Job Description

Are you registered professional (such as a Nurse/ Health Visitor or Audiologist) or have you previously qualified hearing screener, looking for additional working hours in a great department?



We have an opening for a Newborn Hearing Screener/ Admin Assistant for a fixed period of 12 months. The post is for 12 hrs per week (covered over 2 weekdays) and we can be flexible with start and finish time.



The job will predominantly be screening Newborn babies hearing within their first few weeks of life, ensuring they get the correct onward referral should they need it. At times when screening is quiet there will administration duties to undertake both in the Newborn Screening team and Audiology.



The NHSP Screeners main duties involve direct handling of newborn babies whilst screening their hearing shortly after birth, having contact with parents face to face and by telephone, arranging appointments and relaying screening results. Screening takes place in patients' homes, clinics and SCBU at Torbay Hospital. There will be close contact with many teams including Health visitors and Midwives.



When providing Admin Assistant cover you will be supported the Audiology Coordinators, other Admin Assistants and the Senior Assistant Audiologists. The main duties will include typing letters in infoflex and sending out to the relevant parties, dealing with telephone calls



The NHSP Department has 5 members of staff providing hearing screening services to around 2,800 babies per year. We also provide training and support to Health Visitors who also perform hearing screening as part of their role. The Department prides itself on providing a family friendly service which meets its national targets for screening well.



The Audiology Department has around 30 members of staff working across a range of grades, roles and specialisms. We are based at Torbay Hospital and run Audiology clinics across 8 localities in the South Devon area. We also offer domiciliary visits for those patients who cannot attend the hospital. It is a busy, friendly and supportive department and we pride ourselves in offering a quality service to our patients. We were awarded the UKAS IQIPS accreditation in 2014 and have successfully maintained this ever since.



Detailed job description and responsibilities



Communication and working relationships

Forms of communication may include:

Discussions Written reports (clinical, technical or management) Ability to work with interpreters to include sign language interpreters

Internal:

To Consultant specialists and other members of the medical Staff Senior Managers All grades and professions across the trust

External:

Members of the public GP practices Other NHS healthcare trusts in and out of the region Other professionals associated with the service for hearing impaired people e.g. social services, Advisory teachers for Hearing impaired Children, Learning Disability Network and Charities. CCG's All grades and professions across the health community

Analytical and judgement

o



Planning and organisation

Ensure babies are screened at an appropriate time (whether in SCBU or community) within national and local protocols using automated equipment without direct supervision. Responsible for booking outpatient appointments for outpatient clinics. Accurately and legibly record clinical and test data, both written and electronically, taking responsibility for data from test To identify which babies who require a targeted 8-month follow-up screen by assessing the individual case against nationally agreed risk factors and ensuring that the national database is updated and any referrals are made as appropriate. Ensure that any babies requiring audiological follow-up in the New-Born period have appointments arranged with the audiology department. To type clinical, non-clinical correspondence and reports in accordance with local targets using Infoflex. Trust target is 4 working days. To ensure patients who have been referred for MRI scans are logged on the investigation's tracker on Infoflex. To ensure that all results/reports/ correspondence are filed in the case notes in line with Health Records standards. To comply with the Trust's Patient Access Policy and Standard Operating Procedures. To undertake a variety of office duties, such as filing, opening and distributing post, photocopying, moving and lifting of patient notes, deal with telephone queries from staff and patients

Physical skills

Must be able to carry equipment (laptop, screening equipment and hospital notes). Manual dexterity for typing and inserting tips into babies very small ears. Must be able to travel to various hospitals, community clinics and patients' homes on the South Devon area.

Patient and client care

To identify which babies who require screening by liaising with staff on the ward and using various I.T systems. Carry out the hearing screening of new-borns using the AABR (automated auditory brainstem response) and AOAE (optoacoustic emissions) on maternity, community clinics and patients' homes. Accurately and legibly record clinical and test data, both written and electronically, taking responsibility for data from test. Deal with parent's enquiries in a friendly, sensitive and informative manner Responsible for the preparation for screening sessions, including equipment set-up, instrument checks and patient preparation. Respond to queries from parents, Health Visitors, other involved professionals and line manager about the screening process in a timely fashion and within the responsibility of the role, referring on any complex queries. To ensure that an efficient, effective and accurate administrative support service is provided to Audiology and contribute to the adjustment of plans and escalate unresolved issues to the Head of Audiology. Ensure that data entered on the relevant national and local systems is complete and accurate. To adhere closely to infection control procedures to prevent cross infection between babies. To request medical notes from medical records or other departments and follow tracer procedure as necessary. Help pull work for future clinic dates.

Policy and service development

Follow national and local protocols and guidelines for clinical and administrative procedures. Propose and implement new policies and procedures for the new-born hearing screening programme, in liaison with the New-born Hearing Screening Manager. To comply at all times with any policies / procedures issued by the Trust(s) governing Health and Safety at Work and manual handling and to ensure that any issues which may affect safety at work or the safety of others are brought to the attention of the appropriate manager. Ensure that all medical notes are used according to Trust policies and accurately tracked if moved from the ward or office. To maintain up to date knowledge of procedures and policies relevant to this post. All staff have a responsibility to ensure they are familiar and adhere to Trust and Departmental policies. To support HV's with use of equipment. This may involve attending Health visitor bases in the area to correct equipment issues, run checks, unlock and update Otoport screening devices. Undertaken various audits to ensure effective governance of the screening programme.

Finance, equipment and other resources

To ensure the proper functioning of the complex audiological screening equipment including undertaking calibrations and daily checks according to the manufacturer's specifications and national protocols and reporting any faults promptly to the New-born Hearing Screening Manager. To download screening equipment on a regular basis (both in hospital and community settings). To ensure the safety and security of equipment at all times and report any problems to the New-born Hearing Screening Manager at the earliest opportunity Maintain stocks of patient information leaflets and consumables at each location and have them readily available.

People management and training

To establish a working rapport with other team members and contribute to team and other meetings as appropriate To participate in development and education training within the maternity, medical and other healthcare professional teams. To provide support and training for the health visitors who undertake screening.

Information technology and administrative duties

The post holder will have access to and will use a number of patient administration systems including Auditbase, IHCS, Badger, Smart for hearing. They will need to ensure they are able to use these systems appropriately and that training is kept up to date. Upload test results from the screening equipment to the screening management system. Accurately input results on the NHSP Smart for hearing (S4H) system. To use the relevant IT systems to register patients, make appointments, transfer medical records, input clinical letters and other paperwork, as required.

Responsibility and accountability

Act with integrity and professionalism, demonstrating responsible behaviours at all times, in accordance with Trust values. Be accountable for your actions, be honest and share your experiences, encouraging learning in others. At all times ensure Trust policies and protocols are adhered to. Ensure the patient is at the centre of the service and treated with dignity and respect. * Undertake any activities as required at the request of the Head of Audiology/Deputy Head of Audiology/NHSP local manager