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Job summary

Main area
Audiology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8c
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
418-AUD1419-VR
Employer
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Luton and Dunstable Hospital
Town
Dunstable
Salary
£76,965 - £88,682 pa, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
15/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Head of Audiological Services

NHS AfC: Band 8c

Job overview

The post holder will be a highly experienced Audiologist, leading the multidisciplinary Audiology Service both managerially and clinically to deliver a comprehensive all-age Audiology service. They will have a proven record of accomplishment in the Audiology environment at a local and regional level.

They will have outstanding clinical, leadership and organisational and project management skills to lead the Bedfordshire Audiology service into the future, working with senior management and key stakeholders to improve and enhance the service offer, leading to single/integrated and consistent pathways to best serve the population of Bedfordshire service users.

This post is offered as a transitional role that will evolve to fill the position of the present Head of Service when they leave.  A formalised plan to manage this transition will be agreed with the successful candidate. 

This will be supported by the design and implementation of a robust approach to audit and service evaluation, with responsibility for training and research within the Department.

Main duties of the job

Taking a strategic and professional lead for the future of Bedfordshire Audiology across the two sites of Bedford and Luton and Dunstable Hospital, including any community or peripheral sites

Transforming service through exceptional leadership and team building. Inspiring passion for service transformation in all staff.

Championing improvement through effective change management skills

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached full job description and person specification.

Continually developing, delivering, and maintaining high standards

· Streamlining and integrating pathways to provide patients with an exceptionally high-quality service which is a shared experience for all patients across the locations

· Providing opportunities for the development of others, ensuring that high quality systems of training, supervision and governance are in place to support patient safety through safe and effective care

· Ensuring that national targets and standards are met

· Building trust and developing relationships to ensure service user involvement

· Oversee data quality accuracy, ensuring that information is managed and applied appropriately and effectively

· Overall responsibility for the finances across all aspects of the service

· Representing Bedfordshire Hospitals at a national level, ensuring the service is up to date with recent initiatives and developments

· Ensure accreditation across the services for the UKAS national quality IQIPS programme; overseeing integrated governance policies, procedures and structures are put in place and adhered to, being ultimately responsible for the Risk Management of the entire service.

· To perform the role of a non-medical Consultant; providing highly specialist advice.

· Developing and maintaining a clinical research portfolio for the service. Interpreting current research and its impact on service delivery

·  Liaising with Newborn hearing screening services

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • MSc in Audiology
  • Eligibility to join Consultant Clinical Scientist Register
Desirable criteria
  • • Registered as a Consultant Clinical Scientist with HCPC

Experience

Essential criteria
  • • Considerable experience providing Audiology services
  • • Substantial demonstrable experience of leading and working effectively in a multi-professional environment
  • • Experience of teaching, training and supervising staff and students
Desirable criteria
  • • Experience in implementing large scale operational and cultural change and facilitating others to achieve change
  • • Experience assessing/examining for Audiology professional and academic bodies

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • • Expert knowledge across a broad area of Audiological procedures with underpinning specialist theoretical training
  • • In depth knowledge and understanding of the issues currently facing Audiology services
Desirable criteria
  • • Detailed knowledge and experience of activity management

personal skills

Essential criteria
  • • Ability to manage conflict and barriers to acceptance and understanding.
  • • Drive and determination to make improvements
Desirable criteria
  • • Formalised counselling/mentor skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Employer with Heart

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Alison Rance
Job title
General Manager for ENT, Audiology and OMFS
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07504 339701
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