Job summary
- Undertakes audiometric tests on in/outpatients.
- Provides expert clinical service in rehabilitation of children and adults with hearing loss and tinnitus
- Assists with clinical supervision and training of trainee staff
- Provides expert clinical service in rehabilitation of children and adults with hearing loss and tinnitus
- Caseload size managed annually 38,000 (All age groups)
- Area population provided for: 480,000 (Plymouth and surrounding area
Updates own professional knowledge, keeping abreast of new digital hearing aid technology.
Main duties of the job
Job Title:-Senior/Specialist Audiologist - Paediatrics
Full time 37.5 hrs per week
Location:- Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Grade:- Band 6
Come and join our friendly department in a beautiful part of the country! We are seeking a suitably experienced Audiologist to work in this busy department, which covers all aspects of paediatric and adult audiology across a large urban and rural community. We are particularly keen to appoint someone who can work with paediatric patients, but would consider a candidate who needs some development in this area. You will be expected to have a BSc in Audiology or BAA Parts 1 & 2 plus recognised higher training with demonstrable post-qualification experience or MSc plus CAC or STP. Given the changes in education and training over time, of course equivalent experience and qualifications will be considered.
Contact Details:- Adam Beckman, Head of Audiology Services. Tel: 01752 430844
Email:-adam.beckman@nhs.net
Closing Date:- 20/08/2023
Planned Interview date: 07/09/2023
***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***
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 description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Duties
Rehabilitation duties
- Take social histories and listening needs assessments in children and adults, and combine these with diagnostic test results to develop the necessary management plans
- Take accurate aural impressions of children and adults
- Modify ear moulds using the range of laboratory equipment available
- Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of when these can not be adhered to:
- Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results
- Accurately fit digital hearing aids to adults and school age children, using real ear/probe microphone measurements, and assist senior staff in fitting pre-school children
- Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids and onward referral to other specialist services
- Provide counselling to patients and/or significant others regarding the nature and extent of any hearing deficit, and the options on how this could be managed
- Manage distressed or angry patients sensitively, especially when disclosing test results and management options
- Provide audiological management to patients with significant co-morbidities, including mental health problems and learning difficulties
- Ensure patients and/or significant others are fully aware of the use of any devices issued
- Fault finding to provide a timely hearing aid repair service
- Manage complex cases, including taking referrals from junior staff
- Provide expert advice to other staff, including wards, health visitors and ENT
Diagnostic duties
- To determine the appropriate test battery for patients seen as direct referrals from primary care and as referrals from ENT
- Analyse results to determine the next stage of diagnostics required, and to problem solve inconsistent or erroneous findings
- Take medical histories of patients directly referred from primary care to exclude pathologies requiring a medical opinion
- Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of when these can not be adhered to:
- Accurately test hearing using of infants, children and adults with learning difficulties, using appropriate techniques for the individuals age and level of ability
- Accurately test the hearing of adults all ages, using pure tone audiometry, uncomfortable loudness levels, speech audiometry and other subjective tests as required
- Accurately perform objective tests of auditory function on children and adults, including tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing and otoacoustic emissions
- Ensure that expensive clinical equipment used is calibrated, decontaminated and maintained according to national and departmental protocols
Other duties
- Provide the range of audiological services in peripheral/community settings and domiciliary settings
- Provide training and supervision to pre-registration and basic grade audiology staff
- Provide training to other staff groups, including medical students, nursing staff and community-based health professionals
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive clinical records using the computerised patient management system and hospital records
- Provide written and verbal reports on patients to referrers and other members of the multi-disciplinary team
- Assist the team leader in the maintenance and calibration of the services equipment
- Assist in keeping accurate activity statistics
- Prioritise own workload
- Take responsibility for own continual professional development
- Participate in continuous service improvement to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care
- Assist in stock and equipment management, including the carrying of equipment and stock to peripheral/ community clinics and for domiciliary services
- Ensure efficient use of resources
- Participate in departmental research and audit, and multi-centre trials
- Actively participate in departmental team meetings and training
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical Duties
Rehabilitation duties
- Take social histories and listening needs assessments in children and adults, and combine these with diagnostic test results to develop the necessary management plans
- Take accurate aural impressions of children and adults
- Modify ear moulds using the range of laboratory equipment available
- Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of when these can not be adhered to:
- Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results
- Accurately fit digital hearing aids to adults and school age children, using real ear/probe microphone measurements, and assist senior staff in fitting pre-school children
- Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids and onward referral to other specialist services
- Provide counselling to patients and/or significant others regarding the nature and extent of any hearing deficit, and the options on how this could be managed
- Manage distressed or angry patients sensitively, especially when disclosing test results and management options
- Provide audiological management to patients with significant co-morbidities, including mental health problems and learning difficulties
- Ensure patients and/or significant others are fully aware of the use of any devices issued
- Fault finding to provide a timely hearing aid repair service
- Manage complex cases, including taking referrals from junior staff
- Provide expert advice to other staff, including wards, health visitors and ENT
Diagnostic duties
- To determine the appropriate test battery for patients seen as direct referrals from primary care and as referrals from ENT
- Analyse results to determine the next stage of diagnostics required, and to problem solve inconsistent or erroneous findings
- Take medical histories of patients directly referred from primary care to exclude pathologies requiring a medical opinion
- Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of when these can not be adhered to:
- Accurately test hearing using of infants, children and adults with learning difficulties, using appropriate techniques for the individuals age and level of ability
- Accurately test the hearing of adults all ages, using pure tone audiometry, uncomfortable loudness levels, speech audiometry and other subjective tests as required
- Accurately perform objective tests of auditory function on children and adults, including tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing and otoacoustic emissions
- Ensure that expensive clinical equipment used is calibrated, decontaminated and maintained according to national and departmental protocols
Other duties
- Provide the range of audiological services in peripheral/community settings and domiciliary settings
- Provide training and supervision to pre-registration and basic grade audiology staff
- Provide training to other staff groups, including medical students, nursing staff and community-based health professionals
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive clinical records using the computerised patient management system and hospital records
- Provide written and verbal reports on patients to referrers and other members of the multi-disciplinary team
- Assist the team leader in the maintenance and calibration of the services equipment
- Assist in keeping accurate activity statistics
- Prioritise own workload
- Take responsibility for own continual professional development
- Participate in continuous service improvement to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care
- Assist in stock and equipment management, including the carrying of equipment and stock to peripheral/ community clinics and for domiciliary services
- Ensure efficient use of resources
- Participate in departmental research and audit, and multi-centre trials
- Actively participate in departmental team meetings and training
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent OR MSc level of expertise in a specialist area of audiology with BSC in Audiology or equivalent qualification
- Registered as Clinical Physiologist in Audiology OR Clinical Scientist in Audiology
Desirable
- Computer literate (ECDL) CAC, HTS or equivalent
Aptitude and skills
Essential
- Ability to prioritise workload, instruct and direct others
- Teaching and mentoring skills
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Demonstrable developed specialist proven knowledge
- Proven post-qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Experience/knowledge of carrying out behavioural tests of children
Desirable
- Experience leading paediatric clinics
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent OR MSc level of expertise in a specialist area of audiology with BSC in Audiology or equivalent qualification
- Registered as Clinical Physiologist in Audiology OR Clinical Scientist in Audiology
Desirable
- Computer literate (ECDL) CAC, HTS or equivalent
Aptitude and skills
Essential
- Ability to prioritise workload, instruct and direct others
- Teaching and mentoring skills
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Demonstrable developed specialist proven knowledge
- Proven post-qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Experience/knowledge of carrying out behavioural tests of children
Desirable
- Experience leading paediatric clinics
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
