Newborn Hearing Screener

University Hospital of North Midlands screening service is looking to appoint a part time Newborn Hearing Screener to work as part of the Newborn Hearing Screen Programme (NHSP). This role will be primarily based at Maternity services in Royal Stoke Hospital and will cover outpatient clinics in the Stoke and Stafford area periodically. The job includes bank holiday and weekend working. You will work flexibly as part of a team to accommodate the needs of the service, participating in a weekend and bank holiday rota. This post will involve direct handling of Newborn babies so experience of handling babies is essential.

The role involves the hearing screening of newborn babies using specialised equipment, and this includes carrying out testing and data entry. IT skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills with meticulous attention to detail and confidentiality are essential. The role also requires the ability to prioritise workload with constantly changing demands.

You will need to undertake specific training in Newborn hearing Screening. Currently this involves e-learning, observation, formal training, a Diploma in Health Screening (level 3) and an NHSP external competency assessment (ECA)

As a Newborn hearing screener, you will be committed to delivering a high quality of care to meet the National Public Health England (PHE) quality assurance standards, local policies and procedures, to ensure the service reaches key performance indicator deadlines.

University Hospital of North Midlands is a teaching hospital with just over 6000 births each year. The Newborn hearing screen team is part of the Maternity Antenatal and Newborn Screening Service (ANNB). The post holder will be one of eight Newborn hearing screeners reporting to the local programme manager all of whom are based in the Maternity service at Royal Stoke Hospital.

Newborn hearing screening is performed to identify permanent, significant deafness and hearing impairment in newborn babies. Early identification gives the babies a better chance of developing language, speech and communication skills. Newborn hearing screening is offered to all babies in England ideally in the first 4 weeks after they are born

The post holder will be required to deliver safe, quality and efficient care to babies and their families. Following appropriate training and with indirect supervision you will identify and screen babies complying with national and local protocols and policies ensuring effective communication between the multidisciplinary team and parents.

**The post holder will be required to**:

- Identify eligible new-borns to be screened via a National programme
- Obtain verbal consent and perform the hearing screen on all babies using automated, technical equipment.
- Identify and report faulty equipment, ensuring equipment is safety checked, properly charged and appropriately secured.
- Collect clinical and test records and undertake data entry using several patient management systems.
- Provide a family centred approach, ensuring no screen is missed and that any early discharges, home births and out of area babies are identified.
- Generate appointments for babies leaving hospital without a hearing screening performed within the National timescales (Key Performance Indicator).
- Maintain a clean and safe environment; adhere to infection control and prevention policies.
- Monitor stock control and ensure the safety and security of test equipment.
- Undertake mandatory training.
- Be aware of boundaries within the role and recognise personal development needs.