Job summary
Audiology Service at London North West University Healthcare NHS trust is looking for a qualified audiologist to work within their busy department in Northwick Park and Central Middlesex Hospitals.
The successful individual will be responsible for delivering comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitative services for adults. The workload will involve working across mainly at Northwick Park Hospital and some cross site working across Central Middlesex Hospital and Ealing Hospital. The applicant must be flexible enough to travel across all sites.
The post holder will be well-motivated and innovative, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to manage both time and workload. The applicant will also be involved in training of BSC students and some research.
Applicants should possess a BSc Audiology Honours degree or equivalent qualification.
Applicants should be registered or eligible with RCCP/HCPC registration.
This post is suitable for newly qualified graduate audiologists.
Main duties of the job
Undertake full Audiological assessments of patients and to assist in complex and non-routine cases such as those with multiple disabilities and severe communication difficulties. This include history taking and carrying out hearing and auditory function tests to include pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing and speech audiometry.
Carry out examination of the ear by Otoscopy in patients including complex cases, to identify the anatomy of an individual's ear, any abnormalities or pathology.
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 primary care to exclude pathologies requiring a medical opinion
Develop and implement Individual Plans for patients, including complex and routine cases.
Holistically obtain history including the assessment of disability, handicap and expectations.
Take accurate ear impressions using suitable material for patients to include postoperative patients and those with additional needs.
Modify ear moulds using the range of laboratory equipment available.
About us
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.
Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.
We run major acute services at:
1. Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
2. St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
3. Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
4. Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.
We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Following national and departmental guidelines and protocols, but with an understanding of when these cannot be adhered to:
5. Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results.
6. Accurately fit digital hearing aids to patients including those with additional needs.
7. Evaluate hearing aid fitting using real ear/probe microphone measurements, alongside aided outcome measure tools questionnaire, speech testing etc.
8. Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids and onward referral to other specialist services
Provide counselling to patients/carers regarding the nature and extent of any hearing deficit, and the options on how this could be managed.
Manage distressed or angry patients/carers sensitively, especially when disclosing test results and management options.
Ensure patients/carers are fully aware of the use of any devices issued
Maintain and perform repairs on all hearing aids and ear moulds, which includes retubing, reshaping of ear moulds, replacing battery drawers and testing hearing aid performance in the test box or listening checks.
Provide expert advice to other staff, ENT consultants and others.
To view the main responsibility, please see the attached the Job Description and Person Specification
Person Specification
Qualification/Education
Essential
9. BSc or PTP in Audiology or BAAT parts I & II or equivalent
10. Registration with Health Professions Council / RCCP (or working towards registration).
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
11. Competent in managing Adult diagnostic and rehabilitative caseload
12. Aware of all current UK Audiology guidance including NICE
13. Knowledge of health service practices and understanding of clinical governance.
Desirable
14. Post qualification experience working in an adult audiology department.
15. Interest and aptitude for research and development of the clinical service
Skills
Essential
16. Ability to communicate effectively with hearing impaired patients of all ages
17. Able to work under pressure.
18. Competent at carrying out a full range of audiological testing
19. Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working
Desirable
20. Ability to communicate using sign language