Senior Newborn Hearing Screener

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is seeking a full-time Newborn Hearing Screener in Reading. The role involves conducting hearing screening tests on newborns, working closely with families, and ensuring timely follow-up for any concerns. Candidates should have relevant qualifications, experience in healthcare, and excellent communication skills. Flexibility with working hours is required as services run seven days a week.

Qualifications

• Qualifications equivalent to GCSE in Maths and English.
• 6 months experience in the healthcare sector.
• Ability to work flexibly and cover weekend shifts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct hearing screening tests and deliver results to families.
• Enter data into the National Screening database accurately.
• Support operational management with failsafe processes.

Skills

Good communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Ability to work independently

Organizational skills

Education

GCSE grade C or equivalent in English and Maths

External Competency Assessment (ECA) completed in Newborn Hearing Screening

NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification in Audiology

Tools

S4H (Smart for Hearing) platform

Job description

An exciting full timevacancy has arisen in the Newborn Hearing Screening Service, which is part of the Maternity Department of the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our established team of dedicated Newborn Hearing Screeners working across busy postnatal maternity wards and outpatient clinics.

The postholder will have line management responsibilities for the Band 3 Hearing Screeners and will work closely with Local Manager to assist with quality assurance, daily failsafe management and various operational tasks to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of the newborn hearing screening programme.

We are looking for fully qualified/experienced newborn hearing screeners who are caring, motivated, conscientious individuals with a flexible and adaptable approach. Good communication and interpersonal skills are essential. Experience working as a screener in hospital environment and baby handling skills, are highly desirable. The role requires the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. You must be methodical and well organised and it is essential for you to be able to prioritise your own workload to ensure that all babies are screened within the national standards and performance targets. You must be able to remain calm when under pressure as you will frequently be required to cover busy postnatal wards and outpatient clinics alone. An adaptable approach to the role aspects is essential.

Main duties of the job

The minimum requirement for this role is a qualification equivalent to GCSE Grade C in both Maths and English. Additionally, strong computer skills and knowledge of the S4H (Smart for Hearing) platform are essential.

Candidates must have successfully completed the External Competency Assessment (ECA) in Newborn Hearing Screening and be either fully qualified as a screener or actively progressing towards qualification within an agreed time frame. Hours are worked as 7.5 hour shifts. Standard shifts are from 08.00-16.00.

This is a 7 day per week service, 364 days per year and shift patterns are dependent on service needs.

Service cover is over 7 days a week and some weekend and bank holiday working is required of all post-holders. It is essential that you are able to be flexible and available to work any of these shifts on any day. As you will be required to travel to outreach clinics in the Berkshire area, a full clean driving license is required as well as access to a vehicle.

About us

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is the main provider of hospital services for the population of Reading, Newbury, Wokingham and the towns and villages of west Berkshire.

Reading sits on the River Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford, and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work, and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

At our heart we are a local hospital that works with NHS and social care partners to provide excellent healthcare services for over 500,000 people who currently live in our catchment area. We also provide specialist hospital services beyond the county's borders.

We employ more than 5,500 staff from 39 different nationalities and deliver care from a network of facilities across sites in Bracknell, Henley-on-Thames, Reading, Thatcham and Windsor

Job responsibilities

Based within the Maternity Unit at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, the Newborn Hearing Screening team provides comprehensive hearing screening to all babies born or resident across Berkshire area. Our service helps identify babies who may have a hearing loss, so that they can be referred for further testing and receive the appropriate early intervention where appropriate. This national programme involves explaining and conducting hearing screening tests, delivering results sensitively to families, accurately entering data into the National Screening database, and liaising with healthcare professionals to ensure timely follow-up and care.

As a fully qualified and experienced Hearing Screener, you will have direct contact with babies and parents and participate in ongoing professional development, including annual computer-based e-learning and clinical competency assessments. In addition you will contribute to the collection of activity data and support local audits. You will engage in discussions and meetings on service development and assist in implementing changes in practice to improve service delivery.

In addition to clinical duties, you will support the Band 6 Local screening manager with operational management, oversee failsafe processes, and contribute to ensuring the programme consistently meets national standards and performance targets.

Interviews will be conducted in person. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Please see the Job Description, person specification and working conditions for full details and requirements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE grade C or equivalent or above in English and Maths
• External Competency Assessment (ECA) already completed in Newborn Hearing Screening and qualified or in due course to be qualified as a screener
• Ability to work autonomously and study independently
• NVQ level 3 or Health Screeners Diploma in Newborn Hearing Screening or equivalent qualification in Audiology

Experience

• 6 months experience in the health care sector (within the previous 5 years)
• Previous experience of NHSP
• Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the auditory system

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

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital, Maternity Department

£27,485 to £30,162 a yearper annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

Job locations

Royal Berkshire Hospital, Maternity Department