Senior Audiologist

at  Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

12 month Fixed Term post
An exciting opportunity has become available for a Senior Audiologist to join our friendly team at St Helens Hospital.
The post holder will be responsible for providing comprehensive adult audiology service.
We are looking for an experienced individual with substantive experience in adult Audiology including working with complex patients. Good communication skills are essential, as is leadership and excellent patient care attitude.
An Enhanced DBS with barred lists for Adults is required for this post.
The post holder will be providing direct hearing management of the adult population. This includes diagnostic assessment, speech testing and rehabilitation.
Apart from the clinical duties, the post holder will also be epected to provide leadership to junior staff, by doing regular one to one meetings and clinical supervision.
The post holder will take an active role in areas of clinical audit, research and clinical governance of the Audiology service.
You will be responsible for the smooth running of adult service for a specified area.
You will also support other team members and students.
You will be responsible for delivering student training and will be a mentor to the students and junior staff.
In addition to the clinical role, there will be responsibility for department stock management and supporting the Health & Safety compliance for the department.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

KEY DUTIES

Diagnostic Audiometry
Provides pure tone audiometry and tympanometry, advising patients and referring clinicians on management plans based on results obtained.
Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of clinical audiometry
Notes result of tests and provides reports as necessary ensuring that test results are recorded in hospital and departmental records.
Provides test results and reports to outside agencies as appropriate.
Ensures departmental audiometry protocols and procedures are adhered to.
Explain complex hearing test results to patients whose first language is not English and/or an interpreter is required.
Adapt assessment procedures to manage needs of most complex patients including those with learning difficulties, dementia, deaf-blind, mental health issues eg schizophrenia, development delays or multiple combinations of these problems.
Routine and complex assessment of patients with tinnitus.
Auditory Rehabilitation
Assess the general auditory rehabilitative needs of hearing-impaired adults with respect to their audiological status, communication skills and social needs.
Rehabilitation of patients with learning difficulties/dementia
Formulate appropriate management strategies based on this information and appropriate treatment plan. Advise patients and significant others on above implement.
Examination of patients’ ears and assessment of any abnormal pathology.
Aural impression taking and assessment of most appropriate ear mould/thin tube according to departmental protocols
Refer patient to, and liaise with, external agencies as appropriate.
Assessment of most appropriate hearing aid in line with MHAS and departmental protocols
Hearing aid fitting for patients with tinnitus/hyperacusis
Fitting of hearing aids and verification of fit using objective and subjective measures (includes questionnaires and insertion gain measurements)
Use of specialised hearing instruments where required, e.g. non-standard hearing aids, CROS systems and ITE aids.
Advising patients, and significant others, on communication strategies, auditory training, lip-reading and assistive listening devices.
Provide ongoing assessment and maintenance for adult hearing-impaired adults.
To act as a key worker for patients such as during the transition from paediatric and adult clinics
To plan and deliver rehabilitative treatments to the most complex patients including those with learning difficulties, dementia, deaf-blind, mental health issues, development delays or multiple combinations of these problems.
Ensure all adult auditory rehabilitation is appropriately documented.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain Professional Registration with RCCP, adhering to the Code of Conduct and CPD requirements
To develop, update and maintain own personal knowledge within the audiological field.
Ability to make decisions autonomously on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing time scale
Ensure that training plans and assessment for students accurately reflect current professional requirements and provide excellent learning experience for students.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintenance of patient records and analytical data
Maintain calibration of audiological equipment and report discrepancies appropriately.
Ensure all procedures are documented and updated in patient management system.
Maintain room facilities and general department upkeep, liaising with works department where necessary; keeping senior audiologists informed.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

Liaise with Clinical Educator regarding the provision of induction training and on-going training for students and non-registered staff.
To have supervisory responsibility of other audiologists and students
Supervision and training of other staff, including technical assistants, Audiology undergraduate students and medical students can be expected at this level.
Demonstrate leadership and mentoring qualities.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Liaise closely with Audiology Service Manager to maintain high standards of care for hearing impaired patients, adhering to Trust and departmental values and procedures.
Participate in supervision and training of undergraduate and postgraduate (MSc) students (after a suitable probationary period for new graduates)
Assess undergraduate students who are studying for BSc in audiology and to complete where appropriate the National Audiology Logbook. It is anticipated that staff should have or be working towards a mentorship qualification, which would facilitate this assessment and supervision.
Manage workload and performance of junior staff and students.
In the absence of senior managers, ensure staffing levels, and skill mix, are maintained to meet the demands of patient-facing service.
Have working knowledge of Trust policies and procedures that deal with staff wellbeing and management e.g. absences, whistleblowing, anti-bullying, disciplinary and grievance policies
Ensure Health & Safety procedures are adhered to within the team including Fire Safety and risk assessments, in line with Trust directives and professional guidance.