Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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.