Healthcare Science Practitioner Specialist in Audiology (Band 6)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical duties:

Assisting in the day to day running of the Audiology Service to ensure ENT clinics, outreach clinics and hearing aid clinics operate effectively with good clinical outcomes.

Responsibility for the provision of the Paediatric service in conjunction with the Lead Paediatric Audiologist/Audiology Service Manager and ensuring national guidelines are adhered to

Working independently providing a specialist diagnostic and rehabilitative service for adults and children

Responsibility for management of own patients, formulating and delivering care plans for both adults and children.

Fitting Hearing Aids to adults and children including rehabilitation and support to the patient/carers and their families

To be competent in hearing aid verification to maintain best outcomes for the patient group, including speech testing methods

Use of drills, grinders and polishers for ear mould adjustment.

Management duties (self & others):

Working closely with the Audiology Services Manager to maintain high standards of care for hearing impaired patients, adhering to Trust and Departmental procedures.

Responsibility for a particular area of the Audiology Service provision.

Ability to deal with difficult patient/staff situations which may occasionally include emotional, upsetting or distressing issues.

Prioritises own work and manages time effectively.

To develop own role and remain current with professional standards.

Assisting in the development of new professional techniques including clinical trials, R&D activity, equipment testing in line with departmental and Trust objectives.

Responsible for identifying, negotiating and achieving agreed CPD requirements.

Maintain professional development including up to date membership of BAA and membership of RCCP.

Ability to delegate tasks to other staff both technical and clerical as appropriate.

Supervision and training of junior staff including students.

Workload management of junior staff and students.

Communication/information:

Excellent verbal communication skills with Audiology Team, patients, carers and other professionals.

Ability to effectively communicate complex test results and technical information to both patients, carers and other professionals

Analysis and interpretation of complex information/test results/problems.

Maintaining Audiology statistics both electronically and manually.

Effective use of resources IT systems, maintaining patients records both electronically and manually, data extraction, reports.

Synchronisation of laptops before and after use at outreach clinics.

Report writing to other professionals regarding patients test results, outcomes and future care plans.

Teaching:

Training and supervision of students to graduate entry level.

Teaching and advising colleagues, trainees, students and other professional disciplines, aspects of Audiology within the organisation.

Teaching and advising patients, parents and carers.

Research and development:

Understand the needs and philosophies that underpin research research ethics, evidence based healthcare.

Support/participate in R & D programmes and department developments e.g. modernisation.

Evaluation of equipment/ devices for their suitability for use within the service.

Development of new techniques together with the Head of Service i.e Supporting junior staff in research methods and technologies.

Other:

Be responsible for the health and safety aspects of the department including completion of risk/COSSH assessments in line with national guidelines/Trust requirements

Be responsible for managing and reporting equipment faults/repairs

To contribute to IQIPS accreditation process through the writing of policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures for the Audiology Service

Any other duties as identified by the Head of Department.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Experience of organising and prioritising own workload
• Experience of working with the general public

Desirable

• Substantial experience working in the NHS
• Experience of relevant clinical area e.g. working with paediatric population

Knowledge/skills

Essential

• Clinical experience in assessment, treatment and diagnosis of a range of hearing conditions relating to children and adults.
• Firm knowledge of audiological patient management systems and information technology.
• Knowledge and understanding of responsibilities related to patient information and record keeping
• Ability to perform and analyse a wide range of specialized audiological hearing tests and questionnaires
• Evidence of the ability to formulate treatment plans and record outcome measures for routine patients.

Desirable

• Previous use of the Audit Base patient management system & Oticon/ Phonak hearing aids.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc or MSc in Audiology or the equivalent professional qualification (ONC/HNC BTEC in Medical Physics and Physiological Measurements with a Professional Qualification in Audiology (BAAT Part I and II).
• RCCP Registration
• Must be willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills required to carry out duties

Desirable

• Higher training scheme qualification.
• Clinical Educators qualification.
• Evidence of further education & professional development (Paediatrics)

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD

Employer's website

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)