Senior Audiologist

Job overview

Band 6  Senior Audiologist

Surgical Acute Audiology East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the East Kent Surgical Acute Audiology Service for a motivated and enthusiastic Band 6 Audiologist.

This post is based primarily at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, with opportunities to work as part of a friendly, dynamic, and forward‑thinking Audiology team across East Kent. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is the largest local AQP provider of Audiology services, supporting local GPSI ENT services and working closely with new and returning ENT Otology Consultants. Together, we are committed to the continued development of high‑quality diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology services for our patients.

Applicants should hold a BAAT/BTEC National Certificate in Medical Physics and Physiological Measurement (MPPM) or a BSc/MSc in Healthcare Science (Audiology) or an equivalent qualification. Candidates must also demonstrate relevant NHS audiology experience appropriate to their level of qualification.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a supportive service during a period of growth and clinical development.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a motivated and suitably qualified Audiologist with relevant clinical experience to join our friendly, dedicated, and hardworking team. The post holder will contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive audiology service, providing a full range of diagnostic and rehabilitative care.

This role offers the opportunity to utilise and further develop a broad range of clinical skills, including vestibular and tinnitus assessment and rehabilitation, paediatric and adult diagnostic audiology, hearing aid fitting, GP direct referral pathways, complex diagnostic investigations, and Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) diagnostics.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To competently carry out the following clinical duties, procedures and policies with indirect on-site supervision, in accordance within local and national professional standards policies and procedures:

• To carry out Professional National and Local Audiology and Trust Policies, Protocols, Pathways and Procedures in all work-related employment across the Trust ensuring all professional standards are maintained and will apply for advice and guidance from senior staff and the Audiology Service Manager as necessary
• To maintain personal, professional status by ensuring that it meets the requirements in accordance with MHAS/MCHAS, BAA, BSA, HCPC and AHCS/ACHS
• Perform, assess, interpret and report on a comprehensive range of testing activities related to disorders of hearing, including advanced techniques, working with adults and children and working as part of a team with younger children and complex patients
• Provide a range of diagnostic and rehabilitation Acute Audiology Services for all ages of patient while supporting the development and maintenance of our family-friendly and user-friendly service
• To carry out audiological duties, procedures and policies in accordance with BSA, BAA and ACHS, and within the confines of the Trust’s policies and procedures.
• Provide support for the NHSP diagnostic team, by performing screening and diagnostic hearing tests as outlined by the NHSP program and protocols, and completion of all associated documentation on Auditbase and Smart 4 Hearing (S4H), as per national guidelines
• Undertake a comprehensive range of technical activities related to the fitting and fine tuning and rehabilitation of hearing aid provision to all Surgical Acute Audiology Service patients.
• To professionally impart all information requirements to the Surgical Acute Audiology Service patients in an appropriate manner to the individual patient’s communication strategy
• To produce factual and accurate reports on all investigations to help determine course of action within agreed timescales and to department protocols.  To be responsible for the careful, timely and accurate recording of these and the patient sessions, clinical and rehabilitation observations onto Trust based computer systems in compliance with National regulation and Trust Policies. To also provide the appropriate information and technology support as required by the Systems administrator for Audit base, as required on a daily basis.
• Have the judgmental skills needed in performing and choosing the audiology tests required in supporting ENT clinics
• Be responsible for not wasting resources by careful use and good judgment and be responsible for the care, use and daily calibration of equipment, reporting on any faults and acting on faults reported by junior staff so that repair and maintenance of equipment can be maintained at a high standard
• Be required to communicate complex information to patients with skill, reassurance and understanding and explain audiological results and technical information which may involve breaking bad news to patients and their carer/family who have considerable cognitive communication, hearing difficulties or to parents whose children are being diagnosed with possible hearing impairment. The post holder will adapt their communication method to ensure that the patient/carer/family is able to understand them using communication tactics that are optimal for the patient
• Provide advice, counseling and support to patients and parents and children to help minimize disability due to hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems and be responsible for liaising and communicating with other support services as needed
• Be required to offer counseling and support in emotive and sensitive situations sympathetically handling the expectations, questions, frustrations and distress of patients
• Be able to deal with aggressive or confrontational patients by calming the situation and be able to persuade reluctant hearing aid users to have a more positive attitude and report any concerns to the Audiology Service Manager, Deputy or Chief Audiologist promptly
• Advise on assistive listening devices and other services for those with hearing, balance and tinnitus problems referring to other agencies, specialized staff and volunteers as appropriate
• Work closely with clinicians and other professionals to provide advice on technical issues and audiological support
• Have the dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills used every day for the precise fitting and adjusting of digital sound processing hearing aids using Real Ear Measures involving insertion of probe tube microphones and taking of impressions of ears
• Be responsible for the supervision and training of future, temporary and junior staff and participate in the development of junior Audiology staff and service development
• To be able to kneel or bend whilst examining ears and be able to carry stock or equipment to and from other sites and assist infirm patients onto or off chairs and be able to work in enclosed areas, sound proof booths possibly with no windows or climate control
• Be able to work for long periods of concentration during repetitive tasks such as hearing aid fitting, history taking and precise audiological testing and be able to tailor instructions, explanations and information to suit patients’ personal requirements to accomplish full understanding, co-operation and good test responses
• To fulfill any contractual obligations the Trust may have with external organisations relating to Audiological service delivery in line with Departmental standards
• To be a Manual Handling, Infection Control and Health and Safety Link Worker for a designated site within the service
• To attend professional meetings and study sessions as appropriate and keep an up-to-date professional development portfolio, as well as to cascade the information to other staff as required