Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities in collaboration with Local Manager:

• Transfer confidential patient information and records between sites and track babies’ movements between hospitals on a daily basis.
• Ensure effective communication of screening results by inputting data on systems such as S4H, EPIC and EPR.
• Ensure adherence to infection control policies for self, babies and all equipment; liaise with local manager to ensure appropriate protocols are in place and support other screeners in complying with these protocols.
• To ensure screening equipment is set up properly, checked according to local and national protocols, is safe and ready to use at all times; identify and report faulty equipment; ensure equipment is properly charged and appropriately secured; annual conditioning dates are monitored effectively.
• To ensure environment in NHSP clinics is appropriate for screening and raise any operational or risk management concerns with NHSP Local Manager.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times for service users, staff and professionals.
• To ensure all parents of eligible babies are offered the Newborn Hearing Screen in a timely fashion in line with the National Team Quality Standards.
• To work with the programme manager to ensure the hearing screening programme is carried out as per national and local protocols and to write, review and update local protocols and procedures as and when necessary.
• To promote the principles of a ‘family – friendly’ service by ensuring that parents and carers are given clear and accurate information regarding the hearing screening programme at all times.
• On a day to day basis manage and/or provide cover on the ward and in clinics for unforeseen absences or circumstances.
• Represent the NHSP team at local and external meetings as required e.g.: NHSP local managers meeting, postnatal ward meetings, etc. cascading information to other team members as required.
• Communicate on a daily basis with all staff on the maternity wards and NNU regarding appropriateness and timing of the hearing screen.
• Communicate accurate information about the hearing screen and results to parents and professionals including, recording accurate results of the screen in medical files (paper and electronic).
• Communicate outcomes and expectations for follow-up to own team members using accurate record keeping through daily handover and by making clear, concise case notes on S4H and hospital IT systems, and externally for the benefit of health visitors and audiology team.
• Gain informed verbal consent prior to the screen and motivate and support parents to comply with the screen.
• Communicate sensitively with mothers when they may be feeling vulnerable; barriers may include language, cultural and emotional factors, anxiety from hearing screen results, postnatal depression and social issues, etc.
• Liaise with interpreting and advocacy services as appropriate.
• Take shared responsibility with local manager on behalf of screeners to ensure all patient outcomes including follow-up processes are robust and communicated effectively to all team members.
• Provide advice and guidance on clinical issues relating to newborn hearing screening to screeners and to other stakeholders within the Trust or Acute Trust e.g.: midwives, health visitors, doctors and staff on NNU.
• Support, elaborate upon and explain new protocols, updates and information to other team members through team meetings, individual feedback and other appropriate means.
• Provide feedback to screeners on their screening performance in liaison with the NHSP Local Manager.
• Communicate effectively with trainees from other disciplines both individually and in small groups on the topic of newborn hearing screening. E.g. inductions and awareness sessions.
• To ensure all administrative and clinical information including test results are accurately recorded on the record sheets, the S4H database and in the screening equipment databases.
• To carry out administrative functions and regular data quality checks within the S4H database as specified by NHSP national policy and guidelines.
• To audit the programme regularly as required locally and nationally and produce written and statistical reports on request.
• To ensure the screening team maintains confidentiality in the written and spoken word.
• Collect and maintain confidential information; including when transferring patient data from site to site.
• Input patient demographics and results accurately onto S4H; upload test results from screening equipment to S4H; assist screeners in resolving issues with data upload and S4H.
• Monitor screeners’ data entry and record keeping on a daily basis and provide feedback.
• Ensure that GPs and Health Visitors are informed of all follow-up screening outcomes (babies with risk factors) and babies needing diagnostic audiology testing by means of sending electronic/hard copies of appointment and discharge letters.
• Assist the Local Manager in developing, improving and providing on a regular basis, reports on screening activity and team productivity, using spreadsheets and databases as required.
• Have an approachable and professional manner when dealing with professionals such as health visitors and GPs enquiring about babies’ screening status. Ensure timely and correct information is given in order to maintain an excellent profile of the department.
• To ensure arrangements are made for the routine calibration, maintenance and repair of all screening and technical equipment in accordance with NHSP national policy and local guidelines.
• To maintain sufficient supplies of consumables and any other stock/non-stock items required by the programme and re-order as necessary.
• To ensure that equipment is used in accordance with NHSP national protocols.
• To establish and maintain an organised working environment for the screening team working on the postnatal wards, special care / neonatal intensive care units and other settings.
• In conjunction with the programme manager, to be responsible for the recruitment and selection of screening team staff.
• To have delegated responsibility for the initial training of new screeners, including a full induction programme and participate in the training of new screeners in accordance with local and national policy; and the day to day clinical supervision of all screeners.
• To ensure that new staff (screeners and administrator) is appropriately trained in order to use the information systems effectively and accurately.
• To establish, motivate and develop the team and carry out regular competency assessments in order to provide performance feedback and to assist in the identification of individual training needs.
• To have delegated responsibility for inductions, health and safety, co-ordination of mandatory training, rosters, annual leave approval and notification of absences.
• To support Local Manager in completing competency assessments towards External Competency Assessment for new screeners and annual competencies for screeners.
• To support Local Manager in registering new screeners for the Health Screening Diploma (HSD) and support their learning and development needs.
• To obtain the Certificate of Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) qualification.
• Participate in leadership, supervisory and management trainings on offer within Whittington Health or externally (subject to funding).
• To seek opportunities for feedback from service users, incorporating these views in service delivery and standards in conjunction with the NHSP Local Manager.
• Conduct visits across other sites and explore possibilities of incorporating good ‘practice’.
• Constantly strive to develop current ‘practice’ into even better ‘practice’ by means of patient surveys, designing questionnaires and other patient satisfaction measures.
• Carry out weekly and monthly audits.
• To assist in areas of clinical audit, clinical governance and research for the service; including daily recording of activity statistics. E.g. Screener daily activity logs.
• Participate in and deliver the monthly antenatal sessions at the hospital raising the profile of the service and highlight the importance of the NHSP screen for newborn babies.
• To be aware of and act in accordance with agreed policy procedures, legislation and national standards.
• To adhere to Whittington Health’s local policies and procedures at all times.
• To take responsibility for your professional development and build knowledge and awareness of the skills and competence required to work directly with children/young people as a reflective practitioner
• To take part in clinical supervision on a regular basis according to Whittington Health’s requirements.
• To participate in clinical governance initiatives including clinical audit in order to promote the development of patient-centred, evidence-based practice.
• To safeguard and promote the welfare of children
• To monitor the safeguarding responsibilities, performance and training of the team members whom they manage with support from local manager.
• To undertake regular Safeguarding Children training at a level commensurate with role.
• To work in partnership with other agencies to deliver effective services as part of a multi-agency approach
• To comply with Whittington Health and hospital infection control standards and policies, and attendance at annual infection control training.
• To comply at all times with local policies and procedures.
• To participate in Clinical Audit, Clinical Governance and training.
• To report and record all incidents or ‘near misses’ as per Whittington Health policies and to report such incidents to the NHSP national team in a timely fashion.
• The post holder will be accountable to the Service Manager, Audiology and Newborn Hearing Screening Programme.
• To develop a working knowledge of the principals of Clinical Governance.