This is an exciting opportunity where the post holder will provide clinical expertise and leadership in the Adult Audiology Service. This will encompass the delivery, evaluation, monitoring, and development of the Adult Audiology service and its staff. There will also be access to clinical paediatric assessment activity if desired.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate excellent team working and leadership qualities as well as a high level of clinical and communication skill. They will play a key role in providing supervision, training, and advice to junior staff and students and will work closely with other specialism leads and a motivated audiology team to work towards IQIPS accreditation, continual development of a quality assurance culture, and provision of a patient focused service.
This role is an important part of the new structure of audiology services across Northamptonshire as part of the newly formed Collaboration.
Whilst working with the trust, support and opportunities will be available for developing clinical, management, and leadership skills.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of adult clinical audiology services, training, and service development, in close working with the Deputy Head of Audiology. They will be expected to continually develop and modernise the service with key focus on innovative and patient focused care models. They will support the Deputy Head of Audiology with resolving service-wide issues relating to staff performance, achievement of targets, and clinical capacity.
The successful candidate will manage their own areas of responsibility on a day-to-day basis but will be required to engage with the planning and implementation of the necessary continuous improvements for IQIPS accreditation.
Job responsibilities
The primary aim of the audiology service is to provide a quality assured patient-centred care to all patients that use Kettering General Hospital Audiology services. The main roles and responsibilities of this post will include:
Operational
* To ensure demonstrably high professional standards are maintained in all areas of clinical, scientific, technical, educational, and rehabilitative service provision as they pertain to both staff and patients.
* The post holder will be expected to provide supervision, training, and advice to all junior staff and students within the department.
* To have in-depth understanding of all operational management systems for the provision of the clinical service including the use of their applications, e.g., Hospital PAS system, Audiology PAS system, Procurement system, Leave record, and clinical rota system.
* To promote and support the professional and vocational development of staff within the Audiology Service, and to implement good working practices in compliance with Trust Human Resources policies, in order to ensure effective and equitable recruitment, retention, development, and training of staff.
* To help the Deputy Head of Audiology maintain and develop audit and CPD resources for the department and use this as a mechanism through which it can monitor its performance, assure its quality, and strive for continuous improvement in service delivery.
* In conjunction with the Deputy Head of Audiology, to investigate and respond to all patient complaints in compliance with Trust policy and within the time scales set by the trust, using complaints positively to review and improve services.
* To keep well versed with the latest developments in Audiology to inform and ensure their continued personal development and that of the department.
* To take forward the modernisation of the service and to develop innovative patient-focused models of care.
* To comply at all times with the Kettering General Hospital Health and Safety Policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the Trust's Risk Incident Reporting System.
* To respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.
* To participate in the recruitment, selection, and interviewing process for new staff.
* Line management responsibility for members of the adult audiology team.
* To monitor and manage sickness and well-being issues in the absence of the Deputy Head of Audiology.
Clinical
* In conjunction with the Deputy Head of Audiology, be professionally responsible for the provision of a clinical and technically safe adult audiology service, and to undertake regular clinical sessions in order to maintain a high clinical profile, professional competence, authority, and credibility.
* With support from the head of audiology, be responsible for the day-to-day clinical pathway management of the Adult Audiology service and its specialties, to support and demonstrate high professional standards and work towards meeting national waiting time targets.
* To professionally lead and actively participate in the work of specific specialised disciplines in the department appropriate to the skills and experience of the post holder.
* To provide specialist advice to patients, professionals, and professional services on all matters pertaining to adult audiology and clinical services.
* To be professionally responsible for test results and the writing of test reports by all student staff particularly in the absence of the Deputy Head of Audiology.
* To be responsible for the clinical decisions as to the viability of which diagnostic tests to undertake.
* To work closely with the clinical lead of Paediatric audiology so adult and paediatric audiology services are aligned.
* In compliance with departmental policies, be responsible for referring patients to other professionals where appropriate.
* To audit clinical effectiveness and maintain a programme of development.
* To chair the adult and tinnitus specialist meetings.
* To undertake any such duties as deemed appropriate by the Head of Audiology.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* BSc / BAAT in Audiology
* Be a member of an appropriate professional body (RCCP/AHCS/HCPC)
Desirable
* Be a member of the British Academy of Audiology or other professional organisation
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
* Have extensive current practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of clinical adult audiology and hearing aid technology, scientific updates, and Audiology Support services.
* Possess a thorough and current knowledge of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy / national guidance / CQC / IQIPS and generic operational working of the organisation.
* Have prior management experience in Audiology with knowledge of HR issues relating to the management of staff.
* Have extensive experience of working both as an independent practitioner and supervisor for a wide range of audiological assessment and rehabilitative techniques and outcomes.
* Have experience in service development.
Desirable
* Have experience in specialised areas e.g. Tinnitus assessment and rehabilitation.
Skills and Capabilities
Essential
* Excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills: Ability to communicate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
* Analytical skills, problem-solving skills, and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
* Research and critical thinking skills.
* Planning skills: demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes, work under pressure, meet deadlines, and delegate appropriately.
* Proven business planning skills.
* Management Skills and leadership skills: Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others. Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of the individuals.
* Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
* Demonstrates modernised thinking and experience with service redesign in association with a wide range of health care partners.
* IT Skills: Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Audiology PAS system with intermediate keyboard skills.
* Equality and Diversity Needs: to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formally known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Employer details
Employer name
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Kettering General Hospital
Rothwell Road
Kettering
NN168UZ
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