Audiologist

Communication and working relationships

Communication and working relationships:

Forms of communication may include:

• Discussions
• Formal oral presentations
• Written reports (clinical, technical or management)
• Ability to work with interpreters to include sign language interpreters

Internal:

• To Consultant specialists and other members of the medical Staff
• Senior Managers
• All grades and professions across the trust

External:         

• Members of the public
• GP practices
• Other NHS healthcare trusts in and out of the region
• Other professionals associated with the service for hearing impaired people e.g. social services, Advisory teachers for Hearing impaired Children, Learning Disability Network and Charities.
• CCG’s
• All grades and professions across the health community

Communication with patients/carers who may have varying degrees of hearing loss, from mild to profound.

Analytical and judgement

·         Will triage referrals from other disciplines including GP, Audiology, ENT and Physiotherapy and communicate to the booking teams what appointment is needed

·         Will analyse and interpret information gathered from patient history/ interviewing and testing, making clinical judgements about when to refer for further testing including MRI and developing an individual management plan with patient.

Planning and organisation

·         Plan equipment requirements for own peripheral clinics and ensure that all equipment/ stock required for clinic list is transported to location in good time

·         Develop with the patient an individual management plan.

·         Ensure good timekeeping during the clinical day and use time effectively to prioritise tasks.

·         To actively contribute to meetings both within the service and as a representative of the service as required within own area of expertise, which may include the taking on of formal roles such as minute taking / arranging venues etc.

Physical skills

·         Good manual dexterity for dealing with small component parts in hearing aids

·         Coordination and sensory skills used daily for precise fitting and adjustment to high tech digital hearing aids, insertion of probe tubes into a patient’s ear, and taking aural impressions

·         Ability to be able to listen and retain complex information and often given in a non-ordered way by patients

Patient and client care

• Calibrate audiological equipment daily and report any faults to management or directly to medical electronics department or manufacturer.
• Ensure that all patient details are confirmed prior to any treatment
• Perform otoscopy on patients attending the department and to recognize conditions that may affect patient care and refer on to appropriate professionals appropriately.
• Undertake patient questioning to gain patient history of condition/problem.
• Undertake hearing assessment for patients using pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry if clinically appropriate. These patients may have been referred directly to Audiology via the GP or another health professional.
• To debrief and inform patient regarding the findings and ensure correct future management of the patient. This may include referral on to an ENT specialist, other health professionals.
• Plan rehabilitation process for each hearing aid patient based on their own personal difficulties and desired outcomes. Offer advice and choices on how to live with their hearing loss and offer advice and help around technology and assistive listening devices.
• Take impressions of patient’s ears if applicable and decide on the best ear mould type for that patient.
• To fit and clearly instruct patients on how to use their hearing aids using communication tactics which are tailored to suit the individual’s needs.
• Attend domiciliary visits when patients are housebound, completing all audiological procedures possible in the home environment.
• Conduct an examination of hearing aid function, replace tubing, repair and maintain hearing aids and reprogram if necessary.
• To attend the wards to fit inpatients ear moulds and repair hearings aids.
• Undertake earmold modification and fitting
• Ensure patients records/Individual Management Plans’ (IMP’s) are comprehensive and kept up to date on the patient management system following each consultation.
• Deal with postal hearing aid repairs that are sent into the Department.

Policy and service development

• All staff have a responsibility to ensure that the needs of the service are met in a timely and efficient manner.
• All staff have a responsibility familiarize and to adhere to Trust and Departmental polices, guidance and SOP’s.
• Encourage and welcome feedback from colleagues and patients to ensure continual improvement.
• Ensures the ability to find any policies and SOPs at any given time to confirm compliance

Finance, equipment and other resources

• All staff have a responsibility to ensure equipment is in good working order and ensure daily, weekly and monthly checks/calibration are undertaken, reporting where necessary.
• All staff have a responsibility resources are used efficiently and effectively.
• All staff have a responsibility to ensure effective and conservative use of resources.
• Ensures that the correct hearing aids are prescribed to each individual patient, including consideration for the likely costing of each aid.
• All staff have a responsibility to ensure low stock items are identified and added to the ordering spread sheet.

People management and training

• To deliver training to other Audiological staff and undertake training sessions with other specialties within the TSDFT (including ENT).

·         Observes and supervises trainees within the department, ensuring appropriate feedback is given

Information technology and administrative duties

• Books follow up appointments for patients attending the department
• Ensures patient’s records are comprehensive and kept up to date on the computerized patient management system following each consultation

·         Receives and take queries either by telephone or letters from staff members or GP’s such as requests for audiological testing and the booking of patient’s appointments etc.

Research and development

·         Occasionally undertake research and development activities and actively seek out opportunities for involvement in national research projects

·         To undertake and assist in clinical audit, report on outcomes and make recommendations for change to the Audiology Service Manager

·         Participation in Departmental audit and development activities, with particular reference to implementation of UKAS and national recommendations

Freedom to act

• Work autonomously to develop individual management plans with patients following a detailed history and diagnostic testing
• Act with integrity and professionalism, demonstrating responsible behaviours at all times, in accordance with Trust values
• Be accountable for your actions, be honest and share your experiences, encouraging learning in others
• Ensure the patient is at the centre of the service and treated with dignity and respect
• Undertake any activities as required at the request of the Head of Audiology/Deputy Head of Audiology
• All staff have a responsibility to ensure findings and actions are reported back to referrers in a timely manner
• To be responsible in ensuring own registration is kept up to date and CPD activity is undertaken, and accurate records are kept

·         Assist in the day to day running of the Department