Job overview
THIS POST IS SECONDMENT FOR 24 MONTHS DUE TO FUNDING
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM STAFF CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY SWANSEA BAY UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD
The Audiology service in Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBU HB) is looking for an Audiology Associate Practitioner (band 4) to work principally in the Primary Care Audiology service.
The Audiology service in SBU HB provides hearing and balance assessment, advice and management to adult and paediatric patients in primary, community and hospital settings across the area.
We are looking for individuals with at least a level four qualification in Audiology. Wax removal qualifications are desirable but training will be provided where the successful candidate does not currently hold these.
Main duties of the job
The innovative primary care audiology service provides improved access to hearing care with first contact hearing, tinnitus and wax assessment and management available to patients closer to home and without requiring a referral. Audiology Associate Practitioners work closely with Advanced Audiology Practitioners within this service removing problematic wax, carrying out non-complex hearing assessments, providing hearing and ear care advice and referring patients on to appropriate services for further assessment and management in line with agreed protocols.
Working for our organisation
We believe staff are our best asset and we want you to be happy and confident about starting your career here in Swansea Bay University Health Board.
As one of the biggest healthcare groups in the UK we can offer a wealth of professional training and development opportunities in an innovative, forward-thinking organisation.
You might be a nurse or doctor, maybe you specialise in a health science/therapy or can offer skills in one of our support services - we have a job for you.
There are also apprenticeships, work placements and volunteering roles available.
We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from everyone whatever their sex; religion or belief; race; age; sexual orientation; gender identity or, whether they are pregnant or have recently been on maternity leave, married or are in a civil partnership; or, whether they are disabled.
Our values - Caring For Each Other, Working Together and Always Improving, show that our commitment to equality is at the heart of everything we do.
If you want excellent career and training opportunities while living on the doorstep of some of Europe's most spectacular scenery, with all the benefits of a thriving and cosmopolitan city - look no further.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Our Audiology Associate Practitioners also work within the secondary care audiology service re-assessing hearing levels and managing hearing aids for patients with non-complex usually age related hearing loss as well as supporting the ongoing hearing aid repair and maintenance service. More rarely there may be opportunities to work within the Paediatric service, providing support to Paediatric Audiologists .
The service supports career progression to roles as audiologists through the funded part-time practitioner training programme or equivalence route for those with the aptitude and commitment to do so.
The post is 13.5 hours per week. There are limited flexible working options available which can be discussed with the recruiting manager. The successful applicant will be scheduled to work at other sites within the Health Board area on an up to daily basis.
More information on the Audiology service including the Primary Care Audiology service can be found on the Audiology website
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Certificate in Higher Education (Audiology) or equivalent
Desirable criteria
2. Evidence of scientific experience e.g. in the form of a degree
Experience
Essential criteria
3. Working or training in an Audiology, hearing aid or ear care clinic
Desirable criteria
4. Experience in customer focussed environment
5. Experience of working or training in and NHS Audiology Service
Communication
Essential criteria
6. Ability to communicate with hearing impaired people of all ages and their families
Desirable criteria
7. Deaf Awareness
Other
Essential criteria
8. Empathy
9. Ability to prioritise own tasks and workload
10. Ability to travel between clinical sites
Desirable criteria
11. Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh
12. Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
Swansea Bay University Health Board is committed to supporting its staff and processes to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing service users experience. In our commitment to increase the number of staff able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we would particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
Equality remains at the centre of the Health Boards policy-making, service delivery and employment practices. We value the diversity of our staff and welcome applications from people from protected groups under the Equality Act 2010, this specifically includes age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/reassignment, race, religion, disability, pregnancy and maternity and marriage and civil partnership.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Welsh language skills are desirable