Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Apprentice Audiologist (Annex 21)

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Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Team MWL as a Trainee (Apprentice) Audiologist in our Audiology Service based at St Helens Hospital.

This is a permanent fixed term training post of 37.5 hours per week, paid under Annex 21 for 4 years. On successful completion of the Apprenticeship programme, you will become a Band 5 Audiologist.

This opportunity includes:

Paid employment with holiday leave
Hands on experience working in a leading NHS organisation
6 hours per week, pro rata off the job learning
Support to gain a nationally recognised qualification

The post holder will be suported to work towards the successful completion of:

Healthcare Science Audiology BSc (Hons)

Main duties of the job

As an apprenticeship, this role is supported by an accompanying assessment and skills development programme, during which the post holder will gain the skills and knowledge relevant for the role. Learning will be a mix of in the workplace, formal on and off job training, and the opportunity to practice new skills in a real work environment. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, they will have the right knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for their chosen role.

About us

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
SAFETY that is of the highest standards
COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.

Date posted

23 May 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£28,407 to £34,581 a year per annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

4 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-6251030

Job locations

St Helens Hospital

Marshalls Cross Rd

St Helens

WA9 3DA

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities to be gained over the period of the apprenticeship:

KEY DUTIES

To perform and analyse diagnostic hearing assessments on adults and children over the age of 36 months.

Examination of the pinna, external auditory canal and tympanic membrane to identify normal and healthy features using otoscopy.

Recognizing contraindications to performing further procedures and appropriate referral to ENT, Dressing Clinic, GP, Treatment Rooms and Radiology.

Perform pure tone audiometry using headphones and bone conduction vibrator to elicit accurate hearing threshold levels, using masking when appropriate in line with British Society of Audiologys recommended guidelines.

Use of tact and persuasion and modification of procedure where barriers to understanding exist.

Perform middle ear analysis using tympanometry, following the British Society of Audiologys recommended procedure to record compliance, middle ear pressure

Selection, programming and objective and subjective verification when prescribing hearing aids.

Assessment of patients individual physical abilities, motivation, and social needs in choice of hearing aid and functions.

Use of real ear measurement techniques in the objective verification against prescription using relevant hardware and software. Placement of probe tube microphones to accomplish this verification requires fine manual dexterity and care when placing them within a few millimetres of the eardrum. Use of live voice and the Arthur Boothroyd wordlists and BKB sentences in the subjective measurement of hearing aid performance.

Adjustment of hearing aid parameters away from prescription in response to patients experiences.

Instruct the patient on the effective use of hearing aids, communicating realistic expectations and limitations of amplification.

Negotiate individual care plans to empower the patient to address their communication and hearing needs.

Use effective communication and persuasion where poor motivational attitude to hearing loss, visual impairment, dementia, stroke, aphasia and other health conditions co-exist.

Use of the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit, GHAB, questionnaire to measure handicap and disability before and after treatment.

Refer to social care for assistive listening equipment and signpost to hearing related voluntary agencies.

Participate in the open access drop-in hearing aid repair clinics, this entails the maintenance, repair and replacement of faulty hearing aids and ear moulds, supplying batteries and accessories and the taking of aural impressions by the syringe method. Dealing with queries and problems presented by the patient/carer, identifying those that would benefit from reassessment or require referral on to other support services.

Provide cover for our outreach services in the community.

Provide a full audiology service to in-patients.

Support the domiciliary service.

Modification of ear moulds using grinders, polishers, buffers and drills and appropriate safety equipment. Fine dexterity, good grip and motor skills are required to make very fine modifications and drill very small vents.

Selection of appropriate ear mould types and produce accurate and safe impression as per British Society Societys recommended guidelines, using the syringe method on adults and children aged over 36 months.

To communicate effectively with patients, carers, relatives, and guardians to ensure understanding of diagnosis/ condition and ongoing management.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

To liaise with other professionals outside audiology e.g., ENT colleagues, teachers for the deaf, social workers, ward clerks and health centre staff.

Manage own workload in an efficient and effective whilst allowing time for other non-direct patient professional activity.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Accurate and timely documentation of patient case history and test results within the appropriate patient management systems modules.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

Acting as a point of contact for more junior staff (e.g., Associate or Assistant Audiologists, and less experienced Audiologists) within the service

Provides day to day supervision of more junior staff (e.g., Associate or Assistant Audiologists, and less experienced Audiologists)

Act as mentor and / or supervisor for trainee staff as required.

Assist the Clinical Lead and Deputy clinical Lead to develop and adapt the service according to changing criteria and demographics.

Assist the Clinical Lead and Deputy clinical Lead to manage changes in practice and establish new systems of working when necessary.

In conjunction with the clinical lead and deputy clinical lead be responsible for leading aspects of a sub-section of the service

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no financial responsibilities associated with this role.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

There are no research and audit responsibilities associated with this role.