Job responsibilities
The
primary purpose of this role is to undertake the hearing screening of newborn
babies as part of the National Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP). The post holder will ensure they carry out
the newborn hearing screen to a high standard and in accordance with the
national standard protocols and procedures.
The
post holder will explain the screen, taking into account any barriers to
understanding. The post holder will
ensure that clients fully understand the aims, techniques and possible outcomes
of screening and the implications of these.
3. JOB DIMENSIONS
The
post holder will work as a hearing screener, carrying out hearing screening
techniques within standard operating procedures. The post holder will work independently and
make decisions about the right time and the right test following national
protocols, and within their sphere of experience and training. Advice is available when needed for more
complex situations but the post holder generally works on his or her own
initiative without reference to the line manager. The service operates over 7
days per week and all staff work on a rota basis to ensure that all days are
covered.
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
A good standard of education
including a pass level at GCSE English or equivalent.
NVQ 3 in relevant subject (desirable)
Newborn Hearing Screeners are
required to undertake the Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening (NHSP) unless
they qualified as a hearing screener before this qualification was
vavailable.
Trainees take 3 - 6 months to qualify
as a hearing screener through a combination of face to face classroom based
training, e-learning and clinical skills training.
They will be required to undergo annual
practical assessment locally and repeat the e-learning modules annually.
Experience of working with the
general public
Experience of organising and
prioritising own workload
Experience of working as part of a
team
Experience of working in health or
social care settings without direct supervision
Experience of relevant clinical area
e.g. older people, children
Experience of participating in
clinical supervision
Demonstrates an understanding of role
applied for within the clinical context e.g. older adults, children, neurology,
mental health
Knowledge and understanding of
general responsibilities related to patient information and record keeping
Awareness of general clinical
conditions which may be encountered in area of work
Demonstrates awareness of limits to
knowledge base
Demonstrates an understanding of
accountability
Awareness of responsibilities
regarding health and safety particularly if working without direct supervision
Understanding of professional roles
relevant to clinical area e.g. nurse, therapists, pharmacists
Knowledge and understanding of
reflective practice and continuing professional development
Competent IT skills e.g. word
processing, email
Effective verbal, non-verbal and
written communication skills including communicating factual information to
service users / carers
Basic risk assessment skills
Basic clinical skills
6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as
a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff
and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values
Additionally
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
Displays care, compassion, sensitivity
and responsiveness to other peoples feelings and needs
Able to work as part of a team,
co-operating to work together and in conjunction with others and willing to
help and assist wherever possible and appropriate appreciating the value of
diversity in the workplace.
Able to develop, establish and
maintain positive relationships with others both internal and external to the
organisation and with patients and their carers
Able to work under pressure, dealing
with peaks and troughs in workload.
Positive and flexible attitude to
dealing with change; able to respond to the changing needs of the patient in an
appropriate and timely manner;
willing to change and accept change
and to explore new ways of doing things and approaches
Highly motivated and reliable
Has a strong degree of personal
integrity; able to adhere to standards of conduct based on a culture of
equality and fairness
7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
Fully participate in the Trusts
appraisal system review and personal development planning process on an annual
basis.
Undertake training as necessary in
line with the development of the post and as agreed with line manager as part
of the personal development planning process.
Achieve and demonstrate agreed
standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
Contribute positively to the
effectiveness and efficiency of the teams in which he/ she works.
Ability to be flexible in working
patterns to cover the service requirements.
8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Work within the Trusts Standing
Orders and Standing Financial Instructions and Clinical Governance
arrangements.
Understanding of accurate information
recording in order to allow effective information analysis.
Understanding of Trust Policy and
Procedure, e.g. HR/ Risk Management/ Clinical Governance.
9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
To carry out the screen in hospital
whenever possible, on the post natal wards, delivery suit, neonatal units and
transitional care.
To identify newborn babies requiring
a hearing screen via the national database (SM4RT) and K2 (Maternity IT
system).
To monitor and track babies in the
Neonatal Units (including Cardiac, Neuro and other wards) using Patient Centre
and decide with the Nursing staff when it is appropriate to screen.
To carry out the screen in hospital
whenever possible, on the post natal wards, delivery suite, neonatal units and
transitional care. Also other paediatric
wards within the Trust.
To liaise effectively with parents
and carers to promote the newborn hearing screen and provide unbiased
information relating to the Hearing Screening Programme, and to negotiate with
parents and ward staff to carry out the
screen.
To prioritise own caseload to ensure
high screening coverage, eg early discharges,
readmissions, presence of interpreters, movement in and out of regional
Neonatal Units.
To analyse the newborns state of
arousal before and during test, and assess whether it is an appropriate time to
screen.
To work independently using own
initiative based on training in order to screen babies hearing without
supervision, using the correct screen at the correct time, within the maternity
units including Neonatal Intensive Care, Transitional Care and also in outpatient
clinics as per the National and Local Protocols.
To counsel parents with regard to
screening outcomes and options for further management/ assessment.
To ensure that parent carer is fully
informed of clinical procedures, data protection procedure and possible reasons
for No Clear Response.
To obtain informed consent/ decline
and follow procedures accordingly.
To identify babies needing targeted
on-going surveillance as per national protocols.
To negotiate mutually acceptable
appointments for babies requiring hearing screening in clinics and to book
appointments on the appointment system and send out letters. Telephoning patients when possible in order
to arrange screening in a timely manner in order to meet KPI (NH1).
To negotiate mutually acceptable
appointments for babies requiring diagnostic assessment at the Hearing &
Balance Centre and to book appointments on the appointment system (Patient
Centre). Telephoning patients when
possible in order to arrange assessment in a timely manner in order to meet KPI
(NH2).
To collate and accurately record
clinical and test data using the National Database, maintaining security and
confidentiality of patient information.
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
i)
PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Frequent
moderate effort for short periods during a shift; manoeuvring patients,
equipment, carrying out care tasks.
Ability
to stand and walk for extended period.
Good
hand and eye coordination.
Willingness
to travel between units and to work in outpatient clinics.
ii) MENTAL EFFORT:
Frequent
concentration; work pattern predictable, workload unpredictable.
Excellent
concentration and powers of perception required to carry out care tasks,
observe patients, operate equipment.
Multi tasking.
Ability
to take frequent interruptions and change jobs mid stream.
iii)
EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
Occasional
exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances
Frequent
indirect exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
Care
of terminally ill, challenging behaviour,
Regularly
dealing with potential upset/ anxious parents and relatives.
iv)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Frequent
unpleasant conditions; occasional highly unpleasant conditions
Dust,
smell, dirt, body odour, body fluids, noise, heat.
