Senior Paediatric Audiologist

Whittington Health Audiology and Vestibular Medicine Service Specialist Audiologist, Paediatrics – Band 6 Full time Permanent post 37.5 hours per week Would you like to join our friendly, supportive team as a Paediatric Audiologist? We are seeking to employ a suitably qualified Audiologist to join our service, working primarily at St Ann’s hospital and the Northern Health Centre. You will be responsible for leading on assessments of children of all ages, as well as supporting Consultant-led Paediatric clinics. You will have the opportunity to be involved in assisting in hearing aid clinics and part of the tertiary new-born hearing diagnostic pathway. We welcome applicants keen to contribute to service development and improving the patient experience. We value innovation, team working and achieving a good work life balance. We are a Consultant led service, providing a comprehensive diagnostic and (re)habilitation service to neonates, children, and Adults in the boroughs of Haringey Camden and Islington and Barnet and Enfield. We are also the tertiary centre for the New-born hearing screening program for babies referred from Haringey and Enfield, and so have close links with the Teachers of the Deaf. We provide training for PTP students You should be registered with the RCCP as an Audiologist or the HCPC as a Clinical Scientist (Audiology). The post holder will be part of the multi disciplinary team responsible for the provision of a wide range of Paediatric Audiology services across Whittington Health ICO (covering Haringey, Islington, parts of Camden, and Barnet and Enfield). They will be responsible for the assessment and management of infants and older children referred to the community clinic at St Ann’s hospital. This will involve both independent clinics, as well as providing clinical support for doctor-led clinics. This post will be based at St Ann’s hospital, but may be required to rotate to other sites within the ICO as required and work flexibly. The post holder will be part of the multi disciplinary team responsible for the provision of a wide range of Paediatric Audiology services across Whittington Health ICO (covering Haringey, Islington, parts of Camden, and Barnet and Enfield). They will be responsible for the assessment and management of infants and older children referred to the community clinic at St Ann’s hospital. This will involve both independent clinics, as well as providing clinical support for doctor-led clinics. This post will be based at St Ann’s hospital, but may be required to rotate to other sites within the ICO as required and work flexibly. MAIN DUTIES 1. Clinical and Scientific.

• To be responsible for performing routine Audiological test battery as part of doctor-led clinics on children. This will include Pure tone audiometry, Tympanometry, Play Audiometry, Visual Reinforcement audiometry, Distraction testing, Acoustic reflexes, Oto-acoustic emissions and speech testing.
• To support medical clinics in assessing children with complex needs, including modified Distraction tests.
• To undertake and lead on the assessment of children referred from a variety of sources, e.g. GPs, Health visitors, speech and language, Ears, Nose Throat (ENT) into scientist-led clinics.
• To make decisions about the most appropriate test technique to employ e.g., VRA, Distraction testing, play audiometry, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, Oto-acoustic emissions, acoustic reflexes, speech testing.
• To make management decisions regarding children and initiate onwards referrals as necessary. To seek advice from senior colleagues when required.
• Interpretation of complex test results and communicating complex information about tests and results to parents, families, and patients. To request support from senior colleagues when required.
• To be experienced and empathetic in sharing news of temporary or permanent hearing loss with families. To formulate individual management plans in conjunction with the family and Education services.
• To ensure that all appropriate verbal/written information is provided to families at every stage, and to ensure that reports/information is provided to other relevant health professionals involved in the child’s care.
• To be accountable for the day-to-day management of pertinent work areas, ensuring that equipment is maintained correctly and daily checks/calibration are carried out, reporting any faults as appropriate to the relevant member of the team.
• To analyse and interpret a broad spectrum of paediatric test results and recommend appropriate audiological intervention.
• Determining the reason for erroneous clinical test results within Paediatric Audiology
• To alert relevant member of the team regarding low stock.
• To ensure that local/national recommended procedures/protocols/guidelines/SOPs are adhered to and a high level of competence is maintained.
• Rotate at other community/hospital sites as required, as directed by line manager/service leads and/or due to service requirements.

1. Research and Development.

• To participate in research projects as required.
• To maintain up to date knowledge of scientific, technical and clinical practices to keep abreast of professional change and development in the fields of Audiology
• To participate in departmental audit.
• To attend meetings as required regarding Audiology Service Issues.
• To present educational/research information received from formal training to other members of staff.
• To attend service training and study courses as required for personal development and/ or the advancement of the service.
• To provide necessary information as required for equipment procurement, quality assurance, and clinical governance to Senior Clinical Scientist/Consultant to enable best practice and service development.
• To be responsible for monitoring own CPD activity to ensure registration requirements are fulfilled.
• To ensure that mandatory training requirements are kept up to date
• To contribute towards service development

1. Administrative tasks.

• To provide timely and accurate reports for Paediatric assessments.
• To ensure that patients records are comprehensive and kept up to date on the computerised management system following each consultation.
• To ensure that data is entered onto S4H (the national NHSP database) for relevant children.
• To occasionally book/cancel/change appointments for patients, after appropriate training, as directed by line manage/professional lead. To include arranging interpreters, and transport as required.
• To receive and follow up queries by telephone, and to pass on any queries to relevant staff members.
• Occasional database activity for research/audit purposes
• To ensure that full documentation is carried out for any research work undertaken.
• To ensure that all relevant leaflets, proformas, results sheets etc, are available in all rooms for clinics.

4 Other

• To have a flexible approach to aid the smooth running of the department
• To maintain confidentiality at all times.
• To be responsible for the overall cleanliness and tidiness of the department and work with the rest of the clinical team to ensure that infection control procedures are followed.
• To contribute to departmental and team meetings, and to provide data for meetings as requested by line manager service lead.
• To assist in the overall smooth running of the department including health and safety.
• To provide cover for temporary absence for Audiology staff.
• To assist departmental colleagues in inducting/training new staff to the department (this will include locums and students).
• To supervise the work of other members of the team as appropriate, including junior audiologists, trainees and students.
• To be involved in providing clinical training to ATO/MSc/BSc students, and junior/new members of staff.
• To perform any other ad-hoc duties that may be requested by the Consultant, line manager or Professional lead as appropriate to the grade.
• To support line managers and Paediatric Team Leaders as required.
• To work calmly and methodically when under pressure from a busy caseload, demonstrating good prioritisation and organisational skills.
• Works in accordance with Trust policies and guidelines at all times.