Job summary
- Main area
- Therapies and Health Sciences
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- 24 months (Fixed term for 24 months from start date due to funding)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 08:30 to 16:30 with 30 mins unpaid lunch break)
- Job ref
- 070-ACS037-0524
- Employer
- Powys Teaching Health Board
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Llandrindod Wells War Memorial Hospital
- Town
- Llandrindod Wells
- Salary
- £25,524 - £28,010 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/05/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Audiology Associate Practitioner (Fast Track)
Band 4
Be part of a 'Healthy Caring Powys' and help us transform the way we provide health and care, so our communities can Start Well, Live Well and Age Well.
Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 1,2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12 per hour - £23,465 per annum. This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2024/25 is confirmed
Job overview
The Band 4 position of Audiology Associate Practitioner (Fast Track) in Powys Teaching Health Board is an exciting opportunity to train to be an Audiology Associate Practitioner whilst earning a salary.
This is a full time (37.5 hours per week) temporary contract of 24 months due to funding.
The successful candidate will complete an 18-month Certificate of Higher Education in Basic Audiological Practice, through block release at Swansea University, however, the majority of training will take place within the clinical setting at Llandrindod Wells Hospital in Powys. The applicant would be expected to travel to other sites within Powys.
The course will provide the successful candidate with the skills required to carry out hearing tests, fitting of hearing aids, and other elements of adult rehabilitation.
The role would particularly suit science graduates and others who wish to apply science within a healthcare role. Applicants will be required to demonstrate 2 A Level science qualifications or equivalent, and scientific knowledge to at least foundation degree, High National Diploma, Diploma in Higher Education or equivalent level of knowledge in a science subject.
Applicants who successfully complete the Audiology Higher Certificate and this training programme are eligible to apply for Audiology Associate Practitioner roles in NHS Wales. In addition, career pathways have been developed to ensure progression from Audiology Associate Practitioner to the role of Audiologist.
Main duties of the job
Fixed term for 24 months from start date due to funding
The successful applicant will:
Provide basic adult hearing aid rehabilitation and (under accessible
supervision) help deliver the patient individual management plan.
Analyse test results, identify hearing needs, define hearing aid
prescriptions, and evaluate patient performance with the hearing aid
system to determine on-going management and routinely decide which
options will best meet clinical needs of patients. Given the profile and
uncertainty of presenting clinical activity encountered, there will be a
range of situations requiring evaluative analysis, technical fault finding
and selection of the preferred clinical management options from those
available.
Be expected to travel to attend courses regularly throughout their 18
month training - in some cases this may involve overnight and/or
residential stays.
Undertake a Higher Education Certificate course at a designated
academic institution specific for the training pathway. This will provide
Audiology specific knowledge to build upon existing generic theoretical
and practical scientific skills
Be responsible for their own progression through the training
programme, for completing the learning outcomes as outlined in the
Learning Guides, progressing through a mixture of work based
competence and experience in the Audiology department and
undertaking the Certificate programme at the designated Higher
Education Institution.
Working for our organisation
Being the smallest Heath Board in Wales means that you won’t get lost in the crowd. Everybody at Powys Teaching Health Board is valued for the contribution they make to our varied and diverse portfolio of community-based services. Together, we can continue to make a real difference to our patients and build on our unrivalled reputation.
As a supportive and progressive employer, we actively encourage you to carve out a career with us, through a range of development pathways. We’re also lucky enough to be situated in one of the most beautiful rural counties in Britain, let alone Wales! Achieving a healthy ’life work’ balance is essential, and something we recognise by prioritising your well-being.
To start your journey with us, and to learn more about what we can offer you please visit: https://pthb.nhs.wales/working-for-us/. There you will find information about our benefits and values, read staff experiences and more about what our beautiful county has to offer.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical functions are as follows:
perform initial assessments for defined patient categories who
attend audiology clinics through open access or planned care clinics.
Take aural (ear mould) impressions on patients aged 5 years and
above.
Perform routine audiological physiological measurement
investigations such as puretone audiometry and tympanometry.
Perform real ear physiological measurements under local clinical
supervision and programme hearing aid systems for optimum
patient benefit.
Fault find technological problems with hearing aids and their use by
patients.
Carry out domiciliary visits to housebound patients and visit patients
on hospital wards to carry out hearing aid maintenance, adjustment
or ear mould impressions.
Participate and assist with school screening and/or assist with more
complex hearing assessments (under direct supervision) when
required.
Recognise their own limits of competence and levels of responsibility
and autonomy at all times within the approved scope of practice.
They will maintain their personal competence and work as a
reflective practitioner in order to deliver high quality client care.
Ensure work is carried out within the standard operating procedures
of the Department, and policies of the Organisation.
Refer to supervising Audiologist when required where more complex
patient situations are seen in agreement with local protocols. More
complex activities will be performed under close supervision
The post holder will :
Plan and prioritise own workload, including that related to their own
training.
Complete clinical record journal entries and journal template proformas
in conjunction with locally agreed protocols.
Perform designated clinical administrative functions and tasks, including,
stock management within the service.
Undertake daily equipment calibration and preparation.
Maintaining accurate records and statistics of all activities.
Person specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
Essential criteria
- 2 A level science qualifications or equivalent and scientific knowledge to at least foundation degree, Higher National Diploma, Diploma in Higher Education or equivalent level of knowledge in a science subject
- Ability to absorb Gallu i amsugno gwybodaeth newydd a'i defnyddio.and apply new information
Desirable criteria
- An honours degree (2.2 or above) in a Science Subject
- Understanding of the effects of hearing impairment
Experience
Essential criteria
- Applied scientific projects, gathering data, analysis and report production
Desirable criteria
- Experience in customer focussed environment
- Experience of dealing with people
- Experience caring for others
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to communicate with hearing impaired people of all ages and their families
- Digitally literate
Desirable criteria
- Deaf Awareness
Communication
Essential criteria
- Able to use computer and telephone
- Clear speech to enable communication with hearing impaired people
Other
Essential criteria
- Flexible approach to work
- Ability to prioritise own tasks and workload
- Empathy
- Able to travel between clinic sites in a timely manner
Desirable criteria
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
- Ability to speak Welsh
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Welsh language skills are desirable
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Damion Duggan
- Job title
- Advanced Audiology Practitioner
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01874 615691
- Additional information
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