Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join us in our UKAS IQIPS accredited Audiology service based at Torbay Hospital in the beautiful location of South Devon as a Senior Audiologist.
Our Senior Audiologists work autonomously to perform a broad range of clinical activities such ashearing assessments and hearing aid fittings (both routine and complex) mainly with adults. They will also provide a counselling and rehabilitative service to hearing aid users.
You will have an area of expertise for which you can offer advice and guidance to other members of staff.
We would like you to have a BSc in Audiology (or equivalent) and to have demonstrable post graduate experience of working at Band 5 level in the NHS. We would also like you to be registered with the AHCS or HCPC.
You will be encouraged to develop an area of expertise if you do not already have one.
Main duties of the job
The Senior Audiologist will be responsible for assessing a broad range of patients, which may lead onto informing them of a diagnosis of hearing loss or other disorders of the ear. They will coordinate a care pathway to ensure effective management of the hearing loss and ensure referrals to other services are completed and undertaken where red flags are detected. They will work with the patients to set realistic outcomes and help to achieve their desired outcomes in all aspects of hearing aid care (repairs, advice and guidance on assistive technologies, telecare).
They will also deliver supervision and training to other members of staff within the Department and surrounding health community.
The post holder will have specialist knowledge of a wide range of procedures and practices which is underpinned by practical experience and maintenance of own professional knowledge through professional registration and CPD activity.
About us
Torbay and South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust catchment area covers 300 square miles from South Dartmoor to the length of coastline which stretches from the mouth of the River Exe (Dawlish), past the Teign and Dart estuaries (beyond Dartmouth). Torbay Hospital serves a resident population of approaching 300,000 people, plus about 100,000 visitors at any one time during the summer holiday season.The Audiology Service serves the population of Torbay and South Devon with a throughput of approximately 30,000 patients per annum. Patients are at the heart of everything we do, and this is reflected in the Audiology Departments ethos.
We are based at Torbay Hospital and run audiology clinics across 8 localities in the South Devon area. We offer domiciliary visits for those patients who cannot attend the hospital. We were awarded the UKAS IQIPS accreditation in 2014 and have continued to successfully maintained this year on year.
The Department has around 30 members of staff working across a range of grades, roles and specialisms. These specialisms include direct access hearing assessment clinic for adults, hearing assessment clinics for neonates and paediatrics, direct access tinnitus clinics, specialist adult rehabilitation services including hearing therapy, bone anchored hearing devices, vestibular assessments and a learning disability service.
Why work with us
Job responsibilities
Communication and working relationships
Responsibility for communication:
* Will communicate results of tests and findings and develop individual management plans (routine and complex) to a range of patients and carers with varying degrees of hearing loss and other communication difficulties/complex needs
* Will communicate with various professionals to discuss patient findings
* Will undertake training sessions with a range of professionals tailoring training needs to suit individuals
Forms of communication may include:
* Discussions
* Formal oral presentations
* Written reports (clinical, technical or management)
* Ability to work with interpreters to include sign language interpreters
Internal:
* To Consultant specialists and other members of the medical Staff
* Senior Managers
* All grades and professions across the trust
External:
* Members of the public
* GP practices
* Other NHS healthcare trusts in and out of the region
* Other professionals associated with the service for hearing impaired people e.g. Social services, Advisory teachers for Hearing impaired Children, Learning Disability Network and Charities
* CCGs
* All grades and professions across the health community
Planning and organisation
* Plan equipment requirements for own peripheral clinics and ensure that all equipment/ stock required for clinic list is transported to location in good time
* To actively contribute to meetings both within the service and as a representative of the service as required within own area of expertise, which may include the taking on of formal roles such as minute taking / arranging venues etc.
