Areyou passionate about delivering great patient care and looking for anopportunity to develop specialist skills in ear health?
Weare looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate Ear HealthPractitioner to join our friendly and supportive Procare EarHealth Service.
Thisis a fantastic opportunity to be part of an innovative and developing primarycare service, bringing high-quality ear care closer to patientswithin communities across Guildford & Waverley. By supporting GPpractices to manage ear health conditions locally, you will play an importantrole in improving patient experience and helping to reduce the need forreferrals into acute ENT services.
Usingthe TympaHealth system, an innovative handheld device combining digitalotoscopy, microsuction and hearing screening, you will assess and treatpatients experiencing ear wax, hearing concerns and other appropriate earhealth conditions.
Youwill have the opportunity to manage your own clinics, build yourconfidence and expertise in ear health, and make a real difference to patientsin a community setting.
Don't already have experience in earmicrosuction or Tympa Health? Full training will be provided to support you todevelop the skills and confidence you need for the role.
Main duties of the job
Ear Health Practitioner - Flexibility between Monday - Saturday 8am to 6pm
Using the Tympa Health system, a handheld devicecombining digital otoscopy, microsuction, and hearing screening you willprovide safe, effective ear care for patients with wax, hearing concerns andother straightforward ear conditions. Full training is provided
Main duties of the job
Undertake earexaminations using digital otoscopy
Provide safeand effective ear wax removal using microsuction
Carry outhearing screening and interpret findings
Recognise redflags and know when to upscale or refer patients
Independentlymanage your own ear health clinics
Providereassurance, advice and education to patients and carers
Maintain clear,accurate and timely clinical records
Work to highstandards of patient safety, infection prevention and clinical governance
Contribute tothe continued development of this exciting and growing service
About us
ProCare Community Services is the GP Federation forGuildford & Waverley. Our aim is to support General Practice to work atscale in order to achieve efficiencies of scale whilst respecting the autonomyof individual General Practices. This includes working with other localhealthcare providers to develop and provide health services to the benefit ofour patients.
We help member practices to work together to jointly addressissues which are difficult to resolve individually and offer extra expertiseand skills. By working at scale, we can ensure the projects we take forward onbehalf of our members will allow patients in our area to have more consistencyin, as well as choices about, their care.
ProCare provide community and district nurses in our areasupporting better integration of Primary and Community services
Our ICP area is served by Royal Surrey County Hospital andis located in the Surrey Heartlands ICSystem which is one of the original 10ICS areas in the UK and one of two that has combined Health and Social Careorganisations.
Job responsibilities
Job Summary
To provide a safe, effective and patient-centred Ear Health Service across GP practices, care homes and other appropriate community healthcare settings. The postholder will work autonomously within their professional scope of practice and agreed clinical pathways and protocols.
The postholder will undertake assessment of patients presenting with ear health concerns, including otoscopic examination, assessment and management of ear wax, microsuction where clinically appropriate, hearing checks and provision of patient education and advice.
The postholder will identify contraindications, recognise abnormal findings and red flags, and ensure appropriate escalation or referral to the patients GP, audiology, ENT or other appropriate services in accordance with agreed pathways.
Key responsibilities
1. Clinical Duties
Perform comprehensive ear health examinations, including relevant clinical history and otoscopic examination.
Assess the suitability of patients for microsuction and identify contraindications and precautions before treatment in line with agreed protocols and NICE guidelines
Undertake appropriate hearing assessments/checks within the practitioner's level of training and competence.
Managing a clinic schedule of adults with hearing loss and wax management issues.
Providing appropriate support for individuals with hearing loss using the service and provide patients and/or carers with appropriate ear care advice
Following best practice principles with regard to infection control in the workplace.
To attend appropriate supervision, training and revalidation in order to maintain skills and knowledge
Discharge patients appropriately from the service or upscale clinical concerns to the patients GP or relevant healthcare service using the agreed secure communication pathways.
Ensures enquiries requiring prompt action are prioritised and that communications are responded to appropriately and in time.
Ensures all patient and company sensitive information is always treated in line with information governance requirements.
Obtain and document valid informed consent prior to examination and treatment, ensuring patients understand the proposed procedure, alternatives and associated risks.
Work within individual professional competency and upscale where a patients needs fall outside the practitioner's scope of practice.
Assess and respond appropriately to issues relating to consent, mental capacity and best-interest decision-making, upscale for advice where required.
2. Governance and Safety
To maintain accurate, comprehensive records of all consultations and treatments.
- Maintain clinical governance standards,
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, confidentiality, infection control and data protection policies.
- Participate in audits as requested.
- Report incidents and events and co-operate with investigations as required.
3. Service Delivery
Manage clinics effectively and safely in line with agreed guidelines.
- To liaise effectively with the clinical lead for the service, providing regular reports and raising clinical concerns with the Lead as necessary.
- Help with collection of statistical information required for reporting.
- Ensure the consulting room is set up at the beginning of each clinic and left clean and as required at end of clinic.
- To have working knowledge of equipment used by the service. Ensuring that any faulty equipment is taken out of service for repair and reported.
- Maintain knowledge of and comply with current Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures.
- Ensure the maintenance of equipment and stock levels in relation to patient care.
- To regularly update knowledge and information through use of medical journals, training, courses, etc.
- Any other duties as reasonably requested providing these duties are within the scope of the role and that the individual is trained and capable of such duty.
4. Professional Development
Maintain professional registration and competence.
Attend mandatory training and specialist ear health training as required and specified.
Engage in CPD activities and reflective practice.
5. Communication and Working Relationships
Liaise effectively with GP practices, care home teams, community services, audiology, ENT, and other relevant healthcare professionals to support safe and coordinated patient care.
Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and carers providing clear explanations and reassurance
6. Freedom to Act
- Work autonomously within agreed protocols and referral criteria.
- Seek advice from senior clinicians, when required.
Effort Factors
Physical: Frequent use of fine motor skills for microsuction procedures.
Mental: Concentration required for triage and clinical decision-making.
Emotional: Exposure to distressed patients; ability to manage sensitive situations.
Working Conditions: Primary care and community clinical environments, with regular travel to different service locations across Guildford and Waverley.
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This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as are consistent with the responsibility of the role requirements. This job description is subject to review and development from time to time in liaison with the post holder
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The NHS Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England. It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges which the NHS is committed to achieve, together with responsibilities, which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively. As an organisation that delivers NHS services, Procare expects high standards from all of its employees and, in line with the key principles of the Constitution, Procare aspires to the highest standards of excellence and professionalism in the people it employs, the education, training and development they receive and, in the leadership, and management of the organisation.
Areas applicable to all Procare Employees:
Clearance Checks
Health clearance is required for this appointment. Applicants must complete a medical questionnaire, return it to the Occupational Department and, if required, undergo a medical examination before appointment.
A Disclosure and Barring Service check and disclosure will be required before appointment for this post as the Company provides services to children and vulnerable adults. In addition, completion of the Fit & Proper Persons check is also required.
Person Specification
Experience
- Relevant ear care knowledge and experience, with willingness and ability to undertake approved microsuctioning training and competency assessment
- Relevant clinical experience, preferably within primary care, community nursing, ENT or a comparable autonomous clinical setting
- Ability to undertake comprehensive ear health assessment and recognise abnormal findings and clinical red flags, knowing when to upscale appropriately. Full training to be provided.
- Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
- Experience with clinical risk management
- ENT or audiology experience
Qualifications
- Professional Registration NMC RCCP HCPC AHCS
- Educated to diploma or level 8 degree in relevant area
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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