Specialist Audiologist
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic and forward-looking Band 6 Specialist Audiologist / Clinical Scientist (Audiology) to join the Audiology Service at Oxford University Hospitals, one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals. We provide a comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitation service for patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and balance disorders, are a centre for paediatric audiology and have a busy Auditory Implant Programme.
The post is funded at 0.95FTE (35.6hrs/week) and it may be possible to extend this to a full time contract. This is a 3 year fixed term contract to cover an internal secondment.
Main duties of the job
This important role spans both adult and paediatric audiology services. The adult aspect of the role is primarily concerned with providing a diagnostic and hearing aid rehabilitation service for adults with hearing loss, tinnitus and hyperacusis, including non-routine patients and those with additional / complex needs.The paediatric aspect will involve both routine and non-routine hearing assessments and hearing aid provision in children of all ages. Some routine support of ENT clinics is also expected. Full training will be provided where required. You will be involved in supervising audiologists in training and will be expected to contribute to service development.
Working for our organisation
OUH is one of the UK’s largest teaching hospital trusts. We provide a comprehensive paediatric audiology service including assessing babies referred from the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme, the behavioural and objective assessment of children of all ages and the habilitation of children with hearing loss.The focus of our adult audiology service is on the management of hearing loss in adults on our complex hearing loss pathway, and there are opportunities to be involved in specialist services including tinnitus and hearing therapy, and support for neuro-otology and neurofibromatosis type-2 clinics.
Our auditory implant programme sits alongside both of these services, enabling a seamless rehabilitative pathway for patients of all ages.
You would be joining a large team comprising Audiologists, Assistant Audiologists, Clinical Scientists (Audiology), Hearing Therapists and administrative colleagues. The service is actively involved in training and has STP trainees as well as colleagues undertaking degree apprenticeships in audiology.There is also an in-house CPD programme.
You will be an Audiologist or Clinical Scientist (Audiology) with a BSc, PTP, STP or MSc in Audiology and must be registered with AHCS as an Audiologist or with HCPC as a Clinical Scientist. Ideally you will have previous NHS experience in both adult and paediatric audiology.You will require excellent communication skills, a flexible approach and be a team player.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and may be required to undertake clinics at a variety of locations around the county including in Banbury, Witney and Didcot. The department offers flexible working arrangements.
Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Please get in touch with any questions or queries you might have, including discussion of a contract with a different number of hours.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- BSc Audiology, PTP Healthcare Science (Audiology) or MSc in audiology with CAC / HTS, or STP in neurosciences (audiology modality)
- State registered with HCPC as a Clinical Scientist (audiology modality), or with AHCS as an Audiologist
- MSc Audiology
- Evidence of further specialist training / qualifications in paediatric audiology
- BSL level 1
Experience
Essential criteria- Evidence of recent CPD activities
- Experience working as a band 5/6 Specialist Audiologist / Clinical Scientist in an NHS context
- Experience of behavioural hearing assessment in children of all ages
- Experience of supervision of junior staff and trainees
- Experience of communicating with colleagues from other disciplines including paediatrics, ENT, education, speech and language therapy
- Experience of managing hearing loss in adults with complex needs including hearing aid fitting
- Research experience
- Experience of hearing aid fitting and verification in children including real ear measurements and RECD.
- Experience of clinical audit
Personal knowledge and skills
Essential criteria- High level of knowledge / competence in adult and paediatric audiology, including assessing the hearing of children with additional needs
- Experience of running own paediatric and adult audiology clinic
- Able to work with minimal supervision
- Good analytical skills
- Reliable clinical judgement
- Knowledge of Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP)
- Knowledge / skill in hearing aid fitting in children
- Ability to give formal presentations at local and national meetings / conferences
Behavioural skills
Essential criteria- Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate complex information to people from a variety of educational backgrounds in emotionally challenging situations
- Ability to communicate with children and adults with hearing loss
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to show empathy
- Positive attitude and enthusiastic approach, with can-do attitude even when under pressure
- Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Resilient and able to multi-task and prioritise competing demands
- Aligned to the Trust values.
- Committed to own personal development
- Able to travel to peripheral clinics
Technical skills
Essential criteria- Excellent manual dexterity and coordination to accurately manipulate equipment and small devices to include hearing aids and accessories and insert probe tubes accurately into ear canals
- Computer literate with experience of working with the Microsoft Office and specialist audiological software