Newborn Hearing Screener

Job Summary

The role of new born hearing screener sits within the new born hearing screening team, which is part of the Audiology Department within the Head and Neck CSU. It has strong links with Maternity services and the wider antenatal and new born screening programmes.
The role is based in both Leeds General Infirmary and St James Hospital, where you will be screening primarily on the inpatient wards, delivery suite and neonatal units as well as outpatient clinics within the hospital. The service operates over 7 days per week, including weekends and bank holidays.
We are looking for a confident, articulate person to join our team of hearing screeners in Leeds. The role involves offering and carrying out hearing screening in all new borns born or resident in Leeds, including obtaining informed consent, carrying out the screening test, giving results, explaining ongoing surveillance or referral, uploading electronic results and completing administrative tasks related to the programme. The majority of screening is carried out on the post natal wards, where you will be part of a team but working individually with families. The role is very rewarding and the team is very supportive.

For more information on the Newborn Hearing Screening programme see here:

Newborn hearing screening: programme overview – GOV.UK

On commencement you will be required to work full time for the first 2 weeks in order to undertake training for the role.

This vacancy may close early once there are enough suitable applicants.

What you will bring to the role

You will need to have excellent communication skills in order to gain informed consent from a variety of people from a variety of backgrounds, using clear and accurate explanation adapted to the service users needs, and delivered with empathy and patience.

You will have an ability to use information technology (after training) to upload test results and perform failsafe activities at the end of the day.

You will be willing to undertake the Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening. For more information see here:

Health Screener Training | Gloucestershire Research & Education Group | GREG

Flexibility will be key in order to provide cover for our seven day a week service with every member of the team working weekends and bank holidays at some point.

Teamwork is key in this service, so a strong team work and work ethic is a must.

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

We’re committed to recruiting exceptional people to deliver outstanding services across Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and helping every colleague reach their full potential. We’re looking for a compassionate, inclusive, and collaborative leader who shares our values and can build strong partnerships. We warmly invite applications from people from a variety of backgrounds and sectors, and are especially keen to hear from individuals from a minority ethnic background. We’re dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and has a true sense of belonging, as we work together to deliver the best in healthcare to the people of Leeds and beyond.

Sponsorship Eligibility

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

The Newborn Hearing Screening service is based in St James Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary (Clarendon Wing) and provides hearing screening to all babies born or living in the Leeds area within the first 3 months of life.

We are looking for a motivated, conscientious individual with a flexible, adaptable approach to join our established team of screeners. Good communication and interpersonal skills are required preferably with experience of working with young babies and children.

The post requires being able to work well as part of a team and also on your own initiative. You must be methodical and well organised and it is essential for you to be able to prioritise your own workload to ensure that all babies are screened. You must be able to remain calm when under pressure as you will frequently be required to cover busy postnatal wards and clinics alone. You will also be required to screen babies on the neonatal units and other wards around the hospital. An adaptable approach to the role including administrative aspects is important.

Qualified to GSCE standard (or equivalent) is a minimal requirement, good computer skills and IT awareness are essential and deaf awareness would also be an advantage.

The hours available are 15 (2 x 7.5hr shifts) and include working weekdays, weekends and bank holidays. It is essential that you are able to be flexible and available to work any of these shifts on any day. We have two positions, one is to cover Thurs and Fri each week with a Sat or Sun on a monthly basis in lieu of a week day. The other is to cover a Fri and Sat every week.

Full training will be provided, and you will be required to undertake and pass the Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening, self-directed learning and self-study time will be essential.