Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity where the post holder will provide clinical expertise in the Paediatric Audiology Service at Kettering General Hospital. This will encompass the delivery, evaluation, monitoring and development of the Paediatric Audiology service with the help of the Clinic Lead and Deputy Head.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate excellent team working and leadership qualities as well as a high level of clinical and communication skill. They will play a key role in providing supervision, training and advice to junior staff and students and will work closely with other specialism leads and a motivated audiology team to work towards IQIPS accreditation, continual development of a quality assurance culture and provision of a patient focused service.

This role is an important part of the new structure of audiology services across Northamptonshire as part of the newly formed Collaboration.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for the provision of paediatric clinical (complex and non complex) audiology services, training and service development, in close working with Clinical Lead and deputising when needed. They will be expected to continually develop and modernise the service with key focus on innovative and patient focused care models.

The successful candidate will manage their own areas of responsibility on a day to day basis but will be required to engage with the planning and implementation of the necessary continuous improvements for IQIPS accreditation, ABR Peer Review and service improvement.

They will lead VRA clinics, making clinical decisions based on results and be competent in electrophysiological testing on newborns.

Job responsibilities
The primary aim of the Paediatric Audiology Service is to provide high-quality, patient-centred, and quality-assured care for all children and families using the service at Kettering General Hospital.

• Maintain high professional standards across all clinical, scientific, technical, rehabilitative, and educational aspects of the service.
• Supervise, train, and support new staff, students, and junior colleagues.
• Understand and utilise departmental systems, including clinical, IT, procurement, rota, and leave management systems.
• Support staff recruitment, retention, development, appraisal, and training in line with Trust policies.
• Assist with audits, service evaluation, quality improvement initiatives, and continuing professional development (CPD) activities.
• Respond to patient complaints professionally and within Trust timescales, using feedback to improve services.
• Keep up to date with developments in paediatric audiology and promote evidence-based practice.
• Comply with Trust policies, including health and safety, risk reporting, confidentiality, and information governance.
• Participate in recruitment and interview processes for new staff.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Support the Clinical Lead and Deputy Head in delivering a safe, effective, and high-quality paediatric audiology service.
• Undertake regular clinical sessions to maintain professional competence and credibility.
• Contribute to the day-to-day management of patient pathways, ensuring high standards of care and achievement of waiting time targets.
• Provide specialist assessment, diagnostic, rehabilitative, and management services within paediatric audiology.
• Offer expert advice to patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• Be accountable for clinical decisions, diagnostic testing, and reporting, particularly in the absence of senior managers.
• Ensure appropriate referrals are made to other services when required.
• Work collaboratively with adult audiology services, ENT consultants, paediatricians, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Monitor and audit clinical effectiveness and contribute to service development and improvement.

Communication Responsibilities

• Communicate complex, sensitive, and potentially distressing information, including hearing loss diagnoses, with empathy and professionalism.
• Adapt communication styles to meet the needs of children, families, individuals with additional communication needs, and those requiring interpreters or sign language support.
• Provide counselling and emotional support to patients and families throughout assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Build effective relationships with patients, carers, and professionals to ensure a holistic approach to care.
• Act as an expert resource for paediatric audiology and advocate for access to appropriate support services.
• Manage challenging situations using effective negotiation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Participate in joint consultations with other professionals and support patients through key transitions, including transfer to adult services.
• Liaise with external organisations and equipment suppliers to optimise patient care and service delivery.

Education, Training and Research

• Complete mandatory training and ensure direct reports do the same.
• Undertake appraisals and support staff development through supervision, mentoring, and performance management.
• Deliver teaching, training, and clinical supervision to students, junior staff, and other healthcare professionals.
• Maintain a structured supervision framework across the service.
• Participate in and contribute to clinical research, audit, presentations, publications, and professional forums.
• Promote shared learning, best practice, and consistent pathways across paediatric audiology services.

General Responsibilities

• Manage a varied workload effectively, working independently and flexibly while maintaining high standards of patient care.
• Attend departmental meetings, participate in appraisal and supervision processes, and contribute to service improvement initiatives.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of audiology techniques, technology, and best practice, sharing learning with colleagues.
• Ensure all patient care is delivered in a professional, confidential, and safe environment.
• Maintain professional registration and continuing professional development in accordance with national standards.

Other Duties

• Undertake any additional duties appropriate to the role and grade, as reasonably required by the service, following consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification - Essential

• BSc / BAAT in Audiology including or equivalent level of knowledge/expertise in field
• Registered to practice as an Audiologist/ Clinical Scientist with either Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS)
• Evidence of Post Graduate CPD
• Significant Experience in Paediatric Audiology at Band 6 + level
• Ability to work in a team and to independently deliver clinical and non-clinical tasks
• Ability to work with a level of autonomy to assess, diagnose, differential diagnose and manage patients and their families
• Ability to work calmly and methodically when under pressure from a busy and varied caseload, demonstrating good prioritisation and organisational skills
• Experience of working within the designated specialist area, e.g. habilitation/ABR/Testing
• Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users
• Demonstrable experience in the relevant clinical area and evidence of clinical competency with a complex patient caseload
• Specialist knowledge of routine and non-routine diagnostic / therapeutic audiological assessment procedures, their interpretation and their implications for patient management
• Experience in formulating comprehensive management plans based on case history information and diagnostic test results, where management decisions may or may not be straightforward
• Experience of working with hearing impaired patients / parents / carers and associated professionals
• Evidence of participation in clinical audit, research, and / or presentations at scientific meetings.

Person Specification - Desirable

• Member of the BAA/BSA
• Training at higher level MSc/HTS/Breaking the News

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Closing date: 27 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 7
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Reference number: 264-8300429-SUR
Employer: Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8UZ
Contact: Kathleen Purvey, Deputy Head Audiology UHN, kathleen.purvey1@nhs.net, 01536492136

Applicants who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment.