Band 7 Chief Audiologist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated clinician with a background in vestibular and complex adult care to join our dynamic Audiology Team at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. This full-time Band 7 role is ideal for someone looking to grow their clinical expertise in a supportive, forward-thinking environment. You will act as clinical lead for the adult diagnostic and vestibular services, working autonomously and collaboratively with colleagues in delivering high-quality assessment and rehabilitation for complex auditory and vestibular needs. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about driving improvement and delivering high-quality care. The role includes line management, clinical training, departmental leadership along with opportunities to lead innovation projects. In return, you'll join a world-class hospital, collaborating with leaders in Audiology, Otology and Audiological Research. We offer opportunities for professional development, research and career progression.

All duties will be carried out in line with Trust policies and professional codes of conduct, with a commitment to inclusive, compassionate, and person-centred care.

If you are passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centred care and driving service improvement, we would be delighted to hear from you.

For informal enquiries, please contact: Joanne Parsons (Adult Audiology Lead) Joanne.Parsons@uhb.nhs.uk

Main duties of the job

This advanced-level role is for an experienced clinician to lead the delivery of high quality, comprehensive adult vestibular, diagnostic assessment and rehabilitation service. They will also contribute to the vestibular MDT in delivering this service. They will carry out a range of advanced investigations to facilitate diagnosis and guide treatment for patients with complex hearing and balance needs. Assessments will typically include undertaking a broad range of subjective and objective audiological tests which may include, investigation of speech discrimination, assessment of auditory processing disorders, ERA and all aspects Vestibular function testing.

They will provide clinical support and leadership, maintain service quality, driving continuous service improvement whilst supporting clinical training and providing line management. They will support the wider departmental leadership team in overseeing day-to-day departmental operations, ensuring appropriate staffing, delivering a cohesive, high-quality audiology service ensuring professional and clinical standards are maintained across the service. They will demonstrate effective use of leadership skills, to promote a positive team culture and act as a role model within the department.

This role requires flexibility, a high degree of autonomy, and a proactive, innovative approach. You will bring specialist expertise supported by strong theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• *BSc (Hons) or equivalent qualification in Audiology. Master'slevel qualification or demonstrable equivalent knowledge, skills, and experience.
• *Registered Clinical Scientist or Clinical Physiologist with the HCPC, or registration with the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS) in an appropriate audiologyrelated modality.

Desirable

• *MSc Audiology or equivalent experience at M-Level
• *STP, HTS or completion of other higher level clinical training
• *Recognised Leadership Qualification

Experience

Essential

• *Significant post qualification experience in Audiology
• *Experience of assessment and management of patients with complex vestibular and/or audiological needs to include ERA
• *Experience of providing specialist rehabilitation management, including vestibular rehabilitation, to Audiology patients
• *Experience of delivering training
• *Experience of partaking in quality assurance

Desirable

• *Experience working within a multidisciplinary vestibular team
• *Experience of developing and implementing research proposals
• *Experience of line managing staff and leading teams
• *Experience of leading service improvement projects
• *Experience of leading clinical service provision

Additional Criteria

Essential

• *Ability to make judgements in specialist area involving highly complex facts which require the analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of options
• *Good level of IT skills to include word processing, use of spreadsheets and databases and PowerPoint

*Advanced skills in quality assurance, leadership and development of staff and services.

*Detailed knowledge of rehabilitation/therapeutic strategies.

*Extensive knowledge of academic literature relevant to position, writing to a high academic standard.

*Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to include ability to communicate with the hearing impaired and patients with dementia, and specialist patient group.

*Excellent written communication skills.

*Able to work alone as well as in a team.

*Ability to be mobile, if required, operating across all UHB sites.

Desirable

• *Ability to critically appraise and challenge at a high level
• *Ability to write to a high academic standard, delivering research posters and academic presentations to a broad scientific audience

About the employer

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.