Job summary
Come and join our friendly department in a beautiful part of the country! Following the departure of one of the team, we have a key vacancy in this award winning and IQIPS accredited service. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent clinical knowledge and skills to lead our adult rehabilitation audiology service. The post-holder will be responsible for the audiological management of adults with hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders including personally managing a caseload of complex cases. She or he will also be responsible for leading the service on a day-to-day basis, liaising with other professionals across the area to ensure high quality outcomes for adults with hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders, and joining the leadership team to provide governance and strategy for the service.
For candidates who do not meet the full essential criteria there is the option of starting at a band 7 salary until band 8a competencies met.
This is an exciting time to join us, with the planned relocation of a large part of the service to purpose-built accommodation in the Plymouth Community Diagnostic Centre next autumn.
For the right person and circumstances, a relocation package is available.
***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.***
Main duties of the job
Job Purpose:
1. Adult rehab team leader
2. Provides expert clinical service in rehabilitation of adults with hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders
3. Undertakes clinical supervision and training of staff and trainees
4. Provides leadership, governance and strategic direction for adult audiology services
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
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY see Job description document for full details.
Clinical Duties
Rehabilitation duties
Take social histories and listening needs assessments in adults, including those with highly complex needs and balance disorders, and occasionally children, and combine these with diagnostic test results to develop the necessary individual management plans
Take accurate aural impressions of adults, including those with abnormal ear canals such as mastoid cavities, and occasionally children
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:
o Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results
o Accurately fit digital hearing aids to adults using real ear/probe microphone measurements
o Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids based on objective and subjective assessments of benefit and onward referral to other specialist services
Provide counselling to patients and parents/carers regarding the nature and extent of any hearing loss, 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 parents/carers 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 and specialist staff
With the specialist staff, take a leading role in the vestibular rehabilitation service
Provide expert advice to other staff, including wards, health visitors and ENT
Ensure timely onward referral to specialist services when required, such as cochlear implants or community mental health
Take a lead in safeguarding vulnerable adults within the audiology service
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY see Job description document for full details.
Clinical Duties
Rehabilitation duties
Take social histories and listening needs assessments in adults, including those with highly complex needs and balance disorders, and occasionally children, and combine these with diagnostic test results to develop the necessary individual management plans
Take accurate aural impressions of adults, including those with abnormal ear canals such as mastoid cavities, and occasionally children
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:
o Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results
o Accurately fit digital hearing aids to adults using real ear/probe microphone measurements
o Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids based on objective and subjective assessments of benefit and onward referral to other specialist services
Provide counselling to patients and parents/carers regarding the nature and extent of any hearing loss, 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 parents/carers 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 and specialist staff
With the specialist staff, take a leading role in the vestibular rehabilitation service
Provide expert advice to other staff, including wards, health visitors and ENT
Ensure timely onward referral to specialist services when required, such as cochlear implants or community mental health
Take a lead in safeguarding vulnerable adults within the audiology service
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent accredited learning
- STP/CAC or equivalent accredited post-graduate training
- Registration as either a clinical scientist (audiology) or as a clinical physiologist (audiology)
Desirable
- Qualification in management or equivalent accredited training
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Proven knowledge and demonstrable experience in all aspects of general audiology
- Highly specialised proven knowledge and demonstrable experience in adult rehabilitative audiology
- Previous demonstrable experience of staff training and development
- A proven awareness of research in a clinical setting and evidence-based practice
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of bone anchored hearing device service provision
- Previous demonstrable experience of line management
- Recent demonstrable experience of working within NHS/UK public sector audiology provision
- Demonstrable experience of balance rehabilitation service
Aptitude and abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
- Effective influencing skills: in general and with senior health care professionals
Desirable
- Proven track record in service development or clinical research
- Proven track record in developing staff
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent accredited learning
- STP/CAC or equivalent accredited post-graduate training
- Registration as either a clinical scientist (audiology) or as a clinical physiologist (audiology)
Desirable
- Qualification in management or equivalent accredited training
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Proven knowledge and demonstrable experience in all aspects of general audiology
- Highly specialised proven knowledge and demonstrable experience in adult rehabilitative audiology
- Previous demonstrable experience of staff training and development
- A proven awareness of research in a clinical setting and evidence-based practice
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience of bone anchored hearing device service provision
- Previous demonstrable experience of line management
- Recent demonstrable experience of working within NHS/UK public sector audiology provision
- Demonstrable experience of balance rehabilitation service
Aptitude and abilities
Essential
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
- Effective influencing skills: in general and with senior health care professionals
Desirable
- Proven track record in service development or clinical research
- Proven track record in developing staff
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).
