good understanding of inpatient flow and be able to stand in as ultrasound inpatient coordinator, when required.

30. To assist all ultrasound practitioners during patient examinations as required using manual handling techniques and mechanical aids where necessary.

31. To transport patients to and from the Ultrasound department in wheelchairs or beds either alone or with a porter or colleague as necessary.

32. To be familiar with Ultrasound procedures in order to be able to explain them to patients of all ages and abilities, carers and relatives and report any concerns to the Sonographer.

33. To report any equipment faults appropriately under direction of a Sonographer.

34. Adhere to all aspects of the regulations pertaining to COSHH, Infection Control, Health and Safety and to observe the local rules relating to radiation safety at all times, thereby maintaining a safe working environment.

35. Assess any infection risks and employ necessary precautions.

36. There will be occasional contact with bodily fluids, foul linen, fleas, lice etc.

37. To understand and adhere to the data protection act, ensuring patient confidentiality at all times.

38. To provide annually updated competencies for the ICA workforce.

39. To liaise with the HR department regarding redeployed staff, i.e. monitoring over the 4 week induction period to ensure all set objectives have been met.

40. Ensure staff standard of dress and appearance, complying with trust policies and infection control guidelines.

41. To be able to work independently and prioritise own workload, and that of the ICA team, in order to maintain efficient and effective patient throughput at all times throughout the inpatient and outpatient scan rooms.

42. To support and enhance the continual quality initiative programme ensuring a "quality first" approach to all aspects of work in the area.

43. Any other duties, commensurate with the grade and at the discretion of the Ultrasound Leads and service line management team.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Previous demonstrable experience as an ICA or HCA in a clinical setting.
• Demonstrable experience of leadership and team working.
• Able to move patients and equipment as per the Trusts manual handling procedures.
• Recent healthcare experience, preferably in a hospital environment.
• Demonstrable experience of working in a hospital ward.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Care Certificate Level 2.
• NVQ 3 in Health and Social care or equivalent standard or demonstrable equivalent experience as a senior ICA/HCA in band 3 clinical role and willing to undertake appropriate level 3 course.
• Kind and approachable.
• Polite and respectful.
• Values self and others.
• Able to analyse and discuss problems whilst demonstrating understanding of different perspectives.
• Able to keep record of documents.

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.

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working