Newborn Hearing Screener

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Liverpool Women’s NHS FT is seeking a dedicated screen technician to deliver newborn hearing screening for babies on post-natal wards, NICU and in community settings. You will manage results, maintain NHSP records and liaise with ward staff, ensuring timely, consent-based screening across services.

Role involves AOAE and AABR screening, parent communication, data entry, and adherence to NHSP protocols with regular training and duties across hospital and outreach clinics.

Responsibilities

• Provide newborn hearing screening for babies on post-natal wards, NICU, in the community and at home visits.
• Upload screening results and update NHSP databases.
• Identify babies requiring screening using NHSP (s4H) and K2 databases and liaise with ward staff.
• Aim to screen all babies within 4 weeks and complete screens if accepted.
• Prioritise babies on post-natal wards and NICU to allow timely re-screens.
• Undertake daily checks of screening equipment and report faults.
• Screen in hospital, clinics and discharge addresses on a 7 days a week rota.
• Fully inform parents/carers of the screening process and obtain consent.
• Perform AOAE screens and identify those needing AABR and complete as needed.
• Explain results and arrange repeat appointments and address parental questions.
• Refer those needing further diagnostic testing to audiology.
• Identify babies requiring targeted follow-up per NHSP protocols.
• Record clinical data accurately and transfer information to parents and health professionals.
• Manage workload and escalate to appropriate personnel when needed.
• Search, input and retrieve information using hospital databases and NCRS; keep national screening records up to date.
• Ensure prompt filing of documents and records.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of NHSP protocols and mandatory training including NHSP eLearning.
• Assist with housekeeping of own area and report equipment or environment faults.
• Monitor consumables and maintain stock.

Job description

Responsible for Newborn Hearing Screening on the post-natal wards and the neonatal intensive care unit in Liverpool Women's NHS FT, community clinics, and necessary home visits in accordance with the national Newborn Hearing Screening Programme Service Specification (NHSP).

To complete hearing screening for babies up to three months of age, in accordance with the national Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and LWH Trust policies., UKVI guidelines prohibits sponsorship for all Band 2 posts. Guidelines state that many non-clinical posts are not eligible for sponsorship. Please use UKVI guidance on Skilled Worker Visas to determine your eligibility for sponsorship if you were to gain a conditional offer for this role.

https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job

• 1. To provide screening for babies born in Liverpool Women's Hospital and in the community, including home visits for those moving into the Liverpool and South Sefton Area, in accordance with national and locally agreed protocols.
• 2. To upload results of screens, search, input, and update relevant databases as required.
• 3. To identify babies that require screening by using the NHSP Database (s4H), the Patient Administration Database (K2) and liaising with ward staff.
• 4. Aim to offer ALL babies a hearing screen and, if accepted, ensure those screens are competed within 4 weeks.
• 5. To prioritise babies on post-natal wards and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ensuring that adequate time is given to complete babies requiring re-screens.
• 6. Undertake daily checks of screening equipment and report any discrepancies/ faulty equipment to the NHSP Manager.
• 7. Screen in hospital, community clinics and discharge addresses on 7 days a week rota basis.
• 8. Fully inform parents, or carers, of the screening process and obtain consent.
• 2. 9. Undertake Automated Oto-Acoustic Emissions (AOAE) screens for babies and identify those babies requiring an Automated Auditory Brain-Stem Response (AABR) screen and complete such screens as necessary.
• 10. Explain results and make repeat appointments for babies who require further screening, and answer questions parents may have regarding the screening process or any ongoing referral.
• 11. Refer those babies that need further diagnostic testing and follow-up care to the relevant audiology department.
• 12. Identify babies that may need targeted follow-up appointments according to NHSP protocols.
• 13. Record clinical and test data accurately and ensure a timely transfer of information to parents or carers and other health care professionals.
• 14. Use initiative to manage own workload, also when problem solving; and escape to appropriate personnel as required.
• 15. Search, input, and retrieve information, using hospital databases, National Care Records Service (NCRS) ensuring that patient records on the national screening system are accurate and up to date.
• 16. Ensure the prompt filing of documents and records relating to patients.
• 17. Maintain up to date knowledge of protocols relevant to the post, to complete the ECA, the Health Screening diploma and mandatory training, including the annual completion of eLearning modules for NHSP.
• 18. Assist in general housekeeping of own work area, reporting faults with equipment, computers, and the working environment.
• 19. Monitor the supply of consumables and ensure stocks are maintained.

Liverpool Women's NHS FT became part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) in November 2024, following the coming together with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS FT. UHLG was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide to our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, UHLG is also their local NHS, providing general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

At Liverpool Women's Hospital, each year we deliver approximately 7,500 babies, carry out around 50,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly and premature newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles, and conduct over 4,000 genetic appointments.

We believe that this, along with a strong dedication to research and innovation, makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.