Analytical and judgement
* Will analyse and interpret test results for patients which will allow for decisions to be made as to what onward referrals may be required (e.g. MRI/ ENT) and or what treatment plan is to be offered to patient
Responsibility for patients and client care
* Calibrates audiological equipment daily and report any faults to the supervisor or directly to medical electronics department or manufacturer
* Ensures that all patient details are confirmed prior to any treatment
* Perform otoscopy on patients attending the department and to recognize conditions that may affect patient care and refer on to appropriate professionals appropriately
* Undertake assessment of patients referred directly from the G.P which may require a hearing aid. This will include taking a detailed medical history, performing appropriate standard tests (PTA, Tympanometry), inform and counsel the patient regarding the findings and ensuring correct future management of the patient. This may include referral on to an ENT specialist, other health professionals, and the taking of impressions for hearing aids. Correct interpretation of results (routine and complex) is vital
* Responsible for reporting findings and actions back to the original referrer
* To refer patients for additional investigations where clinically indicated e.g. MRI scans
* Plans rehabilitation process for each hearing aid patient based on their own personal difficulties. Offers advice and choices on how to live with their hearing loss. To make referrals to other professionals and signpost to other departments, to offer appropriate hearing aids and environmental aids, and devise a management plan tailored to the individual
* To clearly instruct patients on how to use their hearing aids using communication tactics which are tailored to suit the individuals needs
* Attends domiciliary visits when patients are housebound, being able to complete all audiological procedures possible in the home environment
* Performs, records and reports on non-standard diagnostic hearing tests on adults. Uncomfortable Loudness Levels, stapedial reflexes, speech audiometry, oto-acoustic emissions and tinnitus matching
* Perform audiometry on paediatric patients who are under the care of ENT This may include play audiometry, performance testing and PTA
* Perform assessments for specialized non-routine hearing aids, such as Bone Anchored Hearing Devices
* Takes impressions of patients ears and decides on the best ear mould type for that patient
* To be available for junior members of staff seeking advice and guidance with regards to patients
Policy and service responsibility
* All staff have a responsibility to ensure that the needs of the service are met in a timely and efficient manner
* Encourage and welcome feedback to ensure continual improvement
* To contribute and develop policies and protocols for Audiology service
* To undertake audits where necessary
* To ensure adherence to trust/ local policies and SOPs and ensure competency checks are completed
* To help the department maintain its accreditation status (UKAS IQIPS). This may involve audits, writing SOPs (standard operating procedures), developing patient information
Responsibility for finance, equipment and other resources
* All staff have a responsibility to ensure equipment is in good working order and ensure daily, weekly and monthly checks/calibration are undertaken, reporting where necessary reporting and acting upon findings where necessary
* All staff have a responsibility resources are used efficiently, effectively and safely
* All staff have a responsibility to ensure effective and conservative use of resources
* Ensures that the correct hearing aids are prescribed to each individual patient, including consideration for the likely costing of each aid
* All staff have a responsibility to ensure low stock items are identified and added to the ordering spreadsheet
Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management
* To deliver training to other Audological staff and undertake training sessions with other specialties within the TSDFT (including ENT)
* Observes and supervises trainees within the department, ensuring appropriate feedback is given
* Develops own area of expertise within the Department
* Occasionally assumes management responsibilities in the absence of Head and Deputy Head of Department
Information technology and administrative duties
* Books follow up appointments for patients attending the department
* Ensures patients records are comprehensive and kept up to date on the computerized patient management system following each consultation
* Receives and take queries either by telephone or letters from staff members or GPs such as requests for audiological testing and the booking of patients appointments etc.
Responsibility for research and development
* Occasionally undertake research and development activities and actively seek out opportunities for involvement in national research projects
* To undertake and assist in clinical audit, report on outcomes and make recommendations for change to the Audiology Service Manager
* Participation in departmental audit and development activities, with particular reference to implementation of IQIPS and national recommendations
* Participate in the introduction of new tests and procedures into clinical use, in collaboration with the appropriate Audiological staff where necessary
Responsibility and accountability
* Act with integrity and professionalism, demonstrating responsible behaviours at all times, in accordance with Trust values
* Be accountable for your actions, be honest and share your experiences, encouraging learning in others
* Ensure the patient is at the centre of the service and treated with dignity and respect
* Helps the Department maintain its accreditation status (UKAS IQIPS)
* Undertake any activities as required at the request of the Head of Audiology/Deputy Head of Audiology
* Deputise in the absence of HOD and Deputy heads of Audiology
* All staff have a responsibility to ensure findings and actions are reported back to referrers in a timely manner
* To be responsible in ensuring own registration is kept up to date and CPD activity is undertaken and accurate records are kept
* Assist in the day to day running of the department
Person Specification
Qualifications
* BSc in Audiology (or equivalent)
* Post graduate experience of working at Band 5 level
* Experience of undertaking specialisms at Band 5 level
* Registration with AHCS or HCPC
* Experience of working in an NHS setting
* Experience of working with complex patients
Knowledge
* Evidence of knowledge of all routine and complex test techniques/skills
* Proven experience of a range of hearing aid software packages
* Evidence of CPD activity
* Evidence of training/supervising Junior members of staff
Skills
* I.T literate
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
* Ability to travel to rural locality clinics
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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
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