Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Audiology Team to support the new service at Cannock Chase Hospital.
We are looking with someone who has extensive experience of either Advanced Adult Audiology, including adults with additional needs, tinnitus and hearing therapy or balance assessments and some knowledge of vestibular rehabilitation to join the team.
The Audiology team includes clinical scientists, hearing and balance therapists, highly specialist audiologists and a relaxation therapist and is expanding.
You will lead a team of Audiologists and work collaboratively with the wider audiology team to deliver and develop a comprehensive adult Audiology service within the trust across all sites (New Cross, West Park, Cannock Chase and the Gem Centre, and will primarily be based at Cannock Chase Hospital.
The post holder(s) will be responsible for delivering training and expert advice to meet the clinical requirements of the Service. The post holder will support the Hearing and Balance Therapy Manager, Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Manager and Audiology Service Manager to ensure that clinical and professional standards are always maintained.
The post holder will be responsible for the management and safe use of the team equipment & stock and supplies, within the limits of the designated budget.
Main duties of the job
Responsible and accountable for a designated highly specialist service area within the Audiology structure (Paediatric/Hearing and Balance Therapy/BAHA/Advance diagnostic and Rehabilitation). The post holders will be a highly developed and experienced post-graduate qualified Audiologist, Hearing Therapist or Clinical Scientist (Audiology) and will autonomously manage a clinical service in the designated team, including non-routine and highly complex patients and activities.
The services cover paediatric activity at the Gem Centre, Adult Services at West Park, ENT Services and Vestibular and Adult Neuro-diagnostic Testing at New Cross and Vestibular Rehabilitation at Cannock. The post holder will be accountable to either the Hearing and Balance Therapy Manager or Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Manager and the Audiology Service Manager and will ensure that a consistently high quality complex and sophisticated clinical service is provided, meeting the highest national and international standards.
The post holder(s) will lead Audiology in delivering patient centred care using streamlined pathways. To work in conjunction with the Hearing and Balance Therapy Manager, Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Manager and Audiology Service Manager to ensure that the designated service areas are delivered against performance targets.
About us
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.
We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.
The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible and accountable for a designated highly specialist service area within the Audiology structure:
Adult Hearing and Balance Therapy Team Lead/Advanced Practitioner
- Routine and complex assessment of hearing, balance and tinnitus disorders and interpretation of test results
OR
Advanced Diagnostics and Rehabilitation/Advanced Practitioner
- Routine and complex assessment of hearing disorders and interpretation of test results, particularly Non-Organic Hearing Loss, Adults with Learning Disabilities and Adults with Dementia/Alzheimers
The post holders will be a highly developed and experienced post-graduate qualified Audiologist, Hearing Therapist or Clinical Scientist (Audiology) and will autonomously lead a clinical service in the designated team, including non-routine and highly complex patients and activities.
Accountable to either the Hearing and Balance Therapy Manager or Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Manager and the Audiology Service Manager, and will ensure that a consistently high quality complex and sophisticated clinical service is provided, meeting the highest national and international standards.
The services cover paediatric activity at the Gem Centre, Adult Services at West Park, ENT Services and Vestibular and Adult Neuro-diagnostic Testing at New Cross and Vestibular Rehabilitation at Cannock, with the expectation that further Audiology services will be provided at Cannock
See Full Job Description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible and accountable for a designated highly specialist service area within the Audiology structure:
Adult Hearing and Balance Therapy Team Lead/Advanced Practitioner
- Routine and complex assessment of hearing, balance and tinnitus disorders and interpretation of test results
OR
Advanced Diagnostics and Rehabilitation/Advanced Practitioner
- Routine and complex assessment of hearing disorders and interpretation of test results, particularly Non-Organic Hearing Loss, Adults with Learning Disabilities and Adults with Dementia/Alzheimers
The post holders will be a highly developed and experienced post-graduate qualified Audiologist, Hearing Therapist or Clinical Scientist (Audiology) and will autonomously lead a clinical service in the designated team, including non-routine and highly complex patients and activities.
Accountable to either the Hearing and Balance Therapy Manager or Diagnostic and Rehabilitative Manager and the Audiology Service Manager, and will ensure that a consistently high quality complex and sophisticated clinical service is provided, meeting the highest national and international standards.
