Senior Newborn Hearing Screener

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

To offer parents of all eligible babies the Newborn Hearing Screen whilst ensuring maximum number of inpatient babies receive a hearing screen by working flexibly where necessary.

To maintain confidentiality of the babies and their families at all times.

To answer any concerns parents may have prior to the screen being undertaken and communicate results in a sensitive and timely manner.

To ensure the hearing screening programme is carried out as per national and local protocols.

To demonstrate a high level of competence in screening practice.

To promote the principles of a family friendly service by ensuring that parents and carers are given clear and accurate information regarding the hearing screening programme at all times.

To establish and maintain effective methods of communication to ensure that screening outcomes are delivered correctly to the parents, primary care teams, other Newborn Hearing Screening Teams where appropriate and Audiology Services where follow-up is indicated.

To ensure all administrative and clinical information including test results are accurately recorded on the record sheets, the screening equipment databases and in the S4H database.

To maintain sufficient supplies of consumables and any other stock/non-stock items required by the programme and make sure that the working environment is clean and tidy.

To ensure equipment is safe, clean, set up, checked and that documentation is kept up-to-date in accordance with local protocols reporting any equipment faults immediately to the Programme Manager / Operational Lead.

To investigate complaints, as delegated by the Programme Manager / Operational Lead. This may involve handling sensitive interpersonal situation.

To sit in on working groups to contribute to future strategies and development of the service.

To support the monitoring of compliance with internal and external governance and best practice requirements.

To lead on the delivery of the Health Screener Diploma (HSD) and External Competency Assessment (ECA) for all new hearing screeners across the Trust within national timeframes.

To be the trainer and mentor to all new NHSP staff, providing initial training on screening devices, intermediate software and national database.

To develop and oversee a local training programme for screeners that meets national recommendations.

To ensure learners are appropriately supervised and assessed and have an effective learning experience.

To monitor compliance with Trust Mandatory training for NHSP Staff across the Trusts Hospitals site, providing the Programme Manager with regular reports on non-compliance and relevant action plans.

To provide support and guidance for NHSP Staff across the Trusts Hospitals sites with Trust mandatory training, alerting staff to new communication and/or requirements including addressing and resolving matters of non-compliance and / or inaccuracy of records.

To develop and share users friendly guides to facilitate NHSP staff access to e-learning platforms and training tools and records.

To assist in setting objectives and reviewing performance of staff, identifying individual training and development needs and promote continued personal and professional development.

To assist in delivering presentations at screening training programmes for midwives, health care assistants, paediatricians and NICU staff.

To assess and ensure the specialist education and training needs required for self and others are identified and implemented.

To assist the Programme Manager in the implementation of upgrades and developments of the national database including the evaluation of new screening devices across the Trusts hospital sites, delivering relevant training to all users.

To carry out administrative functions and data quality checks including failsafe as delegated by the Operational Lead.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification or relevant experience
• Evidence of ongoing study and personal / professional development
• Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) Clinical Competence Workshop with associated Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) / External Competency Assessment (ECA)

Desirable

• Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement or working towards gaining qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working as a Newborn Hearing Screener
• Experience in the delivery of NHSP Education and Training
• Effective time management with an ability to prioritise workloads

Desirable

• Evidence of mentorship, supervision and co-ordination of staff

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Highly competent in the screening of newborns
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work on own initiative / autonomy
• High level of attention to detail
• Knowledge of NHSP Pathways and Protocols

Desirable

• Ability to design and deliver training programmes

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to reflect on and critically appraise the performance of self and others
• Able to manage stress in time pressured working environment

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cross Site Chelsea and West Middlesex Hospitals (50/50 split)

Fulham & Isleworth

SW10 9NH

Employer's website

https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)