Consultant Clinical Scientist - Head of Audiology Services in Devon

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Audiology to lead, manage and shape the future development of Audiology services across all Trust sites. We are looking for a highly experienced and inspirational Audiologist with extensive specialist knowledge, strong professional credibility, and a demonstrable track record of leadership and service development within Audiology at local, regional and, ideally, national level. The successful candidate will be passionate about advancing the profession and committed to addressing the opportunities and challenges facing Audiology today. They will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient-centred services, while meeting performance, financial and wider organisational objectives.

BedsFT is a member of EELAN (East of England Leaders in Audiology Network), a strong and active forum for regional Audiology service leads. The successful candidate will be invited to join the network, providing access to support, advice and mentorship from experienced senior colleagues across the region. A unique aspect of this opportunity is the availability of a supported transition period with the current Head of Service, who remains in post as part of a phased retirement arrangement. A structured transition plan will be agreed with the appointed candidate.

Main duties of the job:

• Provide strategic, professional and scientific leadership across Audiology Services.
• Deliver expert clinical scientific advice, diagnosis and management for complex hearing and hearing-related conditions.
• Hold consultant-level accountability for clinical scientific decision-making, patient care and service assurance.
• Lead the development of patient pathways, service innovation and quality improvement.
• Drive the translation of research and emerging technologies into safe, effective clinical practice.
• Promote evidence-based care, clinical governance, quality and patient safety.
• Lead education, workforce development and professional practice across Audiology.
• Build effective partnerships across the NHS, academia and industry to support service transformation and improved patient outcomes.
• Ensure all services comply with statutory, professional and regulatory standards.

About us:

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 Trust's 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.

Job responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and professional leadership across Audiology Services at local, regional and national levels.
• Deliver advanced clinical scientific expertise, including the interpretation of complex clinical data, to multidisciplinary teams and patients.
• Lead the assessment, diagnosis and management of complex hearing and hearing-related conditions, ensuring high-quality patient outcomes.
• Hold clinical scientific accountability equivalent to consultant medical staff, providing expert advice, assurance and direct patient care.
• Shape and develop patient pathways, working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary clinical team.
• Provide expert oversight and assurance for patient care delivered within Audiology services.
• Advise organisations on the safe, effective and compliant use of audiological technologies and clinical practices.
• Champion evidence-based practice, applying scientific judgement where evidence is limited to support optimal patient management.
• Act as a leading advocate for people with hearing loss and related conditions.
• Drive innovation by translating research, education and emerging evidence into clinical practice and service development.
• Lead teaching, training and professional development for Clinical Scientists, trainees and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Support workforce transformation through collaborative, multi-professional service development.
• Lead service redesign and the safe implementation of new technologies, diagnostics and quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote excellence in clinical governance, quality, safety, accreditation and professional regulation.
• Foster partnerships between the NHS, academia and industry to advance service innovation and transformation.
• Ensure all services are delivered in accordance with statutory, professional and regulatory requirements.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications:
• On Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) Higher Specialist Scientific Register (HSSR) for Audiology, or eligible to apply and on a clear trajectory towards this, or meeting any alternative provisions described by national health agencies, relating to recruitment of those who have held Consultant Clinical Scientist (CCS) posts.
• Doctorate Degree (PhD or AuD) or equivalent level of knowledge.
• MSc Audiological Science.
• HCPC registration as Clinical Scientist (Audiology).
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to this post.
• Desirable:
• Formal leadership and management qualifications.
• Knowledge and Experience:
• Advanced knowledge and extensive clinical experience at the highest level within one or more specialist fields within Audiology.
• Team leadership and management.
• Knowledge and experience of risk assessment procedures and controls.
• Knowledge and experience of service quality assurance/improvement.
• Experience:
• Clinical Experience across career in adult and paediatric Audiology.
• National professional contribution in Audiology.
• Research, development, and innovation: evidence of formal contribution towards published materials subject to peer review.
• Contribution through membership of formal health science bodies and structures at organisational and external levels.
• Personal Skills:
• Excellent communication skills, to convey complex scientific and clinical information.
• High level analytical skills.
• Ability to plan over short, medium, and longer-term timeframes.
• Excellent team leadership skills.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain good judgement under pressure.