Head of Audiology

The post holder will oversee the Audiology Service at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, ensuring it operates effectively and efficiently to meet patient needs. The candidate will be a highly qualified professional, either an Audiologist, Hearing Therapist, or Clinical Scientist (Audiology) with a postgraduate degree.

Main duties of the job

Provide professional leadership, strategic direction, and development of Audiology within the Trust; provide expert advice on complex clinical issues to the team and to other professions; lead and support all Audiology staff; maintain high staff morale and promote a team approach; communicate hearing services information to other professions, services, the public, commissioners, and other agencies; sustain links with colleagues and agencies to continuously improve services; lead departmental meetings and audits; represent Audiology at Trust Board level; ensure a clear supervision/competency structure across the service.

Responsibilities by area

• 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.
• 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.
• Patient Care
  • Act as lead clinician for complex audiology cases.
  • Independently assess, diagnose, and manage patients with hearing, tinnitus, or balance disorders.
  • Work with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., ENT, SALT, education).
  • Ensure patient-centred, safe, and effective care using streamlined pathways.
• 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.
• 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.
• Training and Education
  • Develop and implement training strategies.
  • Provide clinical supervision and support for all staff.
  • Organise placements and contribute to regional education initiatives.
• 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.
• 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.

Additional information

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, joining the DBS update service and paying the annual subscription fee of £16 will be a condition of employment.

About us

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and one of its largest employers. We aim to reflect the communities we serve and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity. We welcome applicants from underrepresented groups.

If you require support with your application, please contact the recruitment team. We recognise that flexible working is important and will consider requests where possible to fit service needs.

Benefits

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics, and more
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - loans, savings, and debt management tips
• Stockport Credit Union - local financial advice

Job responsibilities

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.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks and salary details are provided as part of the role.