The services cover paediatric activity at the Gem Centre, Adult Services at West Park, ENT Services and Vestibular and Adult Neuro-diagnostic Testing at New Cross and Vestibular Rehabilitation at Cannock, with the expectation that further Audiology services will be provided at Cannock
See Full Job Description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 7 MSc in Clinical Audiology or Hearing Therapy or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise in field. MSc in Clinical Audiology or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise in field.
- Level 6 Post graduate management/ leadership qualification
- CAC/ BAAT Parts 1& 2/HTS or equivalent practical qualifications in general and specialist areas. Level 6 Post graduate management/ leadership qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- oAdvanced theoretical and practical knowledge of the assessment and (re)habilitation of hearing impaired adults and children including associated problems such as vestibular and tinnitus handicap, and hearing aid technology
- Highly developed specialist knowledge in the specialist service area
Skills
Essential
- Evidence which reflects good leadership skills and the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams e.g. previous project leadership
- Ability to work with high level of autonomy in clinical and non-clinical situations including assessment, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and management of patients and their families
- Specialist judgement skills needed in the performing and choice of assessments and or diagnostic tests
- Understands the performance management and appraisal process and is able to work with team members to set achievable personal and team objectives
- Assessment and Supervision of BSc /STP/ HTS Students
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of assessment and/or rehabilitation of patients with vestibular problems.
- Comprehensive rehabilitation techniques, including counselling distressed patients / carers about hearing loss and associated problems
- Monitoring benefit from intervention and developing appropriate care pathways
Communication Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills
- Able to identify and overcome barriers to all communication with patients of all ages, including those with additional needs such as profound deafness, learning disabilities or where patients are reliant on sign or language interpreters
- Ability to pass on expert and highly technical and/or condition related information with reassurance for better understanding including in stressful or conflict clinical and non-clinical situations necessary
- Managing communication and interaction with staff and colleagues through regular 1:1, and informal conversations
- oAbility to build working relationships with colleagues within the team and across Division which support the delivery of the service
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Physical Effort- Occasional requirement for moderate physical effort, manoeuvring patients for balance assessment & particle repositioning manoeuvres or heavy equipment/stock
- Mental Effort - Frequent need for long periods of concentration, when performing ABR or complex assessments & rehabilitation
- Emotional effort -Occasional exposure to highly distressing or emotional circumstances such as telling parents that their new-born has a permanent hearing loss, or dealing with patients who do not accept their diagnosis
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 7 MSc in Clinical Audiology or Hearing Therapy or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise in field. MSc in Clinical Audiology or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise in field.
- Level 6 Post graduate management/ leadership qualification
- CAC/ BAAT Parts 1& 2/HTS or equivalent practical qualifications in general and specialist areas. Level 6 Post graduate management/ leadership qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- oAdvanced theoretical and practical knowledge of the assessment and (re)habilitation of hearing impaired adults and children including associated problems such as vestibular and tinnitus handicap, and hearing aid technology
- Highly developed specialist knowledge in the specialist service area
Skills
Essential
- Evidence which reflects good leadership skills and the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams e.g. previous project leadership
- Ability to work with high level of autonomy in clinical and non-clinical situations including assessment, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and management of patients and their families
- Specialist judgement skills needed in the performing and choice of assessments and or diagnostic tests
- Understands the performance management and appraisal process and is able to work with team members to set achievable personal and team objectives
- Assessment and Supervision of BSc /STP/ HTS Students
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of assessment and/or rehabilitation of patients with vestibular problems.
- Comprehensive rehabilitation techniques, including counselling distressed patients / carers about hearing loss and associated problems
- Monitoring benefit from intervention and developing appropriate care pathways
Communication Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills
- Able to identify and overcome barriers to all communication with patients of all ages, including those with additional needs such as profound deafness, learning disabilities or where patients are reliant on sign or language interpreters
- Ability to pass on expert and highly technical and/or condition related information with reassurance for better understanding including in stressful or conflict clinical and non-clinical situations necessary
- Managing communication and interaction with staff and colleagues through regular 1:1, and informal conversations
- oAbility to build working relationships with colleagues within the team and across Division which support the delivery of the service
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Physical Effort- Occasional requirement for moderate physical effort, manoeuvring patients for balance assessment & particle repositioning manoeuvres or heavy equipment/stock
- Mental Effort - Frequent need for long periods of concentration, when performing ABR or complex assessments & rehabilitation
- Emotional effort -Occasional exposure to highly distressing or emotional circumstances such as telling parents that their new-born has a permanent hearing loss, or dealing with patients who do not accept their diagnosis
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
