Clinical Specialist Audiologist

Post Title:

Clinical Specialist Audiologist

Post Status:

Permanent

Department:

National Hearing Implant and Viani Research Centre

Location:

Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 

Reports to:

  Principal Audiological Scientist

Salary:

Appointment will be made on Clinical Specialist Audiologist Payscale  (€57,913  to €71,037) at a point in line with Government pay policy. 

Hours of work: 

 Full Time

Closing Date:

12 Noon on Monday 21^st July, 2025

Position Summary:

This is an opportunity to make an important contribution to the provision and development of the

audiology services at a national cochlear implant programme in a major teaching hospital. The post holder has the responsibility to provide a quality audiological service with clinical responsibility for performing and interpreting, a

comprehensive range of audiological diagnostic and rehabilitative procedures, which includes cochlear implant management, with a high degree of autonomy for adults and children.

The Clinical Specialist Audiologist, as part of an integrated team, undertakes complex scientific and clinical roles; analyses, interprets and compares investigative and clinical options and makes clinical judgments, involving facts or situations which impact on patients.  Provide clinical support and leadership in the day-to-day running of the service by supporting and supervising staff, prioritizing and allocating work and promoting positive staff morale.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

CLINICAL

• Diagnostics / Rehabilitative

1. To carry out his/her duties under the direct supervision and control of the Director of NHIVRC

or such other person designated for that purpose by the Chief Executive.

2. Be responsible and accountable for provision of comprehensive audio (including diagnostic

testing, hearing aid assessment/fitting/verification and where appropriate vestibular) diagnostic

assessments, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of (re) habilitative

treatment/intervention programmes for service users according to national, or where appropriate,

international standards.

3. Be responsible for pre-operative cochlear implant assessments, information counselling,

support and post operative rehabilitation.

4. To programme and maintain devices produced by a number of cochlear implant

manufacturers.

5. Document all assessments, treatment/intervention plans, clinical notes, relevant contacts and

summaries in accordance with departmental and professional standards,

6. To carry out the professional duties of an Audiologist, including the (re)habilitation of

children or adults in the hospital and at such other locations as may be required by the Chief

Executive or designated officer.

                7. Arrange and carry out assessment and treatment/intervention programmes in appropriate

settings (e.g. clinic, home, school, day centre) in line with local policy/guidelines,

8. Demonstrate the ability to interpret clinical findings following the full range of audiological

assessments of complex adult and paediatric cases and make clinical management decisions,

9. Communicate results of assessments and recommendations to the service user and relevant

others as appropriate,

10. Collaborate with service user, family, carers and other staff in goal setting and

treatment/intervention planning,

11. Attend clinics and participate in relevant meetings, case conferences as appropriate.

12. To be responsible for pre-operative assessments, informational counselling, support and

post operative rehabilitation.

13. To liaise, communicate and co-operate with other members of NHIVRC.

14. To assist in the management, monitoring and regular calibration of technical equipment.

15. To keep up to date with developments in the fields of cochlear implant and audiology.

• Individual Management Plan (IMP) Development

1. Develop and assist in the delivery of IMPs for adults and children within a specialist cochlear

implant service,

2. Monitoring of IMPs and reviewing the need for further intervention as appropriate.

• Reporting and Practice development

1. Participate in and lead teams as appropriate, communicating and working in collaboration with

the service user and other team members as part of an integrated package of care,

2. In conjunction with the Principal Audiological Scientists on the NHIVRC, contribute to the

development and implementation of local procedures, policies and guidelines while adhering to

existing national standards and protocols,

3. Seek advice and assistance from Senior and Principal Audiological Scientists  and Clinical Specialist Audiologists within the NHIVRC, the regional clinical lead or ANCLA regarding any assigned cases or issues that prove to be beyond the scope of his/her professional competence in line with principles of best practice and clinical governance,

4. Refer patients onto other health care professionals as appropriate.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, EDUCATION & TRAINING

1. Ensure that clinical and professional standards, including confidentiality, ethics and legislation

are maintained at all times and local and national guidelines implemented,

2. Contribute to the development of a patient focused service,

3. Actively engage in and promote continuous professional education and development, including

supervision of trainees,

4. Manage, participate in and play a key role in the practice education of student audiologists and

promote and engage in the teaching/training/support of others as appropriate,

5. Avail of and participate in own supervision with Principal Audiological Scientists on the

NHIVRC team,

6. Maintain and develop professional standards in line with changing practices,

7. Participate in planning reviews, professional supervision, and performance management and

development process with the Principal Audiological Scientists and others as required,

