Paediatric Audiologist

EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST; Rawtenstall; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a full-time Paediatric Audiologist to conduct routine assessments and fit hearing aids for children. The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team and collaborate closely with families to develop management plans. A relevant degree and professional registration are required. A supportive work environment prioritizing family-friendly services is part of the role.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate understanding of professional guidance and recommended procedures.
• Evidence of working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Hold valid professional registration.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine hearing assessments on children.
• Lead appointments and fit hearing aids.
• Collaborate with families to implement management plans.
• Communicate effectively within the multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Audiology assessments

Communication skills

Electronic patient records management

Understanding of NHS referral pathways

Supervising junior staff

Education

BSc Hons Audiology OR MSc Audiology OR Equivalent Audiology qualification

Professional registration with AHCS/HCPC

Tools

Electronic patient record systems

Job description

We have an opportunity for a full time Paediatric Audiologist to join our team of Audiologists, Clinical Scientists, Assistant Audiology Practitioners and Medics in East Lancashire. The service is based in Burnley and holds clinics across the Pennine Lancashire area. We are closely linked with the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme at Lancashire Women’s and Newborn Centre, and are part of an active multidisciplinary network, the East Lancashire Children’s Hearing Services Working Group. The post holder will be carrying out routine hearing assessments on children aged six months and older working with an Assistant Practitioner, or more senior colleague for complex assessments. They will work within the wider multidisciplinary team and with children’s families to formulate and implement management plans when hearing loss is confirmed. There will be responsibility for leading appointments to fit hearing aids to children with permanent and temporary hearing loss, and for reviewing these patients, carrying out real ear measurements and aided and unaided speech testing. A basic knowledge of tinnitus counselling/hearing therapy is expected. Experience in electrophysiological assessments would be desirable, but is not essential. The Paediatric Audiology service in East Lancashire is based in Burnley, and holds regular clinics at clinical sites in Bacup and Blackburn, as well as in Children’s Centres and Family Hubs where we provide counselling and hearing aid care in a less formal environment. Our catchment encompasses many rural villages, and we work closely with other professionals such as Health Visitors and Teachers of the Hearing Impaired to support families to attend appointments and best support their child’s development.

Responsibilities

• Taking audiology history from families
• Carrying out audiology assessments and explaining the results of these
• Keeping accurate and complete electronic patient records
• Communicating information within the multidisciplinary team using written and verbal methods
• Taking ear mould impressions and fitting/verifying hearing aid fittings
• Understanding NHS referral pathways and making onward referral for example for cochlear implant assessment when indicated and with the consent of the family
• Supporting senior staff with service development and research
• Supervising students on placement and junior staff
• Attending training relevant to the role and disseminating information to colleagues
• Working autonomously and managing own workload

Core Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate a good understanding of current, relevant professional guidance and recommended procedures, be able to work autonomously and have a recent CPD record. Knowledge of clinical governance and safeguarding processes is essential. The ability and flexibility to travel to community clinics, sometimes during the working day, is necessary. The successful candidate will hold professional registration with the AHCS as a Healthcare Scientist or HCPC as a Clinical Scientist, and will be able to provide evidence of working within a multidisciplinary team.

Essential Qualifications

• BSc Hons Audiology OR MSc Audiology OR Equivalent Audiology qualification (e.g. BAAT)
• Professional registration with AHCS/HCPC
• Up to date CPD portfolio

Desirable Qualifications

• Basic counselling certificate
• Clinical Educator training
• ‘Sharing the News’ course completion, Post registration experience working in paediatric audiology
• Fitting, verifying and evaluating NHS hearing aids
• Performing a range of diagnostic tests
• Training of students/junior staff
• Fitting bone conduction hearing aids
• Performing electrophysiological assessments, Advanced knowledge of specialist fields
• Knowledge of NHS referral pathways
• Experience of tinnitus counselling
• Computer literate
• Knowledge of information governance
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
• BSL qualification
• Communication or conflict management training, Full driving licence & car access
• Flexible to service needs, You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Company Overview

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

We are a small team, and as such work well together, maintaining regular communication even when working across multiple sites. Our clerical team based in Burnley provide comprehensive support to clinicians and families, and together we aim to provide a high quality, family friendly service.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first‑class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under‑representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

Additional Information

• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro‑rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay‑scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short‑listed.
• Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) – If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1–3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.