Download Audiologists, Audiological Scientists and Hearing Therapists

PLYMOUTH HOSPITALS NHS TRUST
Job Group:
Job Title:
Existing Grade:
Care Group:
Unit:
e.g., Department, Area, District
Location:
Reports to:
Accountable to:
Audiologists, Audiological Scientists and Hearing Therapists
Advanced Paediatric Audiologist
Advanced Audiologist
Surgery
Audiology Department
Derriford Hospital Plymouth
Team Leader, Paediatric Audiology
Head of Audiology Services
Job Purpose
1.
Undertakes audiometric tests on in/outpatients.
2.
Provides expert clinical service in rehabilitation of children with hearing loss and tinnitus
3.
Assists with clinical supervision and training of trainee staff
4.
Updates own professional knowledge, keeping abreast of new technology.
Key Dimension
a.
Provides expert clinical service in rehabilitation of children with hearing loss and tinnitus
b.
Caseload size managed annually 38,000 (all age groups), including 250 permanent
childhood hearing impairment
c.
Area population provided for: 480,000 (Plymouth and surrounding area)
ORGANISATIONAL CHART
Head of Audiology
Services
Team Leader
Adult Rehabilitation
Team Leader
Paediatrics
Team Leader
Diagnostics
Specialist
Audiologists
2.6WTE
Advanced
Audiologist
This post
Specialist Audiologist
Newborn Hearing
Screening
Hearing Therapy
PRIMARY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical Duties
Rehabilitation duties
 Take social histories and listening needs assessments in infants and children, including
newborns, and occasionally adults, and combine these with diagnostic test results to develop
the necessary individual management plans
 Take accurate aural impressions of infants and children, and occasionally adults
 Modify ear moulds using the range of laboratory equipment available
 Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of
when these can not be adhered to:
o Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs
assessment and diagnostic test results
o Accurately fit digital hearing aids to infants and children, including newborns, using
real ear/probe microphone measurements
o 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
 Provide counselling to patients and parents/carers regarding the nature and extent of any
hearing loss, and the options on how this could be managed
 Manage distressed or angry patients sensitively, especially when disclosing test results and
management options
 Provide audiological management to patients with significant co-morbidities, including mental
health problems and learning difficulties
 Ensure patients and parents/carers are fully aware of the use of any devices issued
 Fault finding to provide a timely hearing aid repair service
 Manage complex cases, including taking referrals from junior and specialist staff
 Provide expert advice to other staff, including wards, health visitors and ENT
Diagnostic duties
 To determine the appropriate test battery for patients seen as direct referrals from national
screening programmes, primary care and as referrals from ENT or other health care
professionals
 Analyse results to determine the next stage of diagnostics required, and to problem solve
inconsistent or erroneous findings
 Take medical histories of patients directly referred from national screening programmes and
primary care to exclude pathologies requiring a medical opinion
 Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of
when these can not be adhered to:
o Accurately test hearing of infants and children and adults with learning difficulties,
using appropriate techniques for the individual’s age and level of ability
o Accurately perform objective tests of auditory function on children and adults,
including electrophysiological tests of hearing and balance, tympanometry, acoustic
reflex testing and otoacoustic emissions
 Ensure that expensive clinical equipment used is calibrated, decontaminated and maintained
according to national and departmental protocols
Other duties









Develop new departmental guidance and protocols based on national and international
developments and the changing evidence base
Take a lead in audits and other measures of quality
Provide the range of audiological services in peripheral/community settings and domiciliary
settings
Provide training and supervision to pre-registration and basic grade audiology staff
Provide training and supervision of specialist audiology staff, including both formal and informal
post-graduate training and development
Provide training to other staff groups, including medical students, nursing staff and communitybased health professionals
Maintain accurate and comprehensive clinical records using the computerised patient
management system and hospital records
Provide written and verbal reports on patients to referrers and other members of the multidisciplinary team
Assist the team leader in the maintenance and calibration of the service’s equipment








Keeping accurate activity statistics
Prioritise own workload and workload of others
Take responsibility for own continual professional development, and support that of other staff
Take a lead in continuous service improvement to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of
patient care
Assist in stock and equipment management, including the carrying of equipment and stock to
peripheral/ community clinics and for domiciliary services
Ensure efficient use of resources
Participate in departmental research and audit, and multi-centre trials
Actively participate in departmental team meetings and training
COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Good communication skills passing on relevant technical and/or condition related information
with persuasion and reassurance for better understanding.

