Senior Paediatric Audiology Assistant

We have a vacancy for a 12 month fixed term (maternity cover) part-time (0.6 WTE) Paediatric Audiology Assistant to work in the Audiology Service, based primarily at the Plymouth Child Development Centre (CDC), but also at Derriford Hospital and potentially at other community sites. The post-holder will carry out a number of support tasks, primarily assisting senior staff in the testing of infants and young children and the associated administration. Testing young children is a team effort between the senior clinician and the assistant, and full training in this will be provided. The Audiology Service works closely with the specialist services at the CDC, the ENT department, and other related disciplines. A minimum of 5 GCSEs, including Science, or equivalent, is required.

For an informal discussion, please contact Sarah Worrell, Advanced Paediatric Audiologist:

Tel:

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

1. Assist Senior/Specialist Audiologists with pre-school and school age hearing assessments

2. Assists Senior/Specialist Audiologists in a range of patient care/clinical duties

3. To carry out clerical and administrative duties within the Audiology department

4. Assists with the provision of Hearing aid Services

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. Clinical and Technical Responsibilities

2. Assists with the assessment of pre-school and school age infants and children, including:

o Assess ability of infant/child to perform tasks, in conjunction with the specialist paediatric audiologist

o Perform developmental and age appropriate games and play methods

o Assist in the performance of objective tests

o Assist in the calibration and maintenance of equipment

• Communication with patients:

o Quickly understand patient's clinical complaints or other queries; ensure patient has understood the treatment or other plan; deal sensitively with patients who may be distressed or have significant other health problems; communication to include face-to-face conversation, telephone conversation and email conversation; patient groups include: children; parents/carers.

• Adherence to protocols/guidelines

Clinical work to be carried out according to local or national protocols or guidelines; some scope for using clinical judgement according to changes to patients' circumstances, with support of registered staff as required; recognition when tasks are beyond the individual's scope of practice and onward referral to registered professional.

• Research/Audit

Takes part in departmental research and audit as required, including presentation of local audit data within the service.

• Data collection

o Records all clinical activity in the departmental clinical database. Ensure details of patients updated.

o Inputs data onto the national newborn screening database to support local and national quality assurance

• Ensure that clinical rooms are prepared, according to locally agreed practice.

• Administrative Duties

• Assists in the production of reports to other health care professionals from the paediatric audiology clinics

• Responsibility for maintaining service stationary requirements, and ensuring appropriate orders are placed.
• Assist in ensuring that the paediatric service is adequately stocked and supplied with the necessary clinical consumables
• Assisting in ensuring that that digital hearing aid stock is logged on to the Audiology Patient Management System, and that repair stock is logged in and out.
• Assisting in ensuring that individual patient ear moulds are ready for fitting appointments, or posted to individuals, as required.
• Assisting in ensuring that monthly battery stock is supplied to Health Centres and GP practices.
• Assisting in ensuring that the stock is prepared for the monthly stock count.

• Ensure that patient information leaflets remain stocked throughout the paediatric service.

• Management responsibilities

• Assists with planning and organising the paediatric audiology rota, including liaison with community clinics

• Assists with the training of new audiology assistants
• Involved in training of medical, audiology and other students, and other professional and volunteer staff as required.
• Proposes and supports the planning of service developments in the paediatric audiology service.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Staff at all levels within the Audiology Service
• Medical and allied professionals at the child development centre
• Medical and nursing staff within ENT and on the wards
• Patients and carers
• Education and Social care
• Voluntary sector

Work to the Trust values: we put people first, we take ownership, we respect and value others, we are compassionate, and we listen, learn and improve.

Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, e.g. Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities etc.

Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training.

Attend statutory, essential and mandatory training.

Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of UK Data Protection Act 2018/UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)" or Data Protection legislation.

Comply with the Corporate Governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust .

Comply with the codes of professional conduct set out by the professional body of which registration is required for the post.

Ensure they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and safe systems of work, make known any hazards or risks that they identify and take all necessary actions to reduce risk.

Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a specific role with children and families.

Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time frame.

Staff must comply with Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in order to promote safeguarding and prevent abuse to vulnerable people using Trust services.

Maintain the prevention and control of infection and fully comply with all current Trust Infection Control policies and procedures.

Take responsibility for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties, in line with the Public Records Act and be aware that any records created by an employee of the NHS are public records and may be subject to both legal and professional obligations.

Note

This job description is neither definitive nor exhaustive and is not intended to be totally comprehensive. It may be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust policies, procedures & guidelines.