Job summary
Senior Paediatric Audiologist - Band 7
An opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Paediatric Audiologist to join our friendly, flexible, multidisciplinary Paediatric Audiology team at West Herts Audiology on a fixed-term basis. This post offers excellent opportunities to consolidate your rehabilitation and advance your auditory diagnostic skills. In addition, the post will endeavour to develop your leadership and management skills.
You will have a BSc/MSc in Audiology (or equivalent) and will also be RCCP/HCPC registered. We encourage CPD and further training will be provided as per the post holder's needs and service needs.
The Children's Hearing service provides second and third tier services to children and young people living within the West Hertfordshire area. There are three sites from which clinics are held and the post holder will be expected to cover clinics at all three sites as needed, therefore a full valid driving license and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Whichever site is closest to you will be listed as your main site.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:
- Lead children's hearing assessment clinics
- Undertake electrophysiological assessments (including Auditory Brainstem Responses testing and Auditory Steady State Response testing on newborns referred though the new born hearing screen)
- Provide hearing aid management to children of all ages
- Communicate effectively with service users and other members of the team
- Provide clinical supervision and support to junior audiologists
- Assist the Audiology Service Lead in the day to day management of the service
- Take on operational responsibilities within the department
About us
A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS TrustYou'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff:
- Clinical supervision
- In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,192 and a maximum payment of £2,011 per annum (pro rata where applicable).
- Generous contributory pension
- 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
- Special Leave for family and personal reasons
- NHS Car Lease Scheme
- Eye Care Vouchers
- Employee Assistance Programme
- NHS Discounts
Job description
Job responsibilities
Diagnostic Audiological Assessment the post holder will be expected to:
- To select and perform audiological investigations to assess the childs hearing function, determining the nature and extent of the hearing disorder/disability. This will incorporate thorough history taking, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, VRA, performance audiometry, tympanometry and speech testing.To carry out diagnostic electrophysiological testing in babies referred by the newborn hearing screening team. For example, performing tone-burst/Chirps, click, bone conduction and cochlea microphonic electrophysiological ABR, ASSR and OAEs testing.
- To liaise with staff involved in the assessment and rehabilitation process including audiological and medical staff, and local support services to ensure the effectiveness of routine 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
- To submit results of electrophysiological assessment to the East of England peer review system (SONAR) and be able to discuss test strategy and results with reviewers if required.
- To provide written evaluation of test results in accordance with BSA standards and departmental protocols within a timely manner.
- To provide comprehensive individual management programmes including counselling and advice for children with hearing disorders and associated conditions.
- Provide support and advice regarding hearing and hearing related matters to relatives/carers.
- To recommend further investigations as required, either referring to the appropriate clinician, or carrying out the procedures if appropriately competent.
- To deal with queries and complaints from patients or carers or other professionals
Auditory Habilitation and Rehabilitation
- To assess the general auditory (re) habilitative needs of hearing impaired children with respect to their audiological status, communication skills educational and social needs.
- To formulate appropriate management strategies based on this information, including advising on communication strategies, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and auditory training, or referral to the appropriate clinician.
- To liaise with, and refer to medical, specialist advisory service for hearing impaired, and local support services as indicated.
- To assess the patients need for hearing aids, and select the most appropriate model in line with national and departmental protocols, but with an understanding of when these cannot be adhered to.
- Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results.
- Accurately fit digital hearing aids to infants and children, including newborns, using real ear/probe microphone measurements
- Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids based on objective and subjective assessments of development and onward referral to other specialist services
- To assess benefit derived from hearing aids using subjective and objective measures, including informal methods, appropriate questionnaires, and insertion gain measurements.
- To provide ongoing assessment and maintenance for hearing impaired patients in line with the Service Specification.
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Diagnostic Audiological Assessment the post holder will be expected to:
- To select and perform audiological investigations to assess the childs hearing function, determining the nature and extent of the hearing disorder/disability. This will incorporate thorough history taking, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, VRA, performance audiometry, tympanometry and speech testing.To carry out diagnostic electrophysiological testing in babies referred by the newborn hearing screening team. For example, performing tone-burst/Chirps, click, bone conduction and cochlea microphonic electrophysiological ABR, ASSR and OAEs testing.
- To liaise with staff involved in the assessment and rehabilitation process including audiological and medical staff, and local support services to ensure the effectiveness of routine 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
- To submit results of electrophysiological assessment to the East of England peer review system (SONAR) and be able to discuss test strategy and results with reviewers if required.
- To provide written evaluation of test results in accordance with BSA standards and departmental protocols within a timely manner.
