Head of Audiology

Job responsibilities

Managerial/Financial

To have responsibility for day to day running of the department, including future service developments.

Managerially responsible for admin & clerical (A&C) staff in Audiology.

To create an environment in which staff are valued and respected.

To promote a culture in which multi-disciplinary teams strive for continuous quality improvement by recording and learning from mistakes and complaints.

To work proactively to ensure collaborative and effective relationships within the service and between the service and other services, whether within or outside the Directorate (and within and outside the Trust where appropriate.)

To encourage the development of any staff directly managed to their full potential through systematic individual performance review and the establishment of personal development plans, reflecting the needs of the organization and the individual. Manage sickness, disciplinary and performance issues in line with Trust policies.

To demonstrate leadership and motivate staff within the service area.

To ensure effective systems of communication are in place and utilised.

Ensure compliance with all relevant Trust policies and Standing Financial Instructions.

Recruit and induct A&C staff in line with Trust policies and procedures.

Anticipate A&C staff shortages and take action to minimize the impact of these on service delivery

Ensure compliance with all local and national targets in relation to patient pathways.

Supervise students and manage the Audiology and Hearing Therapy Service at NGH, including own caseload and that of audiologists and ATOs.

Under the direction of the DM, to bring forward to the Directorate Management Team budget proposals to enable the delivery of service plans and which reflect appropriate value for money

To be responsible for any specific budget areas delegated by the SM and to support the SM in co-ordinating budgets and financial plans for the services.

To initiate and be actively involved in the future income generation for the Audiology Service and Asset Registration.

Clinical

Perform routine audiology investigations on individuals of all ages, to support the differential diagnosis of auditory dysfunction.

Agree aural rehabilitation for patients, including the selection, fitting and exchange of a range of NHS digital hearing aids to adults, the taking of aural impressions and giving advice on assistive listening devices.

To provide assessment of the rehabilitation needs of patients with hearing loss and/or tinnitus and provide individual programmes to maximise auditory abilities. Select appropriate rehabilitation strategy for individual patients. Choose appropriate form of tinnitus management for individual patients.

Be competent and provide full adult hearing aid and aural rehabilitation service, including the provision of commercial instruments, the direct GP referral service and Tinnitus services including hyperacusis.

To provide a vestibular rehabilitation programme to patients with balance difficulties, devising appropriate balance exercises for individual patients.

Complete routine follow up checks for hearing aid use.

Undertake routine hearing and repair/servicing clinics.

Perform advanced tests of middle ear function, vestibular function tests, tinnitus evaluation and objective measurement procedures.

Perform ward visits to in patients requiring assessment or hearing aid issue or repair.

Provide audiological support for ENT Clinics

Undertake assessment of patients with hearing difficulties using the direct referral system.

Administrative:

Ensure the availability of up-to-date patient information leaflets.

Ensure data entered on Audiology Patient Management System is accurate and current.

Complete data entries on all systems used within the department.

Correspond with GPs, Social Services, Voluntary Services and other professionals as appropriate.

To have responsibility for all aspects of stock control for Audiology and Hearing Therapy.

Governance

Perform daily/weekly equipment calibration checks.

Work in accordance with local protocols to ensure that clinical and professional standards are maintained.

Where appropriate, participate in audits led by the clinical audit and effectiveness department for across service evaluation. Assist in appropriate interpretation and service planning based target achievements.

Assure the safety and security of equipment at all times and report and problems at the earliest opportunity.

Assist in the annual equipment calibration programme

Education and Training/Self Development

Identify own training and development needs and undertake appropriate training/education as required, supported by regular PDR.

Adhere to all Trust Policies and Health and Safety, as applicable provide and design educational group training and deaf awareness programmes within the Trust and external agencies.

Potentially provide advice on commercially available assistive listening devices to service users, professionals, and the voluntary sector.

Maintain contact with a wide range of professionals and volunteers working in field of hearing impairment and tinnitus in clinical, education and voluntary sectors.

Education, Training and Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Audiology or BAAT part 1 and 2.
• MSc in audiology
• Maintains CPD

Desirable

• Membership of professional bodies.
• leadership/ management qualification, or equivalent experience

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• 2 years' experience in tinnitus counselling
• 2 years' experience in vestibular testing including VEMP, VHIT, Caloric, VNG and vestibular rehab
• 2 years' experience managing severe to profound deafness
• Experience of advanced vestibular assessment and rehabilitation
• Qualified practitioner with NHS Clinical experience as a Band 7
• Experience of developing an efficient effective audiology service
• Training junior members of the team
• Experience of hyperacusis/ tinnitus
• Leadership experience of band 7 or higher
• Knowledge of equipment and calibration issues
• Evidence of use of Management varied techniques
• Ability to lead a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

• BSL sign language qualification

Skills

Essential

• Lead in a confident manner, with ability to keep calm under pressure.
• Good communication skills, both written and Oral
• Planning, Organisation and time management
• Analytical Skills
• Clear speech, lip readable
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively without direct supervision
• Ability to speak to distressed patients
• Being always professional and using one's initiative
• Lead/Work in a confidential manner
• Excellent IT and keyboard skills
• Excellent leadership skills and values
• Demonstrates ability to conduct age, appropriate hearing tests on a wide range of children
• Knowledge of management techniques and skills
• Ability to be a key member of a multidisciplinary team
• Working in a complex environment in a required timeframe

Key Competencies/ Personal qualities and attributes

Essential

• Confident, approachable and supportive to others
• Motivated, Flexible and adaptable to the needs of the service
• Strong attention to detail, positive attitude with the ability to problem solve
• Empathetic
• Work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to impart complex information in an easy manner
• Able to work manage and guide a team whilst also being able to work independently
• Able to prioritise and organise own workload
• Flexible approach to service needs
• Have enthusiastic confident manner

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).