Job summary
- Main area
- Audiology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 1 year (This post is for one year initially, with the expectation of becoming permanent following the pilot)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (4 days/week compressed hours, with 4 Saturdays per year)
- Job ref
- 216-AH-S6421395
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Derriford Hospital
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £43,742 - £50,056 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/07/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Advanced Audiologist - Otology
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a demonstrably experienced audiologist to extend their scope of practice. We are locally piloting a scheme whereby a significant proportion of the adult otology referrals to ENT will be assessed by an audiologist first, with onward referral to ENT only where required. This will involve close working with our surgical colleagues, and additional training to support this extended scope of practice where necessary.
You will be part of an expanding team, and play a role in the wider diagnostic and adult rehabilitation service which includes plans to extend our role in vestibular assessment and continuing provision of a range of hearing aids and implants including middle ear devices. We will be moving a large part of the service into a new large suite in the Plymouth Community Diagnostic Centre in 2025.
You will be expected to have a minimum of the BSc in audiology and Masters level expertise in a relevant area (or demonstrably equivalent learning).
Plymouth is a vibrant city and we have a wide range of excellent leisure facilities on our doorstep.
Main duties of the job
a. Provides expert clinical service in diagnosis and rehabilitation of children and adults with hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo
b. Caseload size managed annually 38,000 (all age groups), including 100 per month redirected from the ENT service.
c. Area population provided for: 500,000 (Plymouth and surrounding area)
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
1. Clinical Duties
Rehabilitation duties
¨ Take social histories and listening needs assessments in adults, and combine these with diagnostic test results to develop the necessary individual management plans
¨ Take accurate aural impressions of adults and children
¨ Modify ear moulds using the range of laboratory equipment available
¨ Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of when these can not be adhered to:
o Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results
o Accurately fit digital hearing aids to infants, children and adults using real ear/probe microphone measurements
o Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids based on objective and subjective assessments of development and progress, and onward referral to other specialist 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
¨ Supports the vestibular rehabilitation service
¨ Provide audiological management to patients with significant co-morbidities, including mental health problems and learning difficulties
¨ Ensure patients and parents/carers are fully aware of the use of any devices issued
¨ Fault finding to provide a timely hearing aid repair service
¨ Manage complex cases, including taking referrals from junior and specialist staff
¨ Provide expert advice to other staff, including wards, health visitors and ENT
Diagnostic duties
¨ To determine the appropriate test battery for patients seen as direct referrals from national screening programmes, primary care and as referrals from ENT or other health care professionals
¨ To provide specialist audiological assessment of otology patients referred to the ENT service, on behalf of the ENT department
¨ To determine the appropriate test battery for dizzy patients seen as referrals from primary care or from specialist services
¨ Analyse results to determine the next stage of diagnostics required, and to problem solve inconsistent or erroneous findings
¨ Take medical histories of patients with directly referred from national screening programmes and primary care with hearing loss, tinnitus or dizziness to exclude pathologies requiring a medical opinion
¨ Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of when these can not be adhered to:
o Accurately test hearing of adults, including those with learning difficulties, and children, using appropriate techniques for the individual’s age and level of ability
o Accurately perform objective tests of auditory function on children and adults, and vestibular function on adults, including electrophysiological tests of hearing and balance, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing and otoacoustic emissions
¨ Ensure that expensive clinical equipment used is calibrated, decontaminated and maintained according to national and departmental protocols
Other duties
¨ Develop new departmental guidance and protocols based on national and international developments and the changing evidence base
¨ Take a lead in audits and other measures of quality
¨ Provide the range of audiological services in peripheral/community settings and domiciliary settings
¨ Provide training and supervision to pre-registration and basic grade audiology staff
¨ Provide training and supervision of specialist audiology staff, including both formal and informal post-graduate training and development
¨ Provide training to other staff groups, including medical students, nursing staff and community-based health professionals
¨ Maintain accurate and comprehensive clinical records using the computerised patient management system and hospital records
¨ Provide written and verbal reports on patients to referrers and other members of the multi-disciplinary team
¨ Assist the team leader in the maintenance and calibration of the service’s equipment
¨ Keeping accurate activity statistics
¨ Prioritise own workload and workload of others
¨ Take responsibility for own continual professional development, and support that of other staff
¨ Take a lead in continuous service improvement to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of patient care
¨ Assist in stock and equipment management, including the carrying of equipment and stock to peripheral/ community clinics and for domiciliary services
¨ Ensure efficient use of resources
¨ Participate in departmental research and audit, and multi-centre trials
¨ Actively participate in departmental team meetings and training
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent OR
- MSc level of expertise in a specialist area of audiology with BSc in Audiology or equivalent qualification.
- Registered as Clinical Physiologist in Audiology (AHCS) OR Clinical Scientist in Audiology (HCPC)
Desirable criteria
- STP, HTS in paediatrics or vestibular, CAC, or equivalent experiential learning
- Computer literate (ECDL)
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
- Effective influencing skills: in general and with senior health care professionals.
Desirable criteria
- Ability to facilitate change within the work area.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven evidence of recent CPD
- Highly developed specialist proven knowledge
- General Audiology Background
- Proven awareness of research and evidence based practice within setting
Desirable criteria
- Research – conference presentations, peer reviewed articles or equivalent
- Clinical audit
- Proven knowledge of patient administration system
- Proven knowledge of NHS service provision and pathways
- Extensive demonstrable experience at a specialist level in paediatric audiology
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Adam Beckman
- Job title
- Head of Audiology Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 438056
- Additional information
non-clinical session are after 13.15
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