Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

Exciting new role has become avaliable for Audiology Associate to work in the paediatric team in NELFT. 

The post holder will also work closely with the team of clinical audiologists to ensure a seamless and high standard of care is delivered to the patients who attend our department.

They candidate may be required to take study days and training courses, and completion of a workbooks or a portfolio through which you will gather evidence of your progress, as well as a structured review of your progress. If the candidate has not already gained the qualification then it is likely as part of this role the candidate will need to complete the Audiology HCS Assistance Apprenticeship (Level 4) diploma is made up of 100 credits, 37 of which are mandatory units and the remaining 63 are optional and agreed by the Audiology service based on service requirements.

The Audiology Associate role encompasses both clinical and non clinical responsibilities. The successful candidate will be able to carry out routine hearing aid servicing, repairs and audiograms.

Main duties of the job

The job requires testing hearing for children, requiring good observation skills and clear communication skills. The job also involves repairing hearing aids, taking ear impressions and managing stock levels. 

Clinical Skills

·Earmould impression taking for children over > 5 years old

·Hearing Testing for children over 5 years old

·Assisting and supporting the Audiologists within their role patients of all ages

·Perform Hearing Instrument Tests (HIT) ensure hearing aid is working optimally or identify when it needs to be repaired.

·Prepare clinical rooms for use. This will include switching on and preparation of equipment. Conducting daily calibration checks, flagging any issues or equipment, which

 should be further, investigated or sent for repair. Cleaning, maintaining and record keeping of medical equipment.

Maintain stock levels and restocking of clinical rooms as appropriate to enable smooth running of the department including ordering hearing aids and ensure stock levels of aids and related products are maintained to agreed levels.

To deal with requests for batteries/spare parts and posting them out to families

Working for our organisation

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,551 to a maximum of £5,735 pro rata for part time).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Please see the attached Job description and Person specification for more information about this role and working at NELFT. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

GCSE English and Maths (Grade A-C / > Level 4) Deaf Awareness

Experience

Essential criteria

Work Experience with customers or patients Experience of effective communication Experience as healthcare assistant / Band 3 Audiology

Desirable criteria

Experience with those with communication difficulites

Trust Values

Essential criteria

Putting People First Prioritising Quality Being Progressive Being porfessional and honest Promote what is possible, independence, opportunity and choice

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.