Daily communication and interaction with adult and paediatric rehabilitation colleagues.

Daily interaction with Team Leader and Head of Department

Daily interaction with other professionals involved in the care of children with hearing loss and
tinnitus

Act as a mentor to students and colleagues, participating in induction programmes, guiding
practice, and assessing competence to develop staff.

Medical equipment maintenance unit and IT department

Medical and Para medical staff.

Communication with outside agencies
All Job Holders are required to…

Work to the Trust values - Put patients first, Take ownership, Respect others, Be positive.

Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, e.g. Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities
etc.

Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job,
participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and
training.

Attend statutory, essential and mandatory training.

Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of
staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection
Act 1998.

Comply with the Corporate Governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards
set out by the Trust.

Comply with the codes of professional conduct set out by the professional body of which
registration is required for the post.

Ensure they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and
safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all
necessary actions to reduce risk.

Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into
contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a
specific role with children and families.

Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time
frame.

Staff must comply with Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in order to promote
safeguarding and prevent abuse to vulnerable people using Trust services.

Maintain the prevention and control of infection and fully comply with all current Trust Infection
Control policies and procedures.

Take responsibility for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties, in line
with the Public Records Act and be aware that any records created by an employee of the NHS
are public records and may be subject to both legal and professional obligations.
All Managers are responsible for…

Assessing risks and implementing the necessary actions to minimise these risks within their
sphere of responsibility. They must also enable staff to attend the relevant statutory and
essential training.

Managing attendance in accordance with the Trusts Attendance Management Policy.
All Heads of Departments are responsible for…

Ensuring all necessary risk assessments are carried out within their division, directorate or
department in liaison with relevant sources of specialist support and expertise within the Trust.
They must also ensure that the risk management process is completed appropriately.
Note
This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be totally comprehensive.
It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder.
This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust policies,
procedures & guidelines.
Note
This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be totally comprehensive.
It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder.
This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current Plymouth Hospitals
ADVANCED PAEDIATRIC AUDIOLOGIST PERSON SPECIFICATION
ATTRIBUTES
KNOWLEDGE &
EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS
APTITUDE &
ABILITIES
ESSENTIAL

Proven Evidence of recent CPD

Highly developed specialist knowledge

Demonstrable General Audiology Background

An awareness of research and proven evidence
based practice within setting

Demonstrable experience at a specialist level in
paediatric audiology

MSc in Audiological Science or equivalent OR

MSc level of expertise in a specialist area of
audiology with BSC in Audiology or equivalent
qualification.

Registered as Clinical Physiologist in Audiology
(RCCP) OR Clinical Scientist in Audiology (HCPC)

Good communication skills, written and verbal, with
ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and
effectiveness at all levels.

Effective influencing skills: in general and with
senior health care professionals.

Teaching and mentoring skills

Ability to prioritise workload, instruct and direct
others.

Organisational skills and able to work alone or as a
team leader or part of team.

Advocacy skills

Demonstrate basic management abilities

Works in a calm and organised manner and mixes
in well as part of cohesive team

Must have good all round interest in Audiology
Issues
CIRCUMSTANCES

Able to manage non core time initiatives
OTHER FACTORS

Ability to participates in local or multi-centre
research as and when required
Ability to take a lead in departmental
developments.
DISPOSITION /
ATTITUDE /
MOTIVATION

DESIRABLE

Research – conference presentations,
peer reviewed articles or equivalent

Clinical audit

Knowledge of patient administration
system

Knowledge of NHS service provision and
pathways

STP, HTS in paediatrics, CAC, or
equivalent experiential learning

Computer literate (ECDL)

Ability to facilitate change within the work
area.
