Head of Audiological Services

NHS; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider is seeking a highly experienced Audiologist to lead the multidisciplinary Audiology Service, ensuring high standards and the delivery of a comprehensive service. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in Audiology, excellent leadership skills, and a commitment to service improvement. This permanent role is based at Luton and Dunstable Hospital and requires full-time commitment. Salary ranges from £76,965 to £88,682 per annum, pro rata.

Qualifications

• Considerable experience providing Audiology services.
• Substantial experience leading a multi-professional environment.
• Experience in teaching, training, and supervising staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the multidisciplinary Audiology Service.
• Transform services through exceptional leadership.
• Ensure national targets and standards are met.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Training and supervision

Conflict management

Education

MSc in Audiology

Eligibility to join Consultant Clinical Scientist Register

Job description

Job summary

The post holder will be a highly experienced Audiologist, leading the multidisciplinary Audiology Service both managerially and clinically to deliver a comprehensive all-age Audiology service. They will have a proven record of accomplishment in the Audiology environment at a local and regional level.

They will have outstanding clinical, leadership and organisational and project management skills to lead the Bedfordshire Audiology service into the future, working with senior management and key stakeholders to improve and enhance the service offer, leading to single/integrated and consistent pathways to best serve the population of Bedfordshire service users.

This post is offered as a transitional role that will evolve to fill the position of the present Head of Service when they leave. A formalised plan to manage this transition will be agreed with the successful candidate.

This will be supported by the design and implementation of a robust approach to audit and service evaluation, with responsibility for training and research within the Department.

Main duties of the job

Taking a strategic and professional lead for the future of Bedfordshire Audiology across the two sites of Bedford and Luton and Dunstable Hospital, including any community or peripheral sites

Transforming service through exceptional leadership and team building. Inspiring passion for service transformation in all staff.

Championing improvement through effective change management skills

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Details Date posted

01 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£76,965 to £88,682 a year pa, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AUD1419-VR

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Dunstable

LU4 0DZ

Job description Job responsibilities

Please find attached full job description and person specification.

Continually developing, delivering, and maintaining high standards

Streamlining and integrating pathways to provide patients with an exceptionally high-quality service which is a shared experience for all patients across the locations

Providing opportunities for the development of others, ensuring that high quality systems of training, supervision and governance are in place to support patient safety through safe and effective care

Ensuring that national targets and standards are met

Building trust and developing relationships to ensure service user involvement

Oversee data quality accuracy, ensuring that information is managed and applied appropriately and effectively

Overall responsibility for the finances across all aspects of the service

Representing Bedfordshire Hospitals at a national level, ensuring the service is up to date with recent initiatives and developments

Ensure accreditation across the services for the UKAS national quality IQIPS programme; overseeing integrated governance policies, procedures and structures are put in place and adhered to, being ultimately responsible for the Risk Management of the entire service.

To perform the role of a non-medical Consultant; providing highly specialist advice.

Developing and maintaining a clinical research portfolio for the service. Interpreting current research and its impact on service delivery

Liaising with Newborn hearing screening services

Job description Job responsibilities

Please find attached full job description and person specification.

Continually developing, delivering, and maintaining high standards

Streamlining and integrating pathways to provide patients with an exceptionally high-quality service which is a shared experience for all patients across the locations

Providing opportunities for the development of others, ensuring that high quality systems of training, supervision and governance are in place to support patient safety through safe and effective care

Ensuring that national targets and standards are met

Building trust and developing relationships to ensure service user involvement

Oversee data quality accuracy, ensuring that information is managed and applied appropriately and effectively

Overall responsibility for the finances across all aspects of the service

Representing Bedfordshire Hospitals at a national level, ensuring the service is up to date with recent initiatives and developments

Ensure accreditation across the services for the UKAS national quality IQIPS programme; overseeing integrated governance policies, procedures and structures are put in place and adhered to, being ultimately responsible for the Risk Management of the entire service.

To perform the role of a non-medical Consultant; providing highly specialist advice.

Developing and maintaining a clinical research portfolio for the service. Interpreting current research and its impact on service delivery

Liaising with Newborn hearing screening services

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• MSc in Audiology
• Eligibility to join Consultant Clinical Scientist Register

Desirable

• oRegistered as a Consultant Clinical Scientist with HCPC

Experience Essential

• oConsiderable experience providing Audiology services
• oSubstantial demonstrable experience of leading and working effectively in a multi-professional environment
• oExperience of teaching, training and supervising staff and students

Desirable

• oExperience in implementing large scale operational and cultural change and facilitating others to achieve change
• oExperience assessing/examining for Audiology professional and academic bodies

Knowledge Essential

• oExpert knowledge across a broad area of Audiological procedures with underpinning specialist theoretical training
• oIn depth knowledge and understanding of the issues currently facing Audiology services

Desirable

• oDetailed knowledge and experience of activity management

personal skills Essential

• oAbility to manage conflict and barriers to acceptance and understanding.
• oDrive and determination to make improvements

Desirable

• oFormalised counselling/mentor skills

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• MSc in Audiology
• Eligibility to join Consultant Clinical Scientist Register

Desirable

• oRegistered as a Consultant Clinical Scientist with HCPC

Experience Essential

• oConsiderable experience providing Audiology services
• oSubstantial demonstrable experience of leading and working effectively in a multi-professional environment
• oExperience of teaching, training and supervising staff and students

Desirable

• oExperience in implementing large scale operational and cultural change and facilitating others to achieve change
• oExperience assessing/examining for Audiology professional and academic bodies

Knowledge Essential

• oExpert knowledge across a broad area of Audiological procedures with underpinning specialist theoretical training
• oIn depth knowledge and understanding of the issues currently facing Audiology services

Desirable

• oDetailed knowledge and experience of activity management

personal skills Essential

• oAbility to manage conflict and barriers to acceptance and understanding.
• oDrive and determination to make improvements

Desirable

• oFormalised counselling/mentor skills

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).

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.

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Dunstable

LU4 0DZ

Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable Hospital

Lewsey Road

Dunstable

LU4 0DZ

Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)