Associate Practitioner

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) brings together staff and services from the former Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The sheer size, scale and potential of our combined service is huge. Together, we’ve a wealth of skills and resources to share and tap into and, a wide range of career paths for you to develop and explore. If you want to join a team of around 20,000 NHS experts in delivering high-quality, local care across Salford, Oldham, Bury and Rochdale and beyond
- **come and take your place with us.**

**Job overview**:
An exciting training opportunity has arisen for an Apprentice Associate Practitioner in Audiology. This is a two year development post in which the successful applicant will be awarded a band 4 on completion of their training.
The post holder will form part of The North East Sector Audiology Team (Bury Division). They will support the assessment, rehabilitation and management of hearing impaired patients and their families. This will involve undertaking routine hearing aid programming, maintenance, repairs and aural care. They will also be proficient at undertaking audiometry and tympanometry testing whilst supporting their patients in agreeing a set care plan.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and caring person to complement our existing audiology teams. This is a good opportunity to join an innovative and dynamic service that provides assessment, treatment and advice to adults and children with hearing difficulties.
Although no prior experience is essential we do require an individual who is willing to undertake training and work within a fast paced department that is often challenging and rewarding. This post is a starting point to a lifetime progressive career in audiology.

**Main duties of the job**:
You will have direct contact with patients undertaking routine hearing aid maintenance and offering audiological advice of a routine nature. They will be involved with basic checks and set up of rooms, equipment and may perform routine telephone follow up appointments. This post will also involve some administrative duties e.g. stock control.

**Working for our organisation**:
Bury Care Organisation is part of the Northern Care Alliance, one of the largest NHS organisations in the country. Rated as ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our Fairfield site delivers innovative patient-centred care, and boasts an award winning Stroke centre and Heart Care unit. Supported by our community services in Bury, a mix of professionals from health, social and voluntary sectors, Bury exemplifies the benefits of a joined up approach to health and social care.

**Detailed job description and main responsibilities**:
**Person specification**:
**Qualifications**:
**Essential criteria**:

- GCSE C Grade or above in English, Maths, Science and IT or equivalent
- Care Certificate / L2 Health related vocational qualification or commitment to work towards

**Desirable criteria**:

- NVQ level 3, BTEC, HNC, A levels

**Knowledge skills experience**:
**Essential criteria**:

- A basic knowledge of hearing impairment and its effect on peoples lives
- Effective communication skills and experience of team working
- Experience working with the general public and have the ability to manage patients who may be challenging, aggressive or distressed
- Fluent and clear in spoken and written English
- Effective organisation / prioritisation and time management skills

**Desirable criteria**:

- Knowledge of hearing aids and how they operate
- We understand the importance of balancing work and home life. We are committed to supporting flexible working for our people wherever possible and all our colleagues are given the opportunity to discuss potential for flexible working. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

**Employer certification / accreditation badges**:
**Applicant requirements**: