Job summary
Working Full time - hours per week
The Audiology Service is based at The Countess of Chester Hospital and is delivered by a multi-skilled team of Scientists, Audiologists, Assistant Audiologists and Administrators. We are looking for a full-time Assistant Audiologist to join our multi-skilled team on a permanent basis. The clinics currently run Monday-Fridays and it is anticipated the hours will be worked over four long days.
This position is suitable for either existing Assistant Audiologists or someone new to the profession as training will be provided. Individuals who are not qualified as an Assistant Audiologist will need to undertake a training course which may require some travel for attendance. It is anticipated the training will be completed over a 6 to 9 month period. The Audiology Department offers a domiciliary service and runs clinics in community settings therefore access to a car is essential for this role.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will contribute to the smooth running of the audiology service by providing the following:
1. A hearing aid repair service, including repairing and maintaining hearing aids.
2. Carrying out telephone follow-up appointments with adult hearing aid users.
3. Assisting in paediatric hearing assessment clinics.
4. Assisting in adult balance function testing and be responsible for stock monitoring including management of earmoulds
This role may also involve providing a range of clerical duties within the department.
About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
5. The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
6. Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
7. Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
8. English and Maths (or equivalent).
9. Audiology Practitioner Assistant Certificate Course (or a willingness to undertake this)
10. BSA certificate in audiometry and tympanometry (or a willingness to undertake this)
Desirable
11. Science subjects (or equivalent)
12. Knowledge of Audiology and Audiological procedures
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
13. Previous experience of clerical/administrative duties
14. Dealing with the general public
15. Knowledge of customer relations/service
16. Knowledge of Microsoft packages
Desirable
17. Previous experience of working in a hospital
18. Experience of customer service
19. Knowledge of Audiology and patient management systems
Skills and Abilities
Essential
20. Ability to work as part of team
21. Ability to communicate with the general public and staff at all levels
22. Good organisational skills, word processing skills
Desirable
23. Fine manual dexterity ( ability to use fine tools and to connect cables to programme hearing aids)