8. Develop and implement policies and procedures to support a safe service provision following

best practice,

9. Manage risk within the audiology and CI service and provide for the requirements of safety standards,

10. Supervision of audiology trainees on placement and when directed by senior staff,

11. Identify and manage the training needs of staff in relation to audiology and CI developments,

12. Participate in mandatory and recommended training programmes in accordance with

departmental/organisational guidelines,

13. Responsible to team based performance management within designated team.

AUDIT & RESEARCH

1. Take responsibility for the quality assurance and audit of outcomes of his/her own work and

work carried out under his/her supervision,

2. Promote and develop clinical audit and research to evaluate effectiveness of care delivery

incorporating the lessons learned through the audit cycle,

3. Participate in and contribute to clinical audit, service evaluation and research projects,

recording and reporting on data as required locally or nationally,

4. Assist in developing local tools for audit and measuring patient satisfaction,

5. Contribute to the development, planning and implementation of processes to evaluate the

effectiveness of audiology services within NHIRC and take responsibility to ensure that the

service is reviewed according to best practice.

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

1. Lead in developing an integrated team-based audiology/CI service within NHIVRC.

2. Contribute to advances in use of technology and assist in the implementation and operation of

these changes,

3. Contribute to the introduction and evaluation of new techniques, methods and equipment,

4. Support Senior Management in coordinating an integrated and patient centred audiology

service within NHIVRC,.

5. Provide information on future predictive service requirements,

6. Serve as a member of any consultative groups, as assigned,

7. Engage proactively in the continual improvement process.

GOVERNANCE

1. Follow departmental and national protocols and practices,

2. Observe the Health & Safety at Work Act 2005,

3. Develop and implement policies and procedures to support safety, best practice and service

provision,

4. Manage risk within the CI service and provide for the requirements of safety standards,

5. Manage resources effectively and provide statistics in line with requirements,

6. Represent the audiology service within NHIVRC and its users in accordance with the

management systems within Beaumont Hospital and participate in processes including:

o Clinical Directorates Management System

o Service Planning Process

o Performance Management

o Risk Management

o Quality Improvement

7. Adhere to all Beaumont Hospital and HSE policies and procedures, seeking clarification from

more senior staff as required,

8. Have a working knowledge of Health Information and Quality Authority Standards as they

apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention

and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

1. Maintain patients’ records and data accurately on the patient management systems (either

manual or electronic) according to the service protocols including; accurate and timely

collection of data, database inputting, transfer of current paper records on to the patient

management system, performing searches and reports included targeted follow up monitoring,

2. To ensure that all procedures used in the service are adequately documented and that this

documentation is kept up to date,

3. Administrative duties relating to patient reception, correspondence, scheduling of

appointments, posting and receipt of hearing aids / cochlear implant processors and accessories,

telephone queries and liaising with patients and caregivers, tracking queries from professionals

and general administrative support in domiciliary service,

4. Calibration and maintenance of equipment, including hygiene and infection control,

5. Ensure that equipment and facilities used for clinical testing are in good working order and

equipment is calibrated at appropriate intervals,

6. Prepare and restock treatment rooms and comply with stock control and stock management

requirements,

7. Ensure stock levels are adequate and manage appropriately within confines of budget

requirements.

9. Use the electronic patient management system to keep track of current stock levels and items of

stock provided to patients,

10. Equipment asset lists and capital replacement,

11. Database development,

12. Assist in appraisal, educational supervision and management of audiologists and students,

13. Assist in organising the induction programme for all students and new audiologists,

14. Manage and administer the resources available in the most efficient and effective manner

possible,

15. Participate in the development and operation of the various hospital administrative,

operational and planning systems and processes.

16. Contribute to the ongoing development of evidence based practices in conjunction with other

audiology, allied health professionals on the team, and ENT team members,

17. To be responsible for the collection of data in a manner that allows research analysis or to be

actively involved in research,

18. To keep such records appropriate to his/her office, as he/she is required by the Chief

Executive or designated officer

Other:

Observe the Health & Safety at Work Act and report to the Safety Officer any matters arising

within the scope of the Act.

Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

• MSc. Audiology or higher degree in a related field
• 3 years experience in diagnostic audiology

Desirable:

• Cochlear implant experience
• Hearing aid fitting and management experience
• Electrophysiology experience 

Informal Enquiries ONLY to:

Name:

Jaclyn Smith/Jyoti Thapa

Title:

Principal Audiological Scientists

Email address:

jaclynsmith@beaumont.ie / jyotithapa@beaumont.ie 

Telephone:

      01 8092191