Lead Vestibular Audiologist

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Audiology Service at UHNM.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed Audiologist with specialist skills in balance assessment who can provide excellent outcomes for our patients.

You will use your expertise to perform all aspects of balance assessment utilising the specialist equipment and making recommendations towards improvement and IQIPs accreditation.

Your leadership skills will also be used to help manage the day to day running of the department, line managing Audiologists and supporting BSc and STP students.

Main duties of the job

• To independently oversee, assess, develop, and execute a comprehensive and complex caseload of Vestibular clinics.
• Take a full detailed patient history and formulating appropriate management plans to maximise patient experience.
• Perform audiology and vestibular assessment, including VNG, Calorics, VHIT, Vemp, (as appropriate) to a wide range of patients, including those who may have additional disabilities or challenging behaviour.
• Assess and interpret diagnostic test results from vestibular assessment and initiate rehabilitation interventions actions as appropriate.

Use coaching skills to support audiologists, students and trainees throughout their training plan.

• To be responsible alongside the Head of Audiology for the everyday running and organisation of the Vestibular service whilst implementing change to support attainment of IQIPs accreditation.
• To maintain managerial and clinical responsibility over Audiologists and Senior audiologists, students and trainees.

About us

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by our staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Job responsibilities

Communication & Relationships Skills

• To possess highly developed communication skills and demonstrate adaptability to individuals with varying communication needs as well as being especially knowledgeable in Deaf Awareness.
• To communicate complex, sensitive, or contentious information to patients and carers who may have additional disabilities and/or challenging behaviour. To communicate information to patients who may not use English as a first language and/or use BSL as a first language and therefore require an interpreter.
• To communicate effectively and meaningfully with linestaff and the wider team, demonstrating and adhering to trust values.
• To use presentation skills at case reviews, meetings, and conferences. To demonstrate good negotiation skills in a multi-disciplinary or multi-agency environment.
• To engage patients by using motivational and negotiation skills.

Knowledge, Training & Experience

• Registered with Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) or AHCS or equivalent.
• MSc in Audiology or equivalent with previous experience in the NHS.
• In depth knowledge of BSA guidelines, national protocols and referral criteria.

Experience of performing Vestibular tests including VNG, calorics, Vemps, and vHIT.

• Experience in taking a full detailed patient history and formulating appropriate management plans to maximise patient experience.
• Perform audiology and vestibular assessment to a wide range of patients, including those who may have additional disabilities or challenging behaviour.

Possess in depth knowledge and experience of assessment and rehabilitation techniques of adults with vestibular compromise, to support excellent patient outcomes.

Possess coaching skills to support audiologists, students and trainees throughout their training plan.

Analytical & Judgemental Skills

• To assess the needs of the patient in conjunction with the analysis of tests and diagnostic results and clinical reports from Audiology, ENT, Neurology, Psychiatry, and other professionals.
• To possess the skills for assessing and interpreting diagnostic test results from vestibular assessment and initiate rehabilitation interventions actions as appropriate.
• In conjunction with the Head of Audiology, be aware of and raise any risks within the service and investigate any incidents reported within the vestibular service.
• In conjunction with the Head of Audiology, create audit plans for the improvement and assurance of the vestibular service.

Planning & Organisational Skills

• To independently oversee, assess, develop, and execute a comprehensive and complex caseload of Vestibular clinics.
• To be responsible alongside the Head of Audiology for the everyday running and organisation of the Vestibular service whilst implementing change to support attainment of IQIPs accreditation.
• To maintain managerial and clinical responsibility over Audiologists and Senior audiologists, students and trainees.
• To plan and oversee the appropriate triage of referrals into the Vestibular Clinic, investigating and auditing any areas of trend where necessary.
• To plan and organise the calibration and maintenance of the vestibular equipment.

