Job overview
We are looking for a passionate and forward-thinking Chief Audiologist to join our team and help deliver on our vision: to be a trusted provider of consistently outstanding care and exemplary service for our patients.
This role offers a rare opportunity for an ambitious Audiologist to take the lead in developing and expanding our Adult Audiology service at East & North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust.
Our service is undergoing an exciting transformation across multiple sites:
* Lister Hospital: Now equipped with three state-of-the-art sound-treated booths, a modern workshop, and a telehealth space within the ENT clinic.
* Danestrete Health Centre: Recently refurbished for adult hearing aid services.
* QEII Hospital: Dedicated solely to paediatric audiology.
* Hertford County Hospital: The future flagship site, opening in Autumn 2025, will feature 20 rooms, including eight sound-treated booths, consultation spaces, vestibular diagnostics, administrative offices, and a purpose-built environment for multidisciplinary teamwork.
This transformation includes a significant expansion of our team, with six new roles being introduced. The Chief Audiologist post is a key part of this growth.
We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
* Tinnitus management
* Complex adult assessments
* BCHI/MEI implants
* Electrophysiological testing
At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.
Main duties of the job
Applicants must hold a BSc in Audiology or equivalent qualifications. An MSc or evidence of Post Graduate study preferred. Applicants should also have, or be able to achieve AHCS registration, and membership of BAA while not essential is desirable.
Applications are welcomed from Audiologists nearing completion of their STP. Candidates would be expected to hold or be able to achieve AHCS registration and or HCPC registration as a Clinical Scientist
Research and audit is strongly supported by our ENT colleagues, and the successful applicant will be encouraged to build on this.
As a senior member of staff you will be responsible for steering the rehabilitation and implant service, which will include working in conjunction with two current ENT Otology specialists.
You would also be expected to oversee training of Students (BSc & MSc) and junior staff.
Working for our organisation
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general & specialist services we provide & our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible & innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.
We run the following hospitals:
* The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
* New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
* Hertford County, Hertford
* Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation; our staff & patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We understand that finding & starting a new job is an important life decision. If you need reasonable adjustments for a disability, or a life event, such as menopause - so that we can consider your application fairly & to get the best out of you during the selection process, please let us know.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. Employees are entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns & we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made & considered formally, & will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
The service is looking forward to major service transformation in the next year. Applicants are encouraged to contact Dawn Bramham, Head of Audiology to discuss the role further, and arrange informal visits. If you do not meet all of the essential criteria but think you might be ready to step into these roles with support, please get in touch.
5% of basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,122
Person specification
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience in adult rehab
* Extensive Experience of vestibular testing - VHIT, VEMP/VNG/Caloric and report writing
* Complex case management
* Complex objective testing
Desirable criteria
* Experience of Middle ear implants
* Vestibular Rehab
* Previous management of student training
Skills
Essential criteria
* Good Communication Skills to deal with general public enquiries.
* Ability to work on own initiative
* Ability to lead a team of audiologists
* Good Computer Skills
Desirable criteria
* Previous experience of overseeing Student trainees
* Experience of team leadership
* Evidence of service development work
Qualifications / Training
Essential criteria
* BSc (Hons) Audiology BAAT Part II or CAC or CCC Membership of BAA / BSA
* Evidence of post qualification formal study ( MSc modules, assessment based study)
Desirable criteria
* MSc Audiology RCCP / HCPC membership Clinical Scientist registration MPhil / PHD Evidence of relevant CPD training
Our values
We want our staff to believe in, demonstrate and live our values in everything we do.
Include
We value the diversity and experience of our community colleagues and partners, creating relationships and climates that provide an opportunity to share, collaborate and grow together.
Respect
We create a safe environment where we are curious of the lived experience of others, seek out best practice and are open to listening and hearing new ideas.
Improve
We are committed to consistently delivering excellent services and continuously looking to improve through a creative workforce that feels empowered to act in service of our shared purpose.
Committed to our Community
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all job applicants, staff, patients and the wider community. We want to create a workforce which represents the communities we serve. We are on a journey to become a more inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone regardless of their background. In particular we encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, and candidates from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds who are currently under-represented in various parts of our workforce .
We understand the importance of balancing work and home life. We are committed to support flexible working for our staff wherever possible and all our employees are given the opportunity to discuss potential for flexible working.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and achieved our status in 2019.
We will remove barriers that prospective candidates might face at any stage of our recruitment process. If you have a disability and would like the advert in an alternative format, or would like to talk about how we can adjust the interview process to best support you, please contact us by emailing resourcing.enh-tr@nhs.net
We are also proud to support our UK armed forces by supporting Reservists, Cadet Instructors, Veterans and military spouses/partners into employment and offering supportive policies that value their contribution to the community and to our Trust.
We are committed to being a carer-friendly environment, addressing the complex needs of families with caring responsibilities. In partnership with Carers in Hertfordshire, all our working carers have access to support from recruitment. We are also a member of Carers UK, providing resources to make balancing work and caring easier. Our approach is inclusive, recognizing diverse challenges and creating a supportive environment where carers feel valued.