Audiologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and responsibilities

Communication and working relationships

Communication and working relationships:

Forms of communication may include:

• Discussions
• Formal oral presentations
• Written reports (clinical, technical or management)
• Ability to work with interpreters to include sign language interpreters

Internal:

• To Consultant specialists and other members of the medical Staff
• Senior Managers
• All grades and professions across the trust

External:

• Members of the public
• GP practices
• Other NHS healthcare trusts in and out of the region
• Other professionals associated with the service for hearing impaired people e.g. social services, Advisory teachers for Hearing impaired Children, Learning Disability Network and Charities.
• CCGs
• All grades and professions across the health community

Communication with patients/carers who may have varying degrees of hearing loss, from mild to profound.

Analytical and judgement

Will triage referrals from other disciplines including GP, Audiology, ENT and Physiotherapy and communicate to the booking teams what appointment is needed

Will analyse and interpret information gathered from patient history/ interviewing and testing, making clinical judgements about when to refer for further testing including MRI and developing an individual management plan with patient.

Planning and organisation

Plan equipment requirements for own peripheral clinics and ensure that all equipment/ stock required for clinic list is transported to location in good time

Develop with the patient an individual management plan.

Ensure good timekeeping during the clinical day and use time effectively to prioritise tasks.

To actively contribute to meetings both within the service and as a representative of the service as required within own area of expertise, which may include the taking on of formal roles such as minute taking / arranging venues etc.

Physical skills

Good manual dexterity for dealing with small component parts in hearing aids

Coordination and sensory skills used daily for precise fitting and adjustment to high tech digital hearing aids, insertion of probe tubes into a patients ear, and taking aural impressions

Ability to be able to listen and retain complex information and often given in a non-ordered way by patients

Patient and client care

• Calibrate audiological equipment daily and report any faults to management or directly to medical electronics department or manufacturer.
• Ensure that all patient details are confirmed prior to any treatment
• Perform otoscopy on patients attending the department and to recognize conditions that may affect patient care and refer on to appropriate professionals appropriately.
• Undertake patient questioning to gain patient history of condition/problem.
• Undertake hearing assessment for patients using pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry if clinically appropriate. These patients may have been referred directly to Audiology via the GP or another health professional.
• To debrief and inform patient regarding the findings and ensure correct future management of the patient. This may include referral on to an ENT specialist, other health professionals.
• Plan rehabilitation process for each hearing aid patient based on their own personal difficulties and desired outcomes. Offer advice and choices on how to live with their hearing loss and offer advice and help around technology and assistive listening devices.
• Take impressions of patients ears if applicable and decide on the best ear mould type for that patient.
• To fit and clearly instruct patients on how to use their hearing aids using communication tactics which are tailored to suit the individuals needs.
• Attend domiciliary visits when patients are housebound, completing all audiological procedures possible in the home environment.
• Conduct an examination of hearing aid function, replace tubing, repair and maintain hearing aids and reprogram if necessary.
• To attend the wards to fit inpatients ear moulds and repair hearings aids.
• Undertake earmold modification and fitting
• Ensure patients records/Individual Management Plans (IMPs) are comprehensive and kept up to date on the patient management system following each consultation.
• Deal with postal hearing aid repairs that are sent into the Department.

Policy and service development

• All staff have a responsibility to ensure that the needs of the service are met in a timely and efficient manner.
• All staff have a responsibility familiarize and to adhere to Trust and Departmental polices, guidance and SOPs.
• Encourage and welcome feedback from colleagues and patients to ensure continual improvement.
• Ensures the ability to find any policies and SOPs at any given time to confirm compliance

Finance, equipment and other resources

• All staff have a responsibility to ensure equipment is in good working order and ensure daily, weekly and monthly checks/calibration are undertaken, reporting where necessary.
• All staff have a responsibility resources are used efficiently and effectively.
• All staff have a responsibility to ensure effective and conservative use of resources.
• Ensures that the correct hearing aids are prescribed to each individual patient, including consideration for the likely costing of each aid.
• All staff have a responsibility to ensure low stock items are identified and added to the ordering spread sheet.

People management and training

• To deliver training to other Audiological staff and undertake training sessions with other specialties within the TSDFT (including ENT).

Observes and supervises trainees within the department, ensuring appropriate feedback is given

Information technology and administrative duties

• Books follow up appointments for patients attending the department
• Ensures patients records are comprehensive and kept up to date on the computerized patient management system following each consultation

Receives and take queries either by telephone or letters from staff members or GPs such as requests for audiological testing and the booking of patients appointments etc.

Research and development

Occasionally undertake research and development activities and actively seek out opportunities for involvement in national research projects

To undertake and assist in clinical audit, report on outcomes and make recommendations for change to the Audiology Service Manager

Participation in Departmental audit and development activities, with particular reference to implementation of UKAS and national recommendations

Freedom to act

• Work autonomously to develop individual management plans with patients following a detailed history and diagnostic testing
• Act with integrity and professionalism, demonstrating responsible behaviours at all times, in accordance with Trust values
• Be accountable for your actions, be honest and share your experiences, encouraging learning in others
• Ensure the patient is at the centre of the service and treated with dignity and respect
• Undertake any activities as required at the request of the Head of Audiology/Deputy Head of Audiology
• All staff have a responsibility to ensure findings and actions are reported back to referrers in a timely manner
• To be responsible in ensuring own registration is kept up to date and CPD activity is undertaken, and accurate records are kept

Assist in the day to day running of the Department

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Must have full BSc in Audiology or equivalent or due to qualify
• Registered with the AHCS or HCPC (or in the process of applying)
• Member of BAA/BSA
• Microsuction experince/ qualification

Desirable

• Evidence of CPD activity

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• IT literate and experience in managing several different patient management systems
• Proven experience in using a range of various hearing aid software packages.
• Experience of working with the general public
• Knowledge of test techniques and rehab skills used in Audiology

Desirable

• Experience of working in an NHS setting

Personal requirements

Essential

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Ability to be able to travel to locality clinics (car driver with full license)

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Audiology Department, Torbay Hospital

Lowes Bridge

Torquay

TQ2 7AA

Employer's website

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