Senior Paediatric Audiologist

Job overview

Senior Paediatric Audiologist – Band 7

In addition, the post will endeavour to develop your leadership and management skills.

You will have a BSc/MSc in Audiology (or equivalent) and will also be RCCP/AHCS registered. We encourage CPD and further training will be provided as per the post holder’s needs and service needs.

Whichever site is closest to you will be listed as your main site.

This post will also need to cover the wider system of Herts and West Essex as required to support mutual aid requirements in the form of appointments and leadership.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

• Lead children’s hearing assessment clinics for children of all ages
• Undertake electrophysiological assessments (including Auditory Brainstem Responses testing and Auditory Steady State Response testing on newborns referred though the new born hearing screen)
• Provide hearing aid management to children of all ages
• Communicate effectively with service users and other members of the team
• Provide clinical supervision and support to junior audiologists
• Assist the Audiology Service Lead in the day to day management of the service and in larger service improvement initiatives
• Take on operational responsibilities within the department
• Provide support to the wider system of Herts and West Essex as required

Working for our organisation

A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust . You’ll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff:

• Clinical supervision
• In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,122 per annum (pro rata where applicable).
• Generous contributory pension
• 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
• Special Leave for family and personal reasons
• NHS Car Lease Scheme
• Eye Care Vouchers
• Employee Assistance Programme
• NHS Discounts

Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Diagnostic Audiological Assessment – the post holder will be expected to:

• To select and perform audiological investigations to assess the child’s hearing function, determining the nature and extent of the hearing disorder/disability. This will incorporate thorough history taking, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, VRA, play/performance audiometry, tympanometry and speech testing. To carry out diagnostic electrophysiological testing in babies referred by the newborn hearing screening team. For example, performing tone-burst/Chirps, click, bone conduction and cochlear microphonic electrophysiological ABR, ASSR and OAEs testing.
• To liaise with staff involved in the assessment and rehabilitation process including audiological and medical staff, and local support services to ensure the effectiveness of routine service

• To assess the general auditory (re) habilitative needs of hearing impaired children with respect to their audiological status, communication skills educational and social needs.
• To formulate appropriate management strategies based on this information, including advising on communication strategies, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and auditory training, or referral to the appropriate clinician.
• To liaise with, and refer to medical, specialist advisory service for hearing impaired, and local support services as indicated.
• To assess the patient’s need for hearing aids, and select the most appropriate model in line with national and departmental protocols, but with an understanding of when these cannot be adhered to.
• Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results.
• Accurately fit digital hearing aids to infants and children, including newborns, using real ear/probe microphone measurements
• Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids based on objective and subjective assessments of development and onward referral to other specialist services
• Holistically review the needs of the child and young person (and family) and ensure their voice is reflected in your management plan

• To provide support to junior staff members in the form of clinical supervision, support, mentoring and teaching
• To complete service improvement initiatives and take responsibility on projects
• Complete audits and report into the wider Trust as needed, in accordance to the Trust's strategy
• Support the service lead in moving towards the service's quality agenda

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

• MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent or MSc level of expertise in a specialist area of audiology with BSC in Audiology or equivalent qualification.
• RCCP/ HCPC (State registration)
• STP, HTS in paediatrics, CAC, or equivalent experiential
• Ability to complete ABR and experience completing tests
• Evidence of CPD

• Attendance of the Newborn ABR course/electrophysiology course
• BSL qualifications

Experience & Knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the ear and balance systems
• Competent and has significant post qualifications experience in performing paediatric audiology assessments including history taking, performing age appropriate hearing tests (audiometry, performance testing, VRA, tympanometry,stapedial reflexes,OAEs), ear examination, debriefing the parent/carer and agreeing an individual management plan
• Strong experience in paediatric hearing aid work including performing RECDs with hearing aid fittings and reviews for children of all ages including neonates and infants
• Strong experience in doing ABRs in babies and older children. Some experience of doing ASSRs and Corticals in babies is desirable.
• Experience of teaching and training undergraduates or colleagues in Audiology
• Evidence of management and leadership skills
• Experience completing audits

• Experience improving services through a variety of quality assurance projects

Other

• Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)

Skills

• Develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations, especially when working with the hearing impaired/deaf children and children with other special needs and their families
• Skilled in breaking bad news of hearing loss diagnosed in the newborn baby
• Skilled in taking impressions in the newborn baby and older children
• Ability to prioritise, and manage independent caseload with risk assessment skills
• Excellent organisation and time management skills
• Good report writing skills and skilled in using IT system

• Skill in creating complex excel spreadsheet for monitoring patients and audits