- To provide comprehensive individual management programmes including counselling and advice for children with hearing disorders and associated conditions.
- Provide support and advice regarding hearing and hearing related matters to relatives/carers.
- To recommend further investigations as required, either referring to the appropriate clinician, or carrying out the procedures if appropriately competent.
- To deal with queries and complaints from patients or carers or other professionals
Auditory Habilitation and Rehabilitation
- To assess the general auditory (re) habilitative needs of hearing impaired children with respect to their audiological status, communication skills educational and social needs.
- To formulate appropriate management strategies based on this information, including advising on communication strategies, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and auditory training, or referral to the appropriate clinician.
- To liaise with, and refer to medical, specialist advisory service for hearing impaired, and local support services as indicated.
- To assess the patients need for hearing aids, and select the most appropriate model in line with national and departmental protocols, but with an understanding of when these cannot be adhered to.
- Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results.
- Accurately fit digital hearing aids to infants and children, including newborns, using real ear/probe microphone measurements
- Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids based on objective and subjective assessments of development and onward referral to other specialist services
- To assess benefit derived from hearing aids using subjective and objective measures, including informal methods, appropriate questionnaires, and insertion gain measurements.
- To provide ongoing assessment and maintenance for hearing impaired patients in line with the Service Specification.
Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent or MSc level of expertise in a specialist area of audiology with BSC in Audiology or equivalent qualification.
- RCCP/ HCPC (State registration)
- STP, HTS in paediatrics, CAC, or equivalent experiential
- Ability to complete ABR and experience completing tests
- Evidence of CPD
Desirable
- Attendance of the Newborn ABR course/electrophysiology course
- BSL qualifications
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the ear and balance systems
- Competent and has significant post qualifications experience in performing paediatric audiology assessments including history taking, performing age appropriate hearing tests (audiometry, performance testing, VRA, tympanometry,stapedial reflexes,OAEs), ear examination, debriefing the parent/carer and agreeing an individual management plan
- Strong experience in paediatric hearing aid work including performing RECDs with hearing aid fittings and reviews for children of all ages including neonates and infants
- Strong experience in doing ABRs in babies and older children. Some experience of doing ASSRs and Corticals in babies is desirable.
- Experience of teaching and training undergraduates or colleagues in Audiology
- Evidence of management and leadership skills
- Experience completing audits
Desirable
- Experience improving services through a variety of quality assurance projects
Other
Essential
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Skills
Essential
- Develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations, especially when working with the hearing impaired/deaf children and children with other special needs and their families
- Skilled in breaking bad news of hearing loss diagnosed in the newborn baby
- Skilled in taking impressions in the newborn baby and older children
- Ability to prioritise, and manage independent caseload with risk assessment skills
- Excellent organisation and time management skills
- Good report writing skills and skilled in using IT system
Desirable
- Skill in creating complex excel spreadsheet for monitoring patients and audits
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent or MSc level of expertise in a specialist area of audiology with BSC in Audiology or equivalent qualification.
- RCCP/ HCPC (State registration)
- STP, HTS in paediatrics, CAC, or equivalent experiential
- Ability to complete ABR and experience completing tests
- Evidence of CPD
Desirable
- Attendance of the Newborn ABR course/electrophysiology course
- BSL qualifications
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the ear and balance systems
- Competent and has significant post qualifications experience in performing paediatric audiology assessments including history taking, performing age appropriate hearing tests (audiometry, performance testing, VRA, tympanometry,stapedial reflexes,OAEs), ear examination, debriefing the parent/carer and agreeing an individual management plan
- Strong experience in paediatric hearing aid work including performing RECDs with hearing aid fittings and reviews for children of all ages including neonates and infants
- Strong experience in doing ABRs in babies and older children. Some experience of doing ASSRs and Corticals in babies is desirable.
- Experience of teaching and training undergraduates or colleagues in Audiology
- Evidence of management and leadership skills
- Experience completing audits
Desirable
- Experience improving services through a variety of quality assurance projects
Other
Essential
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Skills
Essential
- Develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations, especially when working with the hearing impaired/deaf children and children with other special needs and their families
- Skilled in breaking bad news of hearing loss diagnosed in the newborn baby
- Skilled in taking impressions in the newborn baby and older children
- Ability to prioritise, and manage independent caseload with risk assessment skills
- Excellent organisation and time management skills
- Good report writing skills and skilled in using IT system
Desirable
- Skill in creating complex excel spreadsheet for monitoring patients and audits
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).
