Newborn Hearing Screener

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust seeks a part-time Newborn Hearing Screener to join our team across South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead. The role is 20 hours per week with a rota including weekends and Bank Holidays.

You will screen newborns, communicate with parents and professionals, and input data onto a national system. Prior screener experience or paediatric exposure is advantageous; Level 3 Diploma and NHSP training are valued.

Qualifications

• Four GCSEs grade 4-9 to include Mathematics and English or equivalent qualification.
• Willingness to complete national screener training programme within 6 months of commencement in post
• Willingness to undertake level 3 Diploma within 12/18 months of commencement in post
• Level 3 Diploma in Hearing Screening
• Completion of NHSP training

Responsibilities

• Explain the screen and obtain parental consent
• Baby handling skills to insert probes into ears, and to attach electrodes and ear muffs
• Record clinical and test data accurately on a national database
• Operate and monitor audiological screening equipment
• Arrange outpatient follow-up appointments
• Share duties on a day-to-day basis within the team and rota
• Supervise/train less experienced staff when experienced
• Comply with Trust vision, values and behavioural compact

Skills

Excellent communication

Data entry

Teamwork

Independent work

Education

GCSEs including Maths & English

Level 3 Diploma in Hearing Screening

NHSP training

Job description

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Newborn Hearing Screener

The closing date is 17 November 2026

This is a part time post of 20 hours per week.

Are youself-motivated and able to work on your own and as part of a team? Are you agood communicator and have a passion for patient centred care? If so, thiscould be the job for you.

We are looking forsomeone to join our highly motivated team of hearing screeners working acrossSouth Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead. Newborn Hearing Screening is anational programme offered to newborn babies to identify and refer babies whorequire an audiological diagnostic test. 1 to 2 per 1,000 babies will bediagnosed with a hearing loss, and early intervention is essential inpreventing delays in speech and language.

Main duties of the job

This post involvesdirect handling of newborns and conversing with both parents and healthprofessionals on a daily basis. You will be responsible for checking clinicalequipment and the gathering and input of accurate data onto a national system.

Our service offershearing screen to all babies born or resident in the South Tyneside, Sunderlandand Gateshead areas and is carried out on maternity wards, special care babyunits, community clinics and occasionally at babys home. We provide the serviceover 7 days including weekends and Bank Holidays on a rota system. Thecore hours are 8am 6pm, with typical shift times being 8:00am until 1:00pmand you must be flexible and able to travel to all locations where the hearingscreen is offered.

A candidate withprevious hearing screening experience, or of working in a paediatric settingwould be advantageous, as would a candidate who has completed the HealthScreening Diploma Level 3.

About us

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI,and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, wemay withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

This is a specialist role working autonomously with both well and special care newborn babies and their families, as part of a team providing universal hearing screening. The post involves:

• explaining the screen and the reason for it, gaining parental consent
• baby handling skills to insert probes into ears, and to attach electrodes and ear muffs
• accurately record clinical and test data relevant to the screening process, including the use of a complex national database and the patient held record.
• responsibility for operating and monitoring the correct function of complex audiological screening equipment
• arranging outpatient appointments for any babies requiring follow-up.
• Responsibility for managing duties on a day-to-day basis ensuring a quality service is delivered, including agreeing an acceptable rota within the team.
• Once experienced, the screener will also be required to supervise and train less experienced staff, and also demonstrate screening to a wide range of observers, to include junior and trainee medical staff, health visitors, audiologists and other non-clinical members of the Newborn Hearing Screening Program team
• To comply with the Trusts vison, values and behavioural compact

Person Specification

• Friendly, approachable, caring attitude
• Demonstrate empathy with staff, patients and relatives

Other

• Must work on rota basis including weekends and public holidays
• Must meet travel requirements of the post

Qualifications

• Four GCSEs grade 4-9 to include Mathematics and English or equivalent qualification.
• Willingness to complete national screener training programme within 6 months of commencement in post
• Willingness to undertake level 3 Diploma within 12/18 months of commencement in post
• Level 3 Diploma in Hearing Screening
• Completion of NHSP training

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent communication and listening skills to work effectively with parents who may be tired, emotional and/or distressed
• Ability to handle newborn babies with the appropriate level of care and attention
• Good IT and data inputting skills
• An understanding of patient confidentiality
• Ability to work unsupervised
• Excellent organisational skills and record keeping
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently
• Ability to work under pressure at times
• Knowledge of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
• Knowledge of hearing impairment and communication methods
• Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the auditory system
• Understanding of safeguarding processes and child protection procedures, clinical governance arrangements
• Knowledge of the current legislation and national guidance relating to the newborn hearing screening programme

Experience

• Experience of working with people
• Previous hearing screening experience
• Experience of working with the hearing impaired
• Previous experience working with parents, babies and families

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.

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

£25,760 to £27,476 a yearpro-rata (20 hours per week)