Healthcare Science Practitioner Specialist in Audiology

**Clinical duties**: Assisting in the day to day running of the Audiology Service to ensure ENT clinics, outreach clinics and hearing aid clinics operate effectively with good clinical outcomes. Responsibility for the provision of the Paediatric service in conjunction with the Lead Paediatric Audiologist/Audiology Service Manager and ensuring national guidelines are adhered to Working independently providing a specialist diagnostic and rehabilitative service for adults and children Responsibility for management of own patients, formulating and delivering care plans for both adults and children. Fitting Hearing Aids to adults and children including rehabilitation and support to the patient/carers and their families To be competent in hearing aid verification to maintain best outcomes for the patient group, including speech testing methods Use of drills, grinders and polishers for ear mould adjustment. Management duties (self & others): Working closely with the Audiology Services Manager to maintain high standards of care for hearing impaired patients, adhering to Trust and Departmental procedures.
Responsibility for a particular area of the Audiology Service provision. Ability to deal with difficult patient/staff situations which may occasionally include emotional, upsetting or distressing issues. Prioritises own work and manages time effectively. To develop own role and remain current with professional standards.
Assisting in the development of new professional techniques including clinical trials, R&D activity, equipment testing in line with departmental and Trust objectives. Responsible for identifying, negotiating and achieving agreed CPD requirements. Maintain professional development including up to date membership of BAA and membership of RCCP. Ability to delegate tasks to other staff both technical and clerical as appropriate.
Supervision and training of junior staff including students. Workload management of junior staff and students. Communication/information: Excellent verbal communication skills with Audiology Team, patients, carers and other professionals. Ability to effectively communicate complex test results and technical information to both patients, carers and other professionals Analysis and interpretation of complex information/test results/problems.
Maintaining Audiology statistics both electronically and manually. Effective use of resources IT systems, maintaining patients records both electronically and manually, data extraction, reports. Synchronisation of laptops before and after use at outreach clinics. Report writing to other professionals regarding patients test results, outcomes and future care plans.
**Teaching**: Training and supervision of students to graduate entry level. Teaching and advising colleagues, trainees, students and other professional disciplines, aspects of Audiology within the organisation. Teaching and advising patients, parents and carers. Research and development: Understand the needs and philosophies that underpin research research ethics, evidence based healthcare.
Support/participate in R & D programmes and department developments e.g. modernisation. Evaluation of equipment/ devices for their suitability for use within the service. Development of new techniques together with the Head of Service i.e Supporting junior staff in research methods and technologies.
**Other**: Be responsible for the health and safety aspects of the department including completion of risk/COSSH assessments in line with national guidelines/Trust requirements Be responsible for managing and reporting equipment faults/repairs To contribute to IQIPS accreditation process through the writing of policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures for the Audiology Service Any other duties as identified by the Head of Department.