Trainee Newborn Hearing Screener

at  Liverpool Womens NHS Foundation Trust

To complete hearing screening for babies up to three months of age, either in hospital, in a local clinic, or at patients discharge address, in accordance with the national Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and LWH Trust policies. 2 Roles Available
To identify babies that require screening by using hospital & national administration databases and liaising with ward staff.
To prioritise babies on post-natal wards and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ensuring that adequate time is given to complete babies requiring re-screens.
Aim to offer ALL babies a hearing screen and, if accepted, ensure those screens are competed within 4 weeks.
Fully inform parents, or carers, of the screening process and obtain consent.
Screen in hospital, community clinics and discharge addresses on 7 days a week rota basis.
Undertake Automated Oto-Acoustic Emissions (AOAE) screens for babies and identify those babies requiring an Automated Auditory Brain-Stem Response (AABR) screen and complete such screens as necessary. Work based training will be provided.
Explain results and make repeat appointments for babies who require further screening, and answer questions parents may have regarding the screening process or any ongoing referral.
The ideal candidate we are looking for has.
Excellent communication Skills
Excellent keyboard skills.
Excellent planning and organisational skills and ability to prioritise duri ng conflicting demands.
Ability to work independently and as part of team.
Ability to concentrate for tests and other data related tasks.
Liverpool Women’s NHS FT became part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) in November 2024, following the coming together with Liverpool University Hospitals NHS FT. UHLG was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide to our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues who are dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond. For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, UHLG is also their local NHS, providing general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
At Liverpool Women’s Hospital, each year we deliver approximately 7,500 babies, carry out around 50,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly and premature newborns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles, and conduct over 4,000 genetic appointments.
We believe that this, along with a strong dedication to research and innovation, makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.
For roles at Liverpool University Hospitals, visit their careers page .
UKVI guidelines prohibits sponsorship for all Band 2 posts. Guidelines state that many non-clinical posts are not eligible for sponsorship. Please use UKVI guidance on Skilled Worker Visas to determine your eligibility for sponsorship if you were to gain a conditional offer for this role.
https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

1. The external competency assessment (ECA), to be completed within 3 months of start date.
2. The health screener diploma (HSD), to be completed withing 12 months of registration. -

Responsible for Newborn Hearing Screening on the post-natal wards and the neonatal intensive care unit in Liverpool Women’s Hospital (LWH), community clinics, and necessary home visits in accordance with the national Newborn Hearing Screening Programme Service Specification (NHSP).
To complete hearing screening for babies up to three months of age, either in hospital, in a local clinic, or at patients discharge address, in accordance with the national Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and LWH Trust policies.
1. To provide screening for babies born in Liverpool Women’s Hospital and in the community, including home visits for those moving into the Liverpool and South Sefton Area, in accordance with national and locally agreed protocols.
2. To upload results of screens, search, input, and update relevant databases as required.
3. To identify babies that require screening by using the NHSP Database (s4H), the Patient Administration Database (K2) and liaising with ward staff.
4. Aim to offer ALL babies a hearing screen and, if accepted, ensure those screens are competed within 4 weeks.
5. To prioritise babies on post-natal wards and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ensuring that adequate time is given to complete babies requiring re-screens.
6. Undertake daily checks of screening equipment and report any discrepancies/ faulty equipment to the NHSP Manager.
7. Screen in hospital, community clinics and discharge addresses on 7 days a week rota basis.
8. Fully inform parents, or carers, of the screening process and obtain consent.
9. Undertake Automated Oto-Acoustic Emissions (AOAE) screens for babies and identify those babies requiring an Automated Auditory Brain-Stem Response (AABR) screen and complete such screens as necessary.
10. Explain results and make repeat appointments for babies who require further screening, and answer questions parents may have regarding the screening process or any ongoing referral.
11. Refer those babies that need further diagnostic testing and follow-up care to the relevant audiology department.
12. Identify babies that may need targeted follow-up appointments according to NHSP protocols.
13. Record clinical and test data accurately and ensure a timely transfer of information to parents or carers and other health care professionals.
14. Use initiative to manage own workload, also when problem solving; and escalate to appropriate personnel as required.
15. Search, input, and retrieve information, using hospital databases, National Care Records Service (NCRS) ensuring that patient records on the national screening system are accurate and up to date.
16. Ensure the prompt filing of documents and records relating to patients.
17. Maintain up to date knowledge of protocols relevant to the post, to complete the ECA, the Health Screening diploma and mandatory training, including the annual completion of eLearning modules for NHSP.
18. Assist in general housekeeping of own work area, reporting faults with equipment, computers, and the working environment.
19. Monitor the supply of consumables and ensure stocks are maintained.
20. Prioritise and deal with all incoming mails; ensuring all e-mails are read at the start of each shift and actioned.
21. Answer queries, as appropriate, and liaise with other hospital departments; GP practices; Child Health; Audiology Services, and other Newborn Hearing Screening Teams.
22. Work as part of a team, on a rota basis, over a seven-day period, to ensure that service needs are met. This includes Bank Holiday and weekend working.
23. Develop and maintain effective working relationships in accordance with Liverpool Women’s organisational values (Care, Ambition, Respect, Engage and Learn) and have a cooperative, responsible attitude with colleagues and members of the public.
24. Be fully involved in identifying, developing, and upholding quality standards within the team, assisting with induction and training of new staff.
25. Contribute positively to new ways of working and participate in modernisation initiatives, this may incorporate a change in technology, environment, or system.
Physical Skills.
1. Fine manual dexterity and good hand eye coordination to support hearing screening – fit ear tips for OAE/ cleaning skin to obtain good impedance and application of electrodes.
2. Ability to move babies to enable hearing screening to be completed in both ears and apply electrodes.
3. Good keyboard skills to enable them to update the patient management system and compose reports/develop procedures etc.
4. The post holder will be required to spend frequent periods of time standing and using Visual Display Unit equipment.
5. The post holder will be required to undertake regular travel between base, community clinics and home visits.
Responsibility for Patient Care
1. To ensure that appropriate communication methods, translator technology, or interpreters are in place to meet the individual communication needs of patients so an informed decision can be made.
2. To support the administration function of the service and provide cover in the absence of the administrator to ensure babies complete the screening process within NH1 target