Deputy Clinical Lead - Audiology

• The post holder will work closely with the Head of Audiology and Clinical Leads to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care. This role involves mainly working within the Adult Hearing Service carrying out routine and complex audiological assessment and rehabilitation.
• The postholder will take primary responsibility for leading one or more clinical areas of practice.
• There is line managerial responsibility for more junior members of the department.
• The post holder will play a key role in maintaining governance within their area, and continual service improvement.
• The post holder will work as an independent advanced clinical audiologist routinely undertaking the following tasks in close collaboration with the senior leadership team as appropriate:o Responsible for line management of members of the Audiology team , to include appraisals, personal and career development, sickness absence, disciplinary and grievance matters, performance management and health and safety.
• Take primary responsibility for leading one or more clinical areas of practice as agreed with the Head of Service / Clinical Lead.
• Support the Senior Leadership Team to provide a seamless, unified high-quality audiology service.
• Assist in ensuring that professional and clinical standards are maintained.
• With other staff at this level, provide first-line management of the clinic on a day-today basis, ensuring staffing and patients are appropriately accounted for.
• Participate in the development of policies and procedures applicable to the service.
• Undertake full audiological assessment of patients, to include complex and nonroutine cases such as those with multiple disabilities and severe communication difficulties.
• Analyse test results and other assessment data to determine differential diagnosis, the need for medical opinion and/or to decide on treatment options.
• Develop, arrange and implement individual treatment plans for patients in both highly complex and routine cases.
• For routine and complex cases select, programme and evaluate hearing aids for patients to include the provision of specialist audiological and related services.
• Liaise with a large multidisciplinary team of professionals within the department and wider service structure to ensure that each patient receives a high quality and well-co-ordinated service which satisfies the Patient Charter Standards, national professional standards and the Childrens Act.
• Record clinical observations and test results, maintaining database entries of clinical findings.
• Prepare audiological reports containing findings on assessment and review, with recommendations and advice based on clinical observations, assessment and knowledge for other professional colleagues and patients.
• Act as a point of contact for less experienced staff, in particular for complex and non-routine cases.
• Support new staff during a preceptorship period, and ongoing support/ mentorship of staff within the service to develop their skills and experience
• Lead, support and actively participate in service change programmes in line with local and national service development.
• Coordinate and participate actively in service monitoring, evaluation and audit.
• Support and lead in areas of research, audit and development within the department, becoming actively involved at a level considered appropriate by the Trust and within their role.
• Responsible for maintaining CPD to maintain registration.
• The post holder will undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Cramlington Manor Walks
• Urgent treatment centres
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

Essential

• BSc in Audiology or equivalent
• Completed relevant professional training (e.g. Audiology Practitioner Training Programme, BAAT part 1 & 2, STP or CAC)
• Registered with the AHCS as a Clinical Physiologist/Audiologist, or HCPC as a Clinical Scientist

Desirable

• MSc in Audiology
• STP in audiology or HTS specialist modules
• Management qualification or experience
• Mentorship qualification
• British Sign language qualification
• Membership of BSA/BAA

Essential

• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge as required for a specialist area of audiology service (through clinical experience and study of MSc-level modules or equivalent, for example)
• Comprehensive experience as a Senior Audiologist including specialist audiology assessment, and rehabilitation, working with a complex patient caseload
• Experience of training others, and supporting/mentoring staff with developing their skills and knowledge
• Experience of service development and audit projects
• Evidence of commitment to continuous professional and personal development

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to include ability to communicate with the hearing impaired and carers in emotional states
• Proven leadership skills with experience of service change and practice development
• Ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams, collaborating effectively with colleagues across the Trust to successfully lead on and implement service improvement and pro-actively and positively contributing to a good team culture
• Excellent time management and organisational skills including keeping clinical records up to date and the ability to work under pressure, meeting deadlines and prioritising workloads
• Excellent written skill including clinical documentation
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to make judgements involving complex facts which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• Good level of IT skills to include Microsoft Office and electronic patient records