Senior Paediatric Audiologist

Job overview

The post holder will be part of the multi disciplinary team responsible for the provision of a wide range of Audiology services across Whittington Health ICO (covering Haringey, Islington, and Camden).

The post holder will be responsible for providing comprehensive Paediatric assessments for children aged 6 months and older.

They are expected to support the team lead in delivering an efficient safe service. This post will be covering the tertiary site at St Ann's hospital and the 2nd tier Paediatric service in Islington and maybe required to travel to other sites covered by Whittington Health trust.

Main duties of the job

1. Clinical and Scientific.

To be responsible for performing routine Audiological test battery as part of doctor-led clinics on children. This will include Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, play audiometry, visual reinforcement audiometry, acoustic reflexes, Oto-acoustic emissions, assisting in Distraction testing of complex needs children.

To undertake independent assessments of children, including taking an appropriate history, conducting age/developmental appropriate tests, and formulating individual management plans (IMPs), based on these results.( once trained)To ensure that the IMP is communicated to the relevant health care professionals /other professionals.

Depending on service need, to assist senior Paediatric Audiologists in Hearing Aid Review clinics for Children.

Working for our organisation

We are a Consultant led service, providing a comprehensive diagnostic and (re)habilitation service to neonates, children, and Adults in the boroughs of Haringey, Camden and Islington. The Haringey site is also the tertiary centre for the Newborn hearing screening program for babies referred from Haringey and Enfield, and so have close links with the Teachers of the Deaf. We see patients for auditory brainstem response (tone pips, CHIRPS and cochlear microphonics), and full balance assessment. .

Whittington Health serves a culturally diverse population with many multi-ethnic, bilingual and multi-lingual speaking communities. We are committed to improving service delivery through active engagement with our stakeholders, which includes patients and their families.

This is a great opportunity for you to expand your Paediatric knowledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Clinical and Scientific.

·To be responsible for performing routine Audiological test battery as part of doctor-led clinics on children. This will include Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, play audiometry, visual reinforcement audiometry, acoustic reflexes, Oto-acoustic emissions, assisting in Distraction testing of complex needs children.

·To undertake independent assessments of children, including taking an appropriate history, conducting age/developmental appropriate tests, and formulating individual management plans (IMPs), based on these results.( once trained)To ensure that the IMP is communicated to the relevant health care professionals /other professionals.

·Depending on service need, to assist senior Paediatric Audiologists in Hearing Aid Review clinics for Children.

§To be accountable for the day-to-day management of pertinent work areas, ensuring that equipment is maintained correctly and daily checks/calibration are carried out, reporting any faults as appropriate to the relevant member of the team. To include chasing up/actioning any issues as directed by team leads.

§Acts independently within professional guidelines.

§To liaise with Medical, Technical and Scientific staff in the identification, development and implementation of new clinical tests and procedures.

§To analyse and interpret a broad spectrum of paediatric test results and recommend appropriate audiological intervention.

§Determining the reason for erroneous clinical test results within paediatrics

§Continuous interaction with children and their parents.

·To alert relevant member of the team regarding low stock.

·To ensure that departmental/national recommended procedures/protocols/guidelines are adhered to and a high level of competence is maintained.

·To undertake visits to in-patients who have been identified by ward staff as having hearing problems, providing the appropriate audiological services at the bedside

·Perform evening and weekend clinics as required

·Rotate at other community/hospital sites as required, as directed by line manager, and/or due to service requirements.

2. Research and Development.

§To participate in research projects as required.

§To maintain up to date knowledge of scientific, technical and clinical practices to keep abreast of professional change and development in the fields of Neuro-otology, Audiology and Vestibular Medicine.

§Participation in Family Friendly Paediatric Service Provision as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

§To participate in departmental audit.

§To attend meetings as required regarding Audiology Service Issues, Risk management.

§To present educational/research information received from formal training to other members of staff.

§To attend service training and study courses as required for personal development and/ or the advancement of the service.

§To provide necessary information as required for equipment procurement, quality assurance, and clinical governance to Senior Clinical Scientist/Consultant to enable best practice and service development.

§To be responsible for monitoring own CPD activity to ensure registration requirements are fulfilled.

3. Management

§To ensure that incidents are reported and logged appropriately. To train staff around logging incidents, and to be remain up to date on incident reporting procedures, and to disseminate the same to the team and service lead.

§To assist in the induction and clinical supervision of junior staff members/students.

4. Administrative/Other.

·To provide timely and accurate reports for patients seen inPaediatric assessment clinics clinics.

·To ensure that patients records are comprehensive and kept up to date on the computerised management system following each consultation.

·To support the team lead in all aspects of service delivery, including supporting administrative tasks that team leads may identify, data collection, contribution to protocols, pathways.

·To ensure all rooms are fully stocked and tidy at all times. To alert team lead to low stock.

·To ensure preparation of clinic rooms and equipment prior to and after clinic sessions, including calibration checks. To ensure careful use of all expensive equipment, and identification of faults in line with local procedures.

·To occasionally book/cancel/change appointments for patients. To include arranging interpreters, and transport as required.

·To maintain confidentiality at all times.

·To contribute to departmental and team meetings.

·To assist in the overall smooth running of the department including health and safety.

·To provide cover for temporary absence for both Technical and Scientific staff.

·To assist departmental colleagues in inducting/training new staff to the department (this will include locums).

·Involved in providing clinical training to ATO/MSc/BSc students, and junior members of staff.

·To act on queries raised by junior staff, or clients, and ensure that feedback is provided in a timely fashion. To ensure that any issues are escalated appropriately to the Service Manager/Service Lead

·Occasional database activity for research/audit purposes

·To ensure that full documentation is carried out for any research work undertaken.

·To perform any other ad-hoc duties that may be requested by the Consultant, line manager or Professional lead as appropriate to the grade.

Note: this job description is a reflection of the current position and the post holder is expected to view it as a guide rather than an exact description of all duties and responsibilities. It may be varied from time to time in consultation with the postholder.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria

BSc in Audiology or equivalent Professional Registration as a Clinical Scientist in Audiology/Clinical Physiologist In Audiology

Desirable criteria

Higher training (e.g MSc in Audiological science/Diploma in Audiology/CCC, CAC or equivalent Evidence of CPD Membership of BAA/BSA

Skills & Abilities

Essential criteria

Work in a professional manner at all times Good organisational skills and personal time management to ensure work is completed Explanation of complex results and management strategies in a patient friendly and sensitive way Ability to communicate with patients who have a barrier to understanding e.g. language/hearing Ability to understand cultural needs of a patient Ability to remain calm when working in a busy environment Ability to use sensitive, persuasive and negotiation skills Good written and verbal communication skills Good general IT skills Flexible approach to seeing patients and getting the best out of children in clinic appointments

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

Post- qualification experience in Paediatric Audiology Experience of conducting behavioural assessments of children with complex needs Experience of sharing news of hearing loss with families, including temporary loss caused by glue ear Knowledge of Audiological tests/equipment Experience of conducting Oto-acoustic emissions/visual reinforcement audiometry/distraction testing/play audiometry/PTA/speech testing Understanding of confidentiality Understanding of issues surrounding hearing impairment and its effect on quality of life Knowledge of Family friendly principles

Desirable criteria

Experience of fitting hearing aids to older children Experience of involvement in hearing aid peer review Experience of assisting in hearing aid clinics Experience of conducting Otoacoustic emissions in neonates and young babies. Experience of managing, supervising and training junior staff Experience of supporting Team Leaders in the smooth running of the service

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential criteria

Ability to work under pressure Patient and sympathetic to the needs of the hearing Impaired and sensitive to their needs Ability to sensitively handle difficult situations including: antagonist and distraught patients. Willingness to work as part of a team in managing waiting times, service improvements and the patient experience

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies , procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:

Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures. Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing. Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines. Participate in required training and supervision. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

---