Specialist Audiologist
Audiology Service
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
This position offers the rare opportunity to develop as a senior clinician in diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology for both children and adults in the provision of specialist treatment for patients with tinnitus.
Taking responsibility for assessment, monitoring and hearing aid management for children from school age, and for a range of adults including those with complex needs, you will be supported with ongoing training and advice.
Our team comprises 11 clinical staff - Audiologists, Associate Audiologists, Clinical Scientist, Audiological Scientist - and 3 Audiology secretaries.
Consistently high Friends and Family Scores reflect our commitment to provide a high quality, person-centred, comprehensive adult and paediatric service. We have regular staff meetings, Health and Safety Meetings and Clinical Governance meetings which facilitate continuous service improvement and development.
We work closely with the ENT staff, Paediatricians, the Newborn Hearing Screening Team in the hospital and with our colleagues in Community Paediatrics, Health Visiting, School Nursing, Speech and Language Therapy and Education to facilitate seamless care for our children.
We seek an enthusiastic registered audiologist with at least 3 years NHS experience in clinical audiology who thrives in a motivated team, but also enjoys working on their own initiative.
Main duties of the job
The Specialist Audiologist is a senior clinician working with both paediatric and adult patients in diagnosis and rehabilitation and providing specialist treatment for patients with tinnitus.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Specialised Duties & Responsibilities
To perform and report on the full range of adult diagnostic audiological tests, including tests of an advanced and complex nature.
To perform both basic and advanced hearing aid services to include non-routine adults with complex needs.
To provide specialist treatment for patients experiencing tinnitus, including taking histories, giving advice and information, making recommendations, providing Tinnitus Retraining Therapy / Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or other rehabilitative approaches as appropriate, long term care plans and appropriate outcome measurement.
To undertake paediatric clinics for direct referrals for hearing assessments and produce timely and informative reports for the referrer, the GP, the education department and any other specialist involved with the child. The work involves taking a full case history and carrying out developmentally appropriate assessments to identify both temporary and permanent childhood hearing loss. The audiologist is responsible for communicating the results to the parent/carer and making the decision to refer onward for further investigation or an ENT opinion if indicated.
To undertake the continuing assessment of those children at risk of progressive or late onset permanent hearing loss and those with known mild or unilateral hearing losses, with provision of appropriate advice. To produce timely and informative reports for the GP, parents, school and education support service.
General duties & responsibilities:
To undertake adult direct referral clinics for hearing assessment and hearing aid assessment and reassessment. This involves taking a full case history and the assessment of otological clinical conditions, including complex assessments, onward referral for an ENT opinion if indicated, and the subsequent provision of relevant intervention programmes. To convey recommendations for management/intervention to the patient and family/carers, and produce timely reports to the referring party and other relevant professionals.
To communicate procedures involved in, and results of, assessment and potential interventions to patients (adults), families and carers. This requires a degree of tact, sensitivity, and sometimes persuasion. Motivating patients to comply with treatment programmes and making choices clear to patients, e.g. with respect to features of hearing aids, is frequently challenging, not least because of the stigma that patients often perceive. These patients will have barriers to communication because of hearing loss, and sometimes multiple disabilities.
To perform pure tone audiometry and acoustic immittance investigations for both children and adults participating in routine ENT and audiology clinics as required.
To be sensitive to the particular barriers created by hearing loss / tinnitus / hyperacusis, and give additional advice and follow-up in a sympathetic and understanding manner where necessary.
To take aural impressions using techniques appropriate to hearing loss and hearing aid types.
Person Specification
Clinical Registration
Essential
* Professional Registration with the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS)
* Evidence of CPD
Desirable
* Professional Registration with either the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
* Member of the British Academy of Audiology (BAA)
* Member of the British Society of Audiology (BSA)
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
* BSc in Audiology or equivalent with a minimum of 3 years working as a qualified audiologist in the NHS.
* Evidence of post-graduate education and training in specialist areas of adult and paediatric assessment and rehabilitation.
Desirable
* BAA Higher Certificate of Clinical Competence in Adult Rehabilitation
* BAA Higher Certificate of Clinical Competence in Paediatric Assessment
* BAA Higher Certificate of Clinical Competence in Paediatric Habilitation
* CAC
* BAA Certificate in one of the following: Research methods in effective healthcare practice, Service planning, organisation and development, Teaching and learning
Experience
Essential
* Experience in performing diagnostic and rehabilitative audiology in adults including those with complex needs.
* Experience in performing diagnostic audiology in school age children.
* Knowledge of current recommendations in specialist areas.
* Experience of communicating with all client groups.
* Experience of dealing with the general public.
* Knowledge and understanding of professional policies and procedures.
* Experience with training and development of junior members of staff.
* Good understanding of health & safety, equality & diversity, and confidentiality.
* Experience of audiology patient management system.
Desirable
* Experience in performing rehabilitative audiology in school age children.
* Evidence of team/group leadership.
* Management experience.
* Involvement in training (PTP / Apprenticeship).
Skills
Essential
* Ability to apply advanced theoretical knowledge to practical situations.
* Ability to independently perform a wide range of audiological tests on adults and children.
* Ability to independently program and fit digital hearing aids using real ear measures.
* Capability to manage own workload without direct supervision.
* Fine and precise motor skills necessary to perform semi-invasive procedures on adults and children.
* Experience of teaching and communicating effectively with students and trainees.
* Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Good oral/written communication skills.
* Ability to work on own initiative.
* Good persuasive and motivational skills for dealing with children and adults with hearing loss and communication difficulties.
* Ability to manage and diffuse conflict and aggression.
Desirable
* Experience of real ear to coupler difference measurements.
Specific requirements
Essential
* Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
Employer details
Employer name
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Audiology (Dept)
Milton Keynes
MK6 5LD
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