Head of Audiology

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust; Stockport; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 27-33 days

Cycle to work scheme

Salary sacrifice options

Stockport Credit Union membership

Job summary

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a senior Audiology leader to oversee the department, drive strategic development, and ensure high-quality, safe patient care across audiology services. The post holder will manage budgets, governance, and staff development, while integrating with multi-disciplinary teams.

The role requires a postgraduate qualification in audiology and registration, with proven leadership experience in a complex clinical setting.

Qualifications

• Level 7 MSc in Audiology or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise.
• Registered AHCS Audiologist or HCPC Clinical Scientist (Audiology).
• Experience in senior leadership within audiology services.
• Experience in budgets, governance, and service improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership and strategic direction for Audiology within the Trust.
• Lead on clinical governance, safety standards, and audits.
• Act as lead clinician for complex audiology cases and multispecialty collaboration.
• Develop long-term service plans aligned with NHS strategies and governance.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, appraisal, and performance management.
• Represent Audiology at Trust Board level and external agencies.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Clinical governance

Staff management

Budget management

Interprofessional collaboration

Communication

Education

Level 7 MSc in Audiology

HCPC registration (Audiology)

Job description

The post holder will be responsible for overseeing the Audiology Service at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring it operates effectively and efficiently to meet patient needs. This role requires an individual who is a highly qualified and experienced professional, either as an Audiologist, Hearing Therapist, or Clinical Scientist (Audiology) with a postgraduate degree.

Key responsibilities include managing daily clinical operations, developing and executing strategic plans for the service, and allocating staff resources effectively to optimise service delivery. In addition, they will implement clinical governance frameworks to maintain safety and quality in patient care, engage in research and development to advance service practices, and ensure sound financial management to achieve budgetary goals.

Reporting directly to the Divisional Nurse Director (Surgery), the post holder will ensure that the Audiology Service consistently provides a high-quality, complex, and sophisticated range of clinical services that adhere to the highest national and international standards for audiological care.

Moreover, the postholder will be responsible for training and supervising staff within the department, creating an environment that fosters continuous learning and professional growth. They will also monitor and evaluate departmental performance against key operational metrics.

Main duties of the job

Provide effective Professional Leadership and efficient organisation, management, strategic direction, and development of Audiology within the Trust

Provide expert advice regarding complex and highly complex clinical issues to other members of the team and to other professions

Provide leadership direction and support for all Audiology staff

Support and encourage staff to maintain high staff morale and motivation, always prompting a team approach

Communicate information in respect of hearing services to other professions and services, the public, other agencies, and commissioners to promote better understanding of the needs of people with hearing difficulties and/or other associated symptoms i.e., balance and or tinnitus

Maintain Links with colleagues and agencies within and outside the NHS to continuously improve services

Lead departmental meetings and audit

Represent Audiology at Trust Board Level

Ensure that a clear supervision / competency structure is in place across the service

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application, please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice

Job responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Responsibilities1. Leadership and Service Management

• Lead the Audiology team and provide strategic direction.

• Represent Audiology at Trust Board level and external agencies.

• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, appraisal, and performance management.

• Develop and implement service improvement and business plans.

2. Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with national clinical governance and safety standards.

• Lead audits, risk assessments, and complaints management.

• Maintain quality assurance systems and promote evidence-based practice.

3. Patient Care

• Act as lead clinician for complex audiology cases.

• Independently assess, diagnose, and manage patients with hearing, tinnitus, or balance disorders.

• Work with multi-disciplinary teams (e.g., ENT, SALT, education).

• Ensure patient-centred, safe, and effective care using streamlined pathways.

4. Policy and Service Development

• Lead on service development aligned to Trust and ICB plans.

• Formulate long-term strategic plans for Audiology.

• Interpret and implement local and national healthcare strategies.

5. Financial and Resource Management

• Hold and manage the departmental budget.

• Lead procurement, maintenance, and calibration of equipment.

• Ensure value for money and cost improvement delivery.

6. Training and Education

• Develop and implement training strategies.

• Provide clinical supervision and support for all staff.

• Organise placements and contribute to regional education initiatives.

7. Research, Audit, and Innovation

• Lead clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives.

• Engage in and promote research, clinical trials, and service evaluation.

• Present findings at governance meetings and professional forums.

8. Communication and Collaboration

• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including local authorities, education services, and national bodies.

• Ensure effective team communication and collaborative practice.

• Adapt communication styles to support the needs of patients.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £54.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

• Level 7 MSc in Audiology or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise in the field
• Level 7 Postgraduate management/leadership qualification or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise
• CAC/BAAT Pt 1 + 2 /HTS or equivalent practical qualifications in general and specialist areas.
• Registered AHCS Audiologist or HCPC Clinical Scientist (Audiology)
• Membership of BSA/BAA or other professional Body

Knowledge

• Practical knowledge of the assessment and (re)habiliation in highly specialised clinical service areas
• Evidence that you have worked at a senior level using examples of the clinical competency you have within the relevant clinical area
• Extensive experience in formulating comprehensive management plans based on case history information and diagnostic test results, where management decisions may not be straightforward
• Have worked with hearing impaired patients / parents / carers / associated professional and explain any challenges you overcame
• Extensive Experience of working with babies and children, and patients of all ages with cognitive impairments
• Examples of when you have been a positive role model with the ability to demonstrate a credible, professional approach and manner at all times

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills
• Able to adapt communication to meet the needs of the situation, including in stressful or conflict clinical and non-clinical situations
• Ability to educate, empathize, support, negotiate and motivate including times where co-operation is not guaranteed
• Ability to pass on expert and highly technical and/or condition related information with reassurance for better understanding including in stressful or conflict clinical and non-clinical situations necessary
• Enquiring, critical approach to work
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to work without supervision
• Reliable and supportive to other colleagues
• Flexible approach to work and to the needs of the service.

Experience

• Experience in managing and developing other healthcare professionals
• Experience in establishing or helping to develop a service through quality improvement
• Experience of management of services in line with performance targets
• Experience of leading service improvements and clinical audit or services/pathways
• Experience in managing staff using performance management and appraisal, disciplinary and sickness absence policies/procedures
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience of managing Health and Safety and Clinical Governance in a clinical setting
• Experience of analysing performance data and for identifying ways in which the service can be improved at a service, team and individual level.
• Evidence and experience of leading change, demonstrating sustained improvements.
• Training, Assessment and Supervision of BSc /STP/ HTS Students
• Good knowledge of critical appraisal and ability to use literature and current research / guidelines to improve patient care
• Evidence of leading clinical audit, research, and / or presentations at scientific meetings
• Evidence and experience of leading change, demonstrating sustained improvements.
• Experience of leading service improvements and clinical audit of services/pathways

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.

£66,582 to £77,368 a yearper annum pro rata