Job Description

Senior Paediatric Audiologist - Band 7



An opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Paediatric Audiologist to join our friendly, flexible, multidisciplinary Paediatric Audiology team at Hertfordshire Community Trust Audiology on a permanent basis. This post offers excellent opportunities to consolidate your rehabilitation and advance your auditory diagnostic skills. In addition, the post will endeavour to develop your leadership and management skills.



You will have a BSc/MSc in Audiology (or equivalent) and will also be RCCP/AHCS registered. We encourage CPD and further training will be provided as per the post holder's needs and service needs.



The Children's Hearing service provides second and third tier services to children and young people living within the West Hertfordshire area. There are three sites from which clinics are held and the post holder will be expected to cover clinics at all three sites as needed, therefore a full valid driving license and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Whichever site is closest to you will be listed as your main site.



This post will also need to cover the wider system of Herts and West Essex as required to support mutual aid requirements in the form of appointments and leadership.



Proposed interview date: 9-June-2025

The successful candidate will:

Lead children's hearing assessment clinics for children of all ages



Undertake electrophysiological assessments (including Auditory Brainstem Responses testing and Auditory Steady State Response testing on newborns referred though the new born hearing screen)



Provide hearing aid management to children of all ages



Communicate effectively with service users and other members of the team



Provide clinical supervision and support to junior audiologists



Assist the Audiology Service Lead in the day to day management of the service and in larger service improvement initiatives



Take on operational responsibilities within the department



Provide support to the wider system of Herts and West Essex as required



A big thank you for considering joining us at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust . You'll find it a great place to work with many benefits offered to you as a member of our staff:



Clinical supervision



In addition to the basic salary, this post attracts a High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of basic salary subject to a minimum payment of 1,258 and a maximum payment of 2,122 per annum (pro rata where applicable).



Generous contributory pension



27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)



Special Leave for family and personal reasons



NHS Car Lease Scheme



Eye Care Vouchers



Employee Assistance Programme



NHS Discounts



Word versions of documents are available if needed to allow for any adaptations to be made i.e. font, colour, background, convert to Read Aloud.



Diagnostic Audiological Assessment - the post holder will be expected to:



To select and perform audiological investigations to assess the child's hearing function, determining the nature and extent of the hearing disorder/disability. This will incorporate thorough history taking, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, VRA, play/performance audiometry, tympanometry and speech testing. To carry out diagnostic electrophysiological testing in babies referred by the newborn hearing screening team. For example, performing tone-burst/Chirps, click, bone conduction and cochlear microphonic electrophysiological ABR, ASSR and OAEs testing.



To liaise with staff involved in the assessment and rehabilitation process including audiological and medical staff, and local support services to ensure the effectiveness of routine service



Auditory Habilitation and Rehabilitation



To assess the general auditory (re) habilitative needs of hearing impaired children with respect to their audiological status, communication skills educational and social needs.



To formulate appropriate management strategies based on this information, including advising on communication strategies, hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and auditory training, or referral to the appropriate clinician.



To liaise with, and refer to medical, specialist advisory service for hearing impaired, and local support services as indicated.



To assess the patient's need for hearing aids, and select the most appropriate model in line with national and departmental protocols, but with an understanding of when these cannot be adhered to.



Select appropriate hearing aids and prescription formulae based on the needs assessment and diagnostic test results.



Accurately fit digital hearing aids to infants and children, including newborns, using real ear/probe microphone measurements



Follow-up to enable fine tuning of digital hearing aids based on objective and subjective assessments of development and onward referral to other specialist services



Holistically review the needs of the child and young person (and family) and ensure their voice is reflected in your management plan



Sevice improvement and leadership



To provide support to junior staff members in the form of clinical supervision, support, mentoring and teaching



To complete service improvement initiatives and take responsibility on projects



Complete audits and report into the wider Trust as needed, in accordance to the Trust's strategy



Support the service lead in moving towards the service's quality agenda