Job Advert
NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Audiology Service
PLEASE SPECIFY WHICH POST(S) YOU ARE APPLYING FOR AT THE TOP OF YOUR SUPPORTING STATEMENT.
In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe and Respectful. The post holder is required to work collaboratively in a safe, care and respectful way.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran, located on the west coast of Scotland including the Islands of Cumbrae and Arran, has a comprehensive Audiology Service providing care to a population of 275,000 citizens.
The service is delivered from two acute hospitals (University Hospital Ayr and University Hospital Crosshouse) and a number of peripheral locations including patients’ homes. We are a forward thinking and progressive service which provides comprehensive audiology service care to a mixture of urban and rural communities across Ayrshire & Arran.
The service is contributing to the wider board’s 10 year strategic plan, ‘Caring for Ayrshire’ which is focussed on reforming and modernising services to ensure that care is delivered in partnership with our patients and in the community setting wherever possible. The plan will shape the future of health and care services in Ayrshire & Arran for many years to come and is one of the most exciting opportunities that we’ll experience for many years and should be considered as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to be part of. We would like you to consider being part of this change, influencing and supporting the work required within the Audiology Service in particular. This is required at all levels and is not restricted to those in managerial or leadership roles within the Service. All opinions matter, all experiences count. Creativity and a degree of bolder thinking is very much part of this and will contribute to the work the Audiology Service needs to do to ensure that the service is fit for purpose and meets the aspirations not only of Caring for Ayrshire but most importantly, the local community and its citizens who we look after.
The Audiology Service, part of the Surgical Directorate, enjoys a close working relationship with the local Ear, Nose & Throat Service where historically the Services have worked in partnership in the specialist areas of paediatric audiology and bone anchored hearing aid systems as well as more generally in support of ENT out-patient activities. The National Cochlear Implant Programme is also based within NHS Ayrshire & Arran and while separate from the Audiology Service, is a stone’s throw from the Audiology Department at University Hospital Crosshouse and shares the same ENT Service and surgeons. The Audiology Service delivers care to all sectors of the population providing paediatric and adult assessment and rehabilitation services, tinnitus services, bone anchored hearing aid services, a comprehensive hearing aid maintenance and support service, diagnostic services and newborn hearing screening services. It also works closely with the third sector and the three local authorities in Ayrshire. The service inputs at a national level supporting the work of the Scottish Audiology Heads of Service Group and the subgroups that it has commissioned for tinnitus, paediatrics and balance. Most recently, this has led to the national commissioning of a Management Clinical Network for Paediatric Audiology which the service is a member of. The service is currently staffed by a technical and clinical team of Assistant Technical Officers and Audiologists supported by a dedicated Administration and Clerical Team and while the majority of the service is based within our Acute Hospitals, the service runs independently using its own patient management system and has full autonomy over the booking of patients and scheduling of activities in general. Support for the Service is via a clear line management structure from Head of Service via General Manager to Director and has allowed the Audiology Service over many years to maintain a highly visible profile within the Organisation.
We are looking for highly motivated, flexible people to join our existing hard working and dedicated team. We have positions at Clerical Officer, Assistant Technical Officer, Associate Practitioner and Practitioner level (Bands 2 to 6) and would be keen to hear from individuals currently working in the field of Audiology in general, regardless of background, who consider themselves ready for a move to a service that will itself see significant changes over the next few years and who want to contribute to and support this as well as having a high standard of practice and care when it comes to their clinical activities.
To discuss the opportunities that we have, including full time and part time roles, please make initial contact via audiology.service@nhs.net or call Adrian Carragher, Head of Department, on 07817082097. We’ll be delighted to discuss how you could contribute to this exciting time and how we can support your career at NHS Ayrshire & Arran.
A car owner/driver is essential.