Head of AudiologyNHS

Job summary

The post holder will be responsible for overseeing the Audiology Service at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring it operates effectively and efficiently to meet patient needs. This role requires an individual who is a highly qualified and experienced professional, either as an Audiologist, Hearing Therapist, or Clinical Scientist (Audiology) with a postgraduate degree.

Key responsibilities include managing daily clinical operations, developing and executing strategic plans for the service, and allocating staff resources effectively to optimise service delivery. In addition, they will implement clinical governance frameworks to maintain safety and quality in patient care, engage in research and development to advance service practices, and ensure sound financial management to achieve budgetary goals.

Reporting directly to the Divisional Nurse Director (Surgery), the post holder will ensure that the Audiology Service consistently provides a high-quality, complex, and sophisticated range of clinical services that adhere to the highest national and international standards for audiological care.

Moreover, the postholder will be responsible for training and supervising staff within the department, creating an environment that fosters continuous learning and professional growth. They will also monitor and evaluate departmental performance against key operational metrics.

Main duties of the job

Provide effective Professional Leadership and efficient organisation, management, strategic direction, and development of Audiology within the Trust

Provide expert advice regarding complex and highly complex clinical issues to other members of the team and to other professions

Provide leadership direction and support for all Audiology staff

Support and encourage staff to maintain high staff morale and motivation, always prompting a team approach

Communicate information in respect of hearing services to other professions and services, the public, other agencies, and commissioners to promote better understanding of the needs of people with hearing difficulties and/or other associated symptoms i.e., balance and or tinnitus

Maintain Links with colleagues and agencies within and outside the NHS to continuously improve services

Lead departmental meetings and audit

Represent Audiology at Trust Board Level

Ensure that a clear supervision / competency structure is in place across the service

Job description

Main Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Service Management

• Lead the Audiology team and provide strategic direction.
• Represent Audiology at Trust Board level and external agencies.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, appraisal, and performance management.
• Develop and implement service improvement and business plans.

2. Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with national clinical governance and safety standards.
• Lead audits, risk assessments, and complaints management.
• Maintain quality assurance systems and promote evidence-based practice.

3. Patient Care

• Act as lead clinician for complex audiology cases.
• Independently assess, diagnose, and manage patients with hearing, tinnitus, or balance disorders.
• Work with multi-disciplinary teams (e.g., ENT, SALT, education).
• Ensure patient-centred, safe, and effective care using streamlined pathways.

4. Policy and Service Development

• Lead on service development aligned to Trust and ICB plans.
• Formulate long-term strategic plans for Audiology.
• Interpret and implement local and national healthcare strategies.

5. Financial and Resource Management

• Hold and manage the departmental budget.
• Lead procurement, maintenance, and calibration of equipment.
• Ensure value for money and cost improvement delivery.

6. Training and Education

• Develop and implement training strategies.
• Provide clinical supervision and support for all staff.
• Organise placements and contribute to regional education initiatives.

7. Research, Audit, and Innovation

• Lead clinical audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Engage in and promote research, clinical trials, and service evaluation.
• Present findings at governance meetings and professional forums.

8. Communication and Collaboration

• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including local authorities, education services, and national bodies.
• Ensure effective team communication and collaborative practice.
• Adapt communication styles to support the needs of patients.

If successful this vacancy will require an enhanced DBS check at a cost of £54.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary

In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16.

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application, please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• NHS pension scheme membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• NHS Staff discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice