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Job description

Are you looking to join our small team of enthusiastic ,committed audiologists working in one of the only outstanding outpatients departments in the country (per CQC rating).

The Audiology service is in the modern diagnostic and treatment centre at St Helens Hospital. This comprises of a suite of four soundproof booths, four sound treated fitting rooms, four ENT consult exam rooms and admin/workroom/waiting facilities.

We have been an AQP provider for several years but also provide direct access for local GPs for anyone over 18. This means clinics are anything but routine and staff are expected to deal with a wide mixed case load.

We also support ENT clinics at several other sites and provide hearing aid services in community health centres. Although we are an “adult only site” we do liaise with the community based Paediatric Audiology service on a regular basis and provide audiometric support for paediatric ENT clinics and transition clinics.

The successful applicant will also be expected to work on all sites.

We are keen to receive applications from final year BSc students who have a real commitment to developing themselves into successful practitioners and are willing to work exceptionally hard to do so.

Other applicants should hold an MSc, BSc or Diploma in Audiology and hold a completed log book giving evidence of practical experience, or equivalent.

All Audiologists (including newly qualified) will be expected to be able to manage their own case load and assist (eventually) in the provision of clinical education for student placements.

We offer a wide range of services, including

• Diagnostic support and rehabilitative services to 4 ENT consultants
• Direct GP referrals for Adult hearing aid provision.
• Hearing aid work within MHAS guidelines/protocols with local adjustments.
• It is hoped that the services provided by the department will be expanded shortly to include provision of services for tinnitus patients

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the only acute Trust in Cheshire and Merseyside, and one of the few in the entire country, to achieve the title of OUTSTANDING, rated by the Care Quality Commission.

We provide a full range of acute adult services to our local population of circa 360,000 and provide tertiary services across a much wider area in the North West, North Wales and Isle of Man. We are a Major Trauma Unit and the Mersey Regional Burns Unit.

Our '5 Star Patient Care' strategy is at the heart of all that we do; supporting our vision to provide world class services for all our patients by getting it right for every patient, every time.

Our latest achievements include:

• Acute Trust of the Year – HSJ Awards November 2019
• Trust rates Outstanding by the CQC – Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers and Health Service Journal)
• Best acute Trust in the North West for quality of care (NHS Staff Survey 2021)
• Best place to work in the North West (NHS Staff Survey 2021)

In the NHS Staff Survey 2021 the Trust scored the highest marks in the North West for the following areas;

• Standard of care
• Best place to work
• Care of patients being the Trust’s priority
• Staff engagement
• Staff morale
• Compassionate and inclusive
• Providing a safe environment for staff

KEY DUTIES

Diagnostic Audiometry

• Provides pure tone audiometry and tympanometry, advising patients and referring clinicians on management plans based on results obtained.
• Notes result of tests and provides reports as necessary ensuring that test results are recorded in hospital and departmental records.
• Provides test results and reports to outside agencies as appropriate.
• Maintains Theoretical knowledge of other forms of audiological testing.
• Ensures departmental audiometry protocols and procedures are adhered to.

Auditory Rehabilitation

• Assess the general auditory rehabilitative needs of hearing impaired adults with respect to their audiological status, communication skills and social needs.
• Formulate appropriate management strategies based on this information and appropriate treatment plan. Advise patients and significant others on above implement.
• Examination of patients’ ears and assessment of any abnormal pathology.
• Aural impression taking and assessment of most appropriate ear mould/thin tube according to departmental protocols.
• Refer patient to, and liaise with, external agencies as appropriate.
• Assessment of most appropriate hearing aid in line with MHAS and departmental protocols.
• Fitting of hearing aids and verification of fit using objective and subjective measures (includes questionnaires and insertion gain measurements).
• Advising patients, and significant others, on communication strategies, auditory training, lip-reading and assistive listening devices.
• Ensure all adult auditory rehabilitation is appropriately documented.
• Provide ongoing assessment and maintenance for adult hearing impaired adults.

Communication

• To ensure affectively inter departmental communication between all trust sites.
• To communicate effectively and courteously with medical, nursing, clerical and other health care professionals including those outside the trust; both verbally and electronically.
• Communicate relevant technical and/or condition related information with persuasion, reassurance and understanding to a hearing impaired clientele and their carers (includes elderly, children, patients with special needs and ethical minorities).

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain Professional Registration(if appropriate) or membership of professional society
• To develop, update and maintain own personal knowledge within the audiological field.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain calibration of audiological equipment and report discrepancies appropriately.
• Ensure all procedures are documented and updated in patient management system.
• Maintain room facilities and general department upkeep, liaising with works department where necessary; keeping senior audiologists informed.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

• Liaise with Clinical Educator regarding the provision of induction training and on-going training for students and non-registered staff.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in supervision and training of undergraduate and post graduate(MSc) students (after a suitable probationary period for new graduates)

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Participate in departmental research, audit and development activities.
• Collect data to enable audit of departmental procedures.
• Participate in the introduction of new procedures into clinical use.
• To develop, update and maintain personal knowledge within the audiological field.

GENERAL DUTIES

• To observe the provisions of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures.
• To actively participate in the annual performance review to identify personal development needs
• To attend Trust Statutory and Mandatory training sessions as required and any other training courses relevant to the post.
• To fully comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act. They must also understand and implement St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Hospitals Trust “Statement of Policy on Health and Safety at Work” and the Trust corporate “Health and Safety Policies and Procedures”. You are required to follow all applicable rules and procedures relating to Health and Safety at Work and to take all responsible precautions to avoid actions.
• To be aware of the confidential aspects of the post. To keep up to date with the requirements of information governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure that trust information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and effectively. Breaches of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action that may involve dismissal. You must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user staff and organisational business in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) and Caldicott principles.
• The post holder should also be aware that, regardless of any action taken by the employing authority, breaches of confidentiality could result in civil action for damages.
• All staff will be treated with respect by management, colleagues, patients and visitors and equally staff will treat management, colleagues, patients and visitors with the same level of respect. Staff will be supported to challenge any discriminatory behaviour that may be based on differences in race, disability, language, culture, religion, sexuality, age, and gender or employment status.
• You will be expected to undertake the Trusts’ commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• To ensure that when creating, managing and sharing information records it is done in an appropriate way, subject to statutory requirements and agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines. All employees are responsible for implementing and maintaining data quality, ensuring that records are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is contemporaneous
• In accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the post holder will actively participate in the prevention and control of infection within the capacity of their role. The Act requires the post holder to attend infection prevention and control training on induction and at regular updates and to take responsibility for the practical application of the training in the course of their work. Infection prevention and control must be included in any personal development plan and/or appraisal.
• To adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body (if appropriate)
• The post holder must be flexible in the duties performed and it is expected that similar duties, not specifically listed above, will be carried out as required and may be cross site.
• The duties contained in this job description are not intended to be exhaustive. The duties and responsibilities of this post are likely to evolve in line with the Trust’s continued organisational development.
• To adhere to the NHS Constitution and its principles and values. You must be aware of your Duty of Candour which means that you must be open and honest during your employment and if you see something wrong, you must raise it. You must read the NHS Constitution in full and can download this from the Trusts intranet site or thegov.ukwebsite. Hard copies are available from the HR Department on request.
• The Trust is a non-smoking site. Failure to follow this rule could lead to disciplinary action.