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Newborn Hearing Screener
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust View all jobs
Posted 1 day(s) ago
Reference: 2467920
Job summary
This is a part time post of 20 hours per week.
Are you self-motivated and able to work on your own and as part of a team? Are you a good communicator and have a passion for patient centred care? If so, this could be the job for you.
We are looking for someone to join our highly motivated team of hearing screeners working across South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead. Newborn Hearing Screening is a national programme offered to newborn babies to identify and refer babies who require an audiological diagnostic test. 1 to 2 per 1,000 babies will be diagnosed with a hearing loss, and early intervention is essential in preventing delays in speech and language.
Main duties of the job
This post involves direct handling of newborns and conversing with both parents and health professionals on a daily basis. You will be responsible for checking clinical equipment and the gathering and input of accurate data onto a national system.
Our service offers hearing screen to all babies born or resident in the South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead areas and is carried out on maternity wards, special care baby units, community clinics and occasionally at babys home. We provide the service over 7 days including weekends and Bank Holidays on a rota system. The core hours are 8am 6pm, with typical shift times being 8:00am until 1:00pm and you must be flexible and able to travel to all locations where the hearing screen is offered.
A candidate with previous hearing screening experience, or of working in a paediatric setting would be advantageous, as would a candidate who has completed the Health Screening Diploma Level 3.
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Details
Date posted
03 November 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 3
Salary
£25,760 to £27,476 a year pro-rata (20 hours per week)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
C9155-GSNM-1126-02-1
Job locations
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Kayll Road
SUNDERLAND
SR4 7TP
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
This is a specialist role working autonomously with both well and special care newborn babies and their families, as part of a team providing universal hearing screening. The post involves:
- explaining the screen and the reason for it, gaining parental consent
- baby handling skills to insert probes into ears, and to attach electrodes and ear muffs
- accurately record clinical and test data relevant to the screening process, including the use of a complex national database and the patient held record.
- responsibility for operating and monitoring the correct function of complex audiological screening equipment
- arranging outpatient appointments for any babies requiring follow-up.
- Responsibility for managing duties on a day-to-day basis ensuring a quality service is delivered, including agreeing an acceptable rota within the team.
- Once experienced, the screener will also be required to supervise and train less experienced staff, and also demonstrate screening to a wide range of observers, to include junior and trainee medical staff, health visitors, audiologists and other non-clinical members of the Newborn Hearing Screening Program team
- To comply with the Trusts vison, values and behavioural compact
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
This is a specialist role working autonomously with both well and special care newborn babies and their families, as part of a team providing universal hearing screening. The post involves:
- explaining the screen and the reason for it, gaining parental consent
- baby handling skills to insert probes into ears, and to attach electrodes and ear muffs
- accurately record clinical and test data relevant to the screening process, including the use of a complex national database and the patient held record.
- responsibility for operating and monitoring the correct function of complex audiological screening equipment
- arranging outpatient appointments for any babies requiring follow-up.
- Responsibility for managing duties on a day-to-day basis ensuring a quality service is delivered, including agreeing an acceptable rota within the team.
- Once experienced, the screener will also be required to supervise and train less experienced staff, and also demonstrate screening to a wide range of observers, to include junior and trainee medical staff, health visitors, audiologists and other non-clinical members of the Newborn Hearing Screening Program team
- To comply with the Trusts vison, values and behavioural compact
Person Specification
Attitude
Essential
- Friendly, approachable, caring attitude
- Demonstrate empathy with staff, patients and relatives
Other
Essential
- Must work on rota basis including weekends and public holidays
- Must meet travel requirements of the post
Qualifications
Essential
- Four GCSEs grade 4-9 to include Mathematics and English or equivalent qualification.
- Willingness to complete national screener training programme within 6 months of commencement in post
- Willingness to undertake level 3 Diploma within 12/18 months of commencement in post
Desirable
- Level 3 Diploma in Hearing Screening
- Completion of NHSP training
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent communication and listening skills to work effectively with parents who may be tired, emotional and/or distressed
- Ability to handle newborn babies with the appropriate level of care and attention
- Good IT and data inputting skills
- Good English literacy skills
- An understanding of patient confidentiality
- Ability to work unsupervised
- Excellent organisational skills and record keeping
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently
- Ability to work under pressure at times
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
- Knowledge of hearing impairment and communication methods
- Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the auditory system
- Understanding of safeguarding processes and child protection procedures, clinical governance arrangements
- Knowledge of the current legislation and national guidance relating to the newborn hearing screening programme
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people
Desirable
- Previous hearing screening experience
- Experience of working with the hearing impaired
- Previous experience working with parents, babies and families
Person Specification
Attitude
Essential
- Friendly, approachable, caring attitude
- Demonstrate empathy with staff, patients and relatives
Other
Essential
- Must work on rota basis including weekends and public holidays
- Must meet travel requirements of the post
Qualifications
Essential
- Four GCSEs grade 4-9 to include Mathematics and English or equivalent qualification.
- Willingness to complete national screener training programme within 6 months of commencement in post
- Willingness to undertake level 3 Diploma within 12/18 months of commencement in post
Desirable
- Level 3 Diploma in Hearing Screening
- Completion of NHSP training
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent communication and listening skills to work effectively with parents who may be tired, emotional and/or distressed
- Ability to handle newborn babies with the appropriate level of care and attention
- Good IT and data inputting skills
- Good English literacy skills
- An understanding of patient confidentiality
- Ability to work unsupervised
- Excellent organisational skills and record keeping
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently
- Ability to work under pressure at times
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
- Knowledge of hearing impairment and communication methods
- Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the auditory system
- Understanding of safeguarding processes and child protection procedures, clinical governance arrangements
- Knowledge of the current legislation and national guidance relating to the newborn hearing screening programme
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people
Desirable
- Previous hearing screening experience
- Experience of working with the hearing impaired
- Previous experience working with parents, babies and families
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.
Employer details
Employer name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Kayll Road
SUNDERLAND
SR4 7TP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Kayll Road
SUNDERLAND
SR4 7TP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)