Job summary
Newborn Hearing Screener - part time post
We are offering an exciting opportunity to join our hospital based Screening Team and to be fully trained as a Newborn Hearing Screener.
We are looking for someone who can work flexibly and is able to work 25.0 hours a week over 5 days - including working 1 Saturday and 1 whole weekend (both Saturday and Sunday) in every 4.
You need to be able to work at North Middlesex University Hospital, as well as occasionally working in outpatients clinics or the parents' home.
The successful candidate needs to be able to work unsupervised and to be confident in dealing with new parents and newborn babies.
You must be computer confident and be keen to learn something new.
Excellent communication skills and good team working are essential for this role.
Main duties of the job
The key components of the role are:To work as part of an established hospital based team that provide newborn hearing screening 7 days a week, 365 days per year to all newborn babies born in our area. To work as part of a hospital based team providing hearing screening and to have the flexibility to work at alternative hospital sites on a rota.To travel to other venues, set up and undertake NHSP screening in outpatient clinics.To undertake training commensurate with the role and complete the Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners qualification. This is a competence based qualification which is assessed in the workplace which includes online training so must be IT competent; to undertake a period of face to face training and supervision and successfully pass a Nationally recognised hearing screening qualification before working unsupervised. To carry out the hearing screening of newborns and accurately record clinical and test data, taking responsibility for data from tests.To explain the screening tests and possible outcomes to parents to obtain informed consent.To explain the results of the screening tests and their significance to parents.To refer babies to local audiology services in a timely manner using local processes and procedures. To ensure the daily calibration, safety and security of equipment at all times and report any problems to the NHSP Local Manager/Senior Screener at the earliest opportunity.
About us
Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Newborn Hearing Screener
The Newborn Hearing Screening team mainly work on the post natal wards, the birth centre and the neonatal unit. Sometimes they do a home visit or work in clinic.
The purpose of the hearing screen is to screen all eligible babies within a national timeframe in order to ensure that any baby requiring further testing is seen and assessed appropriately.
The Band 3 hearing screener role includes being able to identify which babies are eligible to screen.Speaking to parents or carers to gain informed consent as well as giving outcomes. Referring babies where needed.
The Hearing screeners use specialist equipment which they check each day before use. They are responsible for uploading their own data and outcoming their results on a national database.
Band 3 hearing screeners all work independently under the Deputy and Local Managers for Newborn Hearing Screening, once training has been given and assessments have been passed.
If you are not already qualified as a Newborn Hearing Screener then you will be offered full training.
On successful completion of your hearing screener training you will then be required to go on to undertake the Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening which can take up to 18 months to complete.
Please be aware that the Level 3 Diploma is very computer focused and you will be expected to undertake a lot of computer based work in addition to undertaking self directed study and completing ongoing assessments.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Newborn Hearing Screener
The Newborn Hearing Screening team mainly work on the post natal wards, the birth centre and the neonatal unit. Sometimes they do a home visit or work in clinic.
The purpose of the hearing screen is to screen all eligible babies within a national timeframe in order to ensure that any baby requiring further testing is seen and assessed appropriately.
The Band 3 hearing screener role includes being able to identify which babies are eligible to screen.Speaking to parents or carers to gain informed consent as well as giving outcomes. Referring babies where needed.
The Hearing screeners use specialist equipment which they check each day before use. They are responsible for uploading their own data and outcoming their results on a national database.
Band 3 hearing screeners all work independently under the Deputy and Local Managers for Newborn Hearing Screening, once training has been given and assessments have been passed.
If you are not already qualified as a Newborn Hearing Screener then you will be offered full training.
On successful completion of your hearing screener training you will then be required to go on to undertake the Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening which can take up to 18 months to complete.
Please be aware that the Level 3 Diploma is very computer focused and you will be expected to undertake a lot of computer based work in addition to undertaking self directed study and completing ongoing assessments.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE A*-C level (or equivalent) in English, Maths and IT
Desirable
- Has an NVQ in a health and social care related subject at Level 2 or above
- Has passed an OSCE/ECA (or equivalent) in Newborn Hearing Screening withing the last 3 years
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - IT, written and oral
- Ability to identify, respond to and evaluate own learning needs
- Ability to manage time, priorities and stressful situations
- Able to work to a rota, including working at weekends
- Ability to work as part of a team
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Shows an understanding of the purpose and processess around Newborn Hearing Screening
- Shows evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Experience of childcare with babies
Desirable
- Experience of working in a hospital setting
- Shows an understanding of safeguarding and child protection processes and procedures
- Evidence of working as a Newborn Hearing Screener
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Shows a willingness to learn new things
- Demonstrates an adaptable and flexible approach to their work
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE A*-C level (or equivalent) in English, Maths and IT
Desirable
- Has an NVQ in a health and social care related subject at Level 2 or above
- Has passed an OSCE/ECA (or equivalent) in Newborn Hearing Screening withing the last 3 years
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills - IT, written and oral
- Ability to identify, respond to and evaluate own learning needs
- Ability to manage time, priorities and stressful situations
- Able to work to a rota, including working at weekends
- Ability to work as part of a team
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Shows an understanding of the purpose and processess around Newborn Hearing Screening
- Shows evidence of Continuous Professional Development
- Experience of childcare with babies
Desirable
- Experience of working in a hospital setting
- Shows an understanding of safeguarding and child protection processes and procedures
- Evidence of working as a Newborn Hearing Screener
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Shows a willingness to learn new things
- Demonstrates an adaptable and flexible approach to their work
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.