Physical Skills

• To have good dexterity as accuracy required for relevant tasks including wax removal, aural impressions.
• To possess good computer skills, standard keyboard skills, and be able to use presentation software and e-learning resources.
• The post requires a combination of physical effort including providing positional testing and rehabilitation manoeuvres, sitting, standing, walking, and aiding a patient to standing.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care

• To apply a high level of clinical skills to perform all aspects of routine Audiology including hearing assessment and rehabilitation in a hospital environment or in the community while working independently or as part of a team.

Motivated to deliver safe, effective care to patients with vestibular compromise to support excellent clinical outcomes.

• To create rehabilitation plans for vestibular clinic patients to reduce the impact of hearing and balance conditions while carefully considering the patients' lifestyle requirements.
• To ensure that all patient records and service practices are in accordance with British Society of Audiology (BS), British Academy of Audiology (BAA), Trust and departmental protocol.

Responsibility for Policy/Service Development

• To be responsible for the vestibular team peer review process, including organisation and execution of reviews and management of outcomes.
• To aid the education of others such as Audiologists with special interest in vestibular disorders, Assistant Technical Officers, degree students from Aston University and STP students. To successfully evaluate and negotiate care plans for students and trainee colleagues to implement for appropriate patients.
• To provide expert advice and training to multi-disciplinary agencies both internally and externally.
• To contribute to audit of both specialist service and the wider audiology service.
• To participate in clinical management meetings staff meetings.
• To deputise for the Head of Audiology as requested.

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

• Demonstrate safe working practices in the use of equipment in the clinical areas.

Responsibility for Human Resources

• Working with the Head of Audiology, provide leadership to the clinical team and identify innovation in clinical practice.
• To effectively manage the Department on a shift by shift basis.
• Contribute to the formal induction of all new staff.
• Participate in the preceptorship of newly appointed staff and the education of learners and clinical support workers.

Responsibility for Information Resources

• To maintain adequate and accurate records of all educational sessions.
• To collect statistical information and reports as requested for the Trust.
• Updates and maintains patient records/reports.
• Develops/updates policies and procedures as well as contribute to creating protocols.

Responsibility for Research and Development

• To engage in research of associated and specialist fields. To support wider service research projects.
• To set aims and objectives, plan, delegate, and report on projects as required by Head of Audiology.
• To adopt an evidence-based approach to healthcare and use research in the delivery of clinical practice.
• Working in conjunction with the critical care research team the post holder will be required to use, and disseminate current research findings to professional colleagues through the education process.
• To collaborate with other members of the service to develop clinical audit to measure outcomes related to service delivery.

Freedom to Act

• Accountable for own professional actions; not directly supervised.

Physical Effort

• The post requires a combination of physical effort including sitting, standing, walking and occasionally assisting a patient to standing position.

Mental Effort

• This post requires high levels of concentration and significant barriers to communication; at times within an unpredictable work environment.

Emotional Effort

• Significant barriers to communication, acceptance of diagnosis and prognosis may exist and therefore, intense emotional effort is sometimes required.
• The post may involve exposure to descriptions of distressing events.

Personal/Professional Development

• To participate in periodic peer review and individual personal supervision.
• Maintain registration through the conduct and documentation of continued professional development activities and to participate in mandatory training.

To have access to a road-worthy car during working hours and be able to produce a valid drivers license on a yearly basis.

To take every reasonable opportunity to maintain and improve your professional knowledge and competence.

To participate in personal objective setting and review, including the creation of a personal development plan and the Trust's appraisal process.

Health and Safety

To take reasonable care for your own Health and Safety and that of any other person who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work.

To co-operate with University Hospitals of North Midlands (NHS) Trust in ensuring that statutory regulations, codes of practice, local policies and departmental health and safety rules are adhered to.

To comply and adhere to individual and role specific responsibilities as stated in the Trust Health and Safety Policy (HS01) and all other Health and Safety related.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc in Audiology or equivalent.
• AHCS/HCPC Registered.
• MSc in Audiology.
• HTS in Balance Assessment.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• At least 2 years experience of assessing managing and evaluating patients with balance disorders.
• At least 2 years experience of working in an NHS trust setting.
• Experience of providing complex adult audiology assessment and rehabilitation.

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.

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust