Senior Paediatric Audiologist in Widnes

Duties and Responsibilities

• Perform diagnostic hearing assessment on pre-school and school age children and analyse the results, including:
• Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA)
• Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)
• Performance testing
• Speech discrimination testing
• Tests of middle ear function using tympanometry
• Otoacoustic Emissions
• Complete audiological testing of babies that are referred following their newborn hearing screen, using Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) to detect cochlear function.
• Carry out otoscopy following BSA recommended procedures to identify any contraindications or indications for further procedures e.g. tympanometry and aural impression taking.
• Identify atypical or abnormal ear conditions and make appropriate onward referrals.
• Take accurate and safe impressions of the ear following BSA recommended procedures for impression taking.
• Arrange referral to other professionals for treatment/management when required, following local and national guidance, e.g. referring to ENT for management of middle ear effusion.
• Manage hearing loss in infants and children, dispense, fit and maintain digital hearing aids, using MCHAS guidelines and protocols.
• Use probe microphone measurements to verify hearing aids to prescription targets.
• Carry out reviews with hearing aid users.
• Audiological habilitation/rehabilitation using outcome measures to support and guide habilitation/rehabilitation.
• Carry out hearing aid repairs and maintenance.
• Carry out routine maintenance and calibration checks on audiological equipment, reporting faults and arranging for repair when necessary.
• Maintain accurate recording of results and update patient records.
• Write reports to relevant health professionals.
• Update national S4H database with results of hearing tests following referral from neonatal hearing screening team.
• Ensure adequate and smooth transition of children onto Adult Audiology Services, via a Transition Clinic.
• Responsible for maintaining own workload, prioritising referrals, and planning work for junior staff.
• Plan day to day duties and routine clinics.
• Demonstrate flexibility to meet the needs of children with complex needs and adapt test procedures based on the needs of the child.
• Demonstrate flexibility to deal with urgent referrals and queries.
• Organise testing and hearing aid management in outreach clinics and schools, ensuring all necessary portable equipment is available.
• Collaborate with Audiology Lead to ensure an efficient and effective Audiology department.
• Monitor hearing aid stock and advise senior staff/management on re-ordering requirements.

Communication

• Work and communicate effectively and courteously with patients, colleagues, public and members of the directorate and the trust.
• Maintain hospital and departmental records, including provision of patient reports as necessary.
• Work and communicate effectively within the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to adapt communication in order to instruct infants and children, including those with complex needs, during behavioural hearing assessment using appropriate language.
• Able to use tact and persuasion where barriers to understanding exist, e.g. very young children, children with learning difficulties and the un-cooperative child.
• Communicate effectively with deaf and hard of hearing patients and families.
• Able to communicate complex technical information in a meaningful manner.
• Demonstrate reassurance and persuasive skills to gain a child's confidence for invasive procedures e.g., impressions.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and awareness when imparting bad news e.g. sudden hearing loss or deterioration of existing hearing loss.

Professional

• Active participant in Trust research projects involving children with hearing loss.
• Maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• Maintain professional standards and protocols without supervision.
• Work in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and comply with Trust policies and audiological protocols.
• Ensure continuing professional development.
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of paediatric test protocols, is well informed about changes to current practice and able to implement new recommended procedures following appropriate training.
• Maintain registration with the AHCS/HCPC.
• Take part in both professional and departmental meetings.

Information and Data Responsibilities

• Maintain thorough record-keeping.
• Maintain systems to monitor documentation including recording and storing all relevant information ensuring it is securely held and can be accessed easily.