Band 3 - Newborn Hearing Screener, WACS

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

The Hearing Screening Service is seeking a competent, motivated, and reliable individual to work as a dedicated newborn hearing screener. This role reports directly to the Local NHSP Manager and Senior Screeners. Working in a team undertaking the screening of babies in the first few days or weeks of their life, we are seeking a reliable individual with good communication skills who is at ease working with new mothers and very young babies. You should be passionate about delivering a family-friendly and professional experience for parents and babies during the screening process. This post will involve direct handling of newborn babies, so experience of handling babies is essential.

Main duties of the job

Communication: Liaise clearly and give accurate information to families/carers when offering explanations and advice concerning newborn hearing screening. Inform and liaise with the senior screener on all aspects of hearing screening related to the role. Establish a working rapport with other team members and continue to contribute to team meetings.

Establish and maintain effective communication with colleagues, children, families, and members of the multidisciplinary team, providing clinical information as required.

Analysis and Judgement: Carry out the newborn hearing screen within national and local protocols using automated equipment without direct supervision. Accurately and legibly record clinical and test data, both written and electronically, taking responsibility for data from tests.

Patient/Client Care: Handle parents' enquiries in a friendly, sensitive, and informative manner. Responsible for the preparation for screening sessions, including equipment set-up, instrument checks, and patient preparation. Carry out the hearing screening of newborns using the AABR (automated auditory brainstem response) and AOAE (optoacoustic emissions) on maternity, community clinics, and parents' homes with accurate recording of clinical and test data, taking responsibility for data from tests. Refer babies to local audiology services in a timely manner using local processes and procedures.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes, and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together, and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional, and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work-life balance. Flexible Working. If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net. If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Job responsibilities

• To identify babies eligible for screening.
• Offer the automated oto-acoustic emission (AOAE) and/or automated auditory brain response (AABR) screening test and gain informed verbal consent from parents/carers.
• To carry out the hearing screening of all newborn babies within the trust catchment area. This may be done in the maternity unit, neonatal intensive care unit, and in the community as required.
• To inform parents of the screen outcome as dictated by local & national NHSP protocols.
• Refer babies who do not pass the newborn hearing screen to audiology for immediate or targeted follow-up in a timely manner ensuring parents are aware of the referral and relevant timescales.
• Liaise with the local audiology team ensuring timely and accurate referral of babies for immediate or targeted follow-up as necessary.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications:

• Evidence of ability to study independently.
• Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening.

Experience

• Working with people in a care setting.
• Attainment of a post-school education certificate or qualification.
• Previous experience of working with babies or young children.
• Previous experience in the healthcare sector.
• Previous experience of NHSP screening.

Knowledge

• Ability to study and undertake a level 3 Diploma in Health Screening.
• Passed an OSCE/ECA in Newborn Hearing Screening.

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.

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust