Newborn Hearing Screener

A great opportunity to join our friendly Newborn Hearing Screening team.

The purpose of the hearing screen is to screen all eligible babies within a national timeframe in order to ensure that any baby requiring further testing is seen and assessed appropriately.

The hearing screener role includes being able to identify which babies are eligible to screen. Speaking to parents and carers to gain informed consent as well as giving outcomes and referring babies where needed.

The hearing screeners use specialist equipment which they check each day before use. They are responsible for uploading their own data and outcoming their results on a national database.

Band 3 hearing screeners all work independently once training is completed and assessments are passed.

We are offering an exciting opportunity to join our hospital based screening team and to be fully trained as a Newborn Hearing Screener.

We are looking for someone who can work flexibly and is able to work 18 hours a week over 3 days (must be available Mondays and Fridays) and work 1 weekend in every 4 (both Saturday and Sunday).

You need to be able to work at our main site Royal Albert Edward Infirmary as well as our outpatient clinics at Platt Bridge Health Centre, Leigh Health Centre and Wigan Health Centre.

You need to able to work unsupervised and to be confident in dealing with new parents and newborn babies.

You must be computer confident and be keen to learn something new.

Excellent communication skills and good team working are essential for this role.

The role will require you to work across all areas in the Trust which includes those that are designated as positive, asymptomatic and negative COVID wards.

An Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List checks will be obtained during pre-employment checks.

Choose Well - Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values ‘the WWL Way’.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Key results from the job holder
- To identify new-born babies who require screening by liaising with maternity staff.
- The post holder will be responsible for screening babies born at local hospitals at Outpatient Clinics in the local community.
- Keep parents, team members and other health care professionals informed of all relevant information in relation to Trust and National protocols.
- To provide accurate and detailed information about the screening process to parents in order to obtain informed consent.
- Responsible for daily workload planning to ensure that NHSP process runs effectively.
- Carry out hearing screening of babies within the Post-Natal Ward, Delivery Suite, SCBU and Community Clinics using portable equipment (Automated Otoacoustic Emissions test & Automated Auditory Brainstem Response test) and accurately record the clinical test data.
- Following the screening test, transfer the clinical and test data onto the NHSP database (S4H).
- Ensure accurate test results are given to parents and other health care professionals and filed in medical notes where appropriate.
- Arrange referrals to Audiology Department for diagnostic testing when appropriate, dealing sensitively with parental concerns.

General

Ensure that patients and their families are treated with dignity and respect and are treated as individuals at all times.
- Identify those individuals who may require the services of an interpreter and make appropriate arrangements to ensure effective communication at all times.
- Undertake training and maintain an awareness of Child Protection issues and adhere to local policies regarding raising concerns.
- Monitor stock levels of consumables and arrange for items to be ordered in a timely manner.
- To promote a professional, welcoming and caring environment. To promote a family friendly approach to parents and health care staff.
- To maintain up to date knowledge of procedures, protocols and policies (local and national) relevant to the post.
- To maintain the confidentiality of babies and their families at all times in compliance with the Data Protection Act.
- To undertake and record daily equipment checks and calibration to ensure all screening equipment is working to protocols. Ensure safety and security of equipment at all times and report any concerns / faults to the manager.

Training and Development

To undertake initial training, organised locally and nationally, to cover all aspects of NHSP.
- Undertake a practical NHSP assessment (Observed Structured Clinical Exam) following training.
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