POSITION DESCRIPTION
Organisational Vision:
South Canterbury District Health Board (SCDHB) is committed “to enhance the health and
independence of the people of South Canterbury”.
Organisational Values: I CARE
Integrity
Collaboration
Accountability
Respect
Excellence
Position:
Sonographer
Reporting to:
Radiology Clinical Leader
Salary
Within the range specified in the APEX & South of
Auckland DHB’s Sonographers collective agreement
Hours of Duty:
Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 5.00pm (8 hours)
Functional relationships with:
Internal
Referrers
Radiologists
Radiology staff
Other SCDHB staff
External
Patients and their support persons
Referrers
Sonography providers and staff
PURPOSE:
The Sonographer is a key member of the Radiology Department within South Canterbury DHB.
You will be expected to provide a quality effective and efficient ultrasound service in a team
environment.
You will provide oversight and direction of the ultrasound service to ensure clinically
appropriate and timely access to ultrasound services.
SONOGRAPHER
Created: May 2017
Review due: May 2019
Page 1 of 6
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
CLINICAL PRACTICE
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PATIENT CARE
QUALITY AND RISK
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Deliver care to the patient that meets standards required by Health and
Disability Code of Patient Rights and other relevant legislation
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Participation in quality improvement processes
Provides a high quality, customer-focused service at all times, which
follows best practice
Participate in forums and peer reviews with other health professionals to
improve overall quality of service providers.
Work actively with other staff to maintain hospital certification and IANZ
accreditation.
Work collaboratively with Organisational Capability, Health and Safety,
Quality and Risk and Infection Control to maintain organisational
standards.
Monitor and review profession specific standards, scopes and
competencies
Undertakes clinical audits to improve patient care.
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ORGANISATIONAL
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SONOGRAPHER
Created: May 2017
Review due: May 2019
Completes full examinations in wide range of ultrasound examinations,
which may include: small parts, upper abdomen, obstetric, gynaecologic,
vascular and musculoskeletal to a high diagnostic standard and the current
accepted standard of practice.
Adherence to all protocols or policies relating to ultrasound.
Compliance with patient eligibility and prioritisation criteria.
Efficient performance of examinations to minimise patient waiting time.
Achieve a number of examinations per session as determined by the
Department.
Appropriate identification of all images taken during session.
Contribute to the implementation of the departments quality plan
including active participation in audit, peer review, IANZ, hospital
certification and customer surveys.
Compliance with clerical and administrative processes surrounding patient
bookings, appointments, image processing, reporting and filing.
Submits written or recorded documentation interpretation on all
examinations to assist reporting by the appropriate specialist.
Record required procedural information in the Radiology Information
System
Full awareness of ultrasound bio-effects and associated safety issues for all
patients and staff.
Liaises with contracted sonography provider to ensure an effective and
efficient service
Service and modality meetings are lead and attended
Contribute to the achievement of contractual obligations and quality
performance indicators, including the efficient and effective use of
resources.
Contribution to the maintenance of harmonious interpersonal relationships
with colleagues and other staff of the organisation.
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TEACHING
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PROFESSIONALISM
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OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY
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CONFIDENTIALITY
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Provision of explanation, instruction or teaching to staff and patients as
appropriate
New staff are appropriately orientated to the service
Should SCDHB develop a workforce training programme, contribute to
the training and supervision of students, lesser qualified or experienced
sonographers, other clinical staff and all radiology staff
Continuing professional development opportunities are maximised
Critical consumer of research and advocate of evidenced-based practice.
Maintain own professional requirements (as appropriate) as directed by
the relevant legislation.
Role model clinical practice excellence.
Work within the competency requirements of the HPCA Act 2003
Complies with MRTB code of ethics
Knowledge and compliance with all governing legislation
Leads performance appraisal process
Comply with SCDHB and relevant radiology provider organisation-wide
and service specific rules, codes of conduct, organisation and policies,
protocols and procedures.
Implement a risk management approach that ensures risks are
understood and continually reviewed to ensure the controls are in place.
Create a culture of risk management around safety.
Implement the recommended health practices to ensure a pro-active
approach is taken to the health of the workforce.
Implement the health and safety policies, procedures, guides and related
systems to ensure alignment with Health & Safety & Work Act 2015 and
associated regulations.
Using Safety First to register all accidents or near misses and inform your
Clinical Leader or Manager of any potential hazards.
Adhere to the Privacy Act 1993, the Health Information Privacy Code 1994
and subsequent amendments in regard to the non-disclosure of
information.
Maintain strict confidentiality of patient, applicant and employee
information at all times.
TREATY OF
WAITANGI
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Comply with obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, giving effect to
the principles of Partnership, Participation and Protection.
TE TIRITI O
WAITANGI
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Ensure service provision accounts for the cultural needs of clients &
family/whanau as appropriate
SONOGRAPHER
Created: May 2017
Review due: May 2019
Page 3 of 6
CAPABILITY PROFILE
Competencies
Solid performance in the role requires demonstration of the following competencies. These
competencies provide a framework for selection and development.
Competency
Problem Solving
Strategic Ability
Directing Others
Customer Focus
Behaviours
 Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with
effective solutions
 Probes all fruitful sources for answers
 Can see hidden problems
 Is excellent at honest analysis
 Looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at first answers
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Integrity and Trust
SONOGRAPHER
Created: May 2017
Review due: May 2019
Sees ahead clearly
Can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately
Has broad knowledge and perspective
Is future orientated
Can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and
likelihoods
Can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans
Is good at establishing clear directions
Sets stretching objectives
Distributes the workload appropriately
Lays out work in a well-planned and organised manner
Maintains two-way dialogue with others on work and results
Brings out the best in people
Is a clear communicator
Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of
internal and external customers
Gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in
products and services
Acts with customers in mind
Establishes and maintains effectively relationships with customers
and gains their trust and respect
 Is widely trusted
 Is seen as a direct, truthful individual
 Can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful
manner
 Keeps confidences
 Admits mistakes
 Doesn’t misrepresent her/himself for personal gain
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CAPABILITY PROFILE
Conflict
Management
Total work systems
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Cultural Skills
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Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities
Reads situations quickly
Good at focused listening
Can hammer out tough agreements and settle disputes equitably
Can find common ground and get cooperation
Is dedicated to providing organisation or enterprise-wide common
systems for designing and measuring work processes
Seeks to reduce variances in organisation processes
Delivers the highest quality products and services which meet the
needs and requirements of internal and external customers
Is committed to continuous improvement through empowerment and
management of data
Leverages technology to positively impact quality
Is willing to re-engineer processes from scratch
Is open to suggestions and experimentation
Creates a learning environment leadings to the most efficient and
effective work processes
Words and actions show an understanding of the implications for
one’s work of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and Maori perspective as
tangata whenua
Values and celebrates diversity – showing respect for other cultures
and people’s different needs and ways of living
Shows an awareness of gaps in, and a desire to increase, cultural
knowledge and inter-cultural practice relevant to one’s work
Accesses resources to make sure culturally appropriate and language
appropriate services are provided
Draws on a client’s own cultural resources and support frameworks
Other aspects of capability not covered by the above competencies
a) Knowledge and Experience:
 Provides evidence based literature to influence care given through best practice
 Actively seeks debriefing following challenging situations
 Provides a forum for exploration, discussion and resolution of ethical issues arising in
practice
 Maintains clinical standards
 Participates in development of best practice based on theory/research
b) Essential Professional Qualifications / Accreditations / Registrations:
 Eligible for, or holder or registration with the NZMRTB in the scope of diagnostic
ultrasound with no conditions
 Eligible for, or holder of current annual practicing certificate.
 Post Graduate qualification: ASUM Diploma of Medical Ultrasound (or its equivalent)
SONOGRAPHER
Created: May 2017
Review due: May 2019
Page 5 of 6
CAPABILITY PROFILE
c) Someone well-suited to the role will place a high value on the following:
 Providing an efficient and high quality focused imaging service
 Provide training in response to the needs of individual colleagues and patients
 Provide support and mentoring
 Ensures opportunities for reflective practice
Perform such other duties relevant to the position as may from time to time be required by the Clinical
Leader Radiology or Radiology Manager.
This position description has been prepared to assist appointment. All SCDHB position descriptions are
subject to review from time to time and may therefore be revised after consultation with the employee
to suit changing service requirements.
Agreed by:
______________________________________ (Job holder’s signature) _________________ Date
__________________________________________ (Employer’s signature) __________________ Date
SONOGRAPHER
Created: May 2017
Review due: May 2019
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