Healthcare Science Practitioners in Audiology (Band 5) and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners in Audiology (Band 6) provide face to face care to adult and paediatric patients without direct supervision.
The role includes both assessment of hearing and management of hearing loss. In addition to receiving referrals from Ear Nose and Throat Specialists, this role can include direct referral routes from GP’s and in some cases from patients themselves.
Healthcare Science Practitioners and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners in Audiology provide support and supervision to junior staff in the team
Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners often have a training/mentoring role for students and apprentices. They might also specialise in specific areas of the service such as Paediatrics, Vestibular Assessment & Rehabilitation, Complex Adult Assessment & Rehabilitation or Tinnitus Therapies.
The responsibilities of the Healthcare Science Practitioner in Audiology (Band 5) include:
In addition to the above responsibilities, Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners in Audiology (Band 6) may specialise in specific areas of the service such as Paediatrics, Vestibular Assessment/Rehabilitation, Complex Adult Assessment/Rehabilitation or Tinnitus/Hearing Therapy.
Good verbal and written communication skills are essential as the role includes communication with patients, carers, and other health professionals. They must also be able to support junior staff as required.
Healthcare Science Practitioners and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners must have excellent organisational skills and be able to appropriately prioritise their own workload. They can work as part of a team and use their own initiative. Healthcare Science Practitioners and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners need to be able to work in a calm and methodical manner as they have a busy and varied workload.
A caring nature is essential as the role is patient focused. As a significant proportion of this role includes aural rehabilitation, excellent counselling skills are required.
Band 5: £27,055 to £32,934 per year pro rata
Band 6: £33,706 to £40,588 per year pro rata
Usually Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm (Occasional weekend work depending on the requirements of the service).
Usually employed in the NHS although some opportunities to work within the private sector are available. There are also limited opportunities to join clinical research facilities.
No previous experience is required before beginning the degree programme or degree apprenticeship programme, however experience working as a Healthcare Science Assistant/Senior Assistant in Audiology/Healthcare Science Associate Audiologist would be useful. A previous caring role might be advantageous. Volunteering work in an associated area would also be beneficial.
Significant post qualification experience is expected prior to progression to a Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioner role.
This is a patient facing role so a good fit for this position is a people centred person with an open approach, who has good problem-solving and technical ability, and communication skills.
On successful completion of a relevant qualification (please see below) graduates are usually employed as a Healthcare Science Practitioner in Audiology at Band 5 level. Progression to a Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioner in Audiology (Band 6) is dependent on post qualification experience and involvement in additional responsibilities in the department. It is usually necessary to apply for specialist posts as they become available.
Healthcare Science Practitioners and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners in Audiology work without direct supervision. The work is very varied and staff at this level need to be adaptable to the demands of the patient and service overall.
Healthcare Science Practitioners and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners follow departmental policies and procedures to maintain departmental standards and ensure patient safety. They also follow role specific British Society of Audiology recommended procedures for practice.
As with other jobs in the Audiology Department, a significant part of this role involves the use of computers and medical equipment associated with the Audiology Department.
Healthcare Science Practitioners and Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners are usually required to register with a professional body, such as AHCS or RCCP.
Progression from Band 5 Healthcare Science Practitioner to Band 6 Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioner role is possible with post qualification experience and further study. It is usually necessary to apply for Specialist Practitioner posts as they become available.
In some cases, it is also possible to progress from Band 6 Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioner roles to Band 7 Team Leader roles. This usually involves masters level study and/or management studies to provide clinical leadership and advanced clinical practice in the Audiology Department.
To become a Healthcare Science Practitioner in Audiology (Band 5) it is necessary to complete either a BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science – Audiology/BSc (Hons) Audiology degree or a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Healthcare Science – Audiology. These programmes take a minimum of 3 years to complete. They include a taught theoretical component and practical on-the-job training and assessment to gain competency in the role.
To access the Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Healthcare Science – Audiology it is compulsory to have gained employment first within an Audiology Department in the NHS.
Students who apply directly to UCAS to enrol on either a BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science – Audiology or BSc (Hons) Audiology degrees are not employed by the NHS, but instead complete placements in local Audiology Departments.
Progression to a Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioner in Audiology (Band 6) is dependent on post qualification experience and involvement in additional responsibilities in the department. Some Specialist Healthcare Science Practitioners have completed additional qualifications, such as master’s level study and Higher Training Scheme (HTS) modules. It is usually necessary to apply for specialist posts as they become available.
There are two main routes to become a Healthcare Science Practitioner (Band 5). These include:
To enter via the NHS Practitioner Training Programme (PTP), you’ll need to study a full-time (usually 3-year) accredited integrated BSc degree in Healthcare Science (Audiology) in Higher Education. At least 50 weeks of work-based training placements in the NHS is included in these programmes. For example, the University of Sunderland offers a BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences degree, with the offer of integrated clinical placements each year in an approved clinical training laboratory. If you would like to follow this route, you would apply for BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences, then apply for the Audiology route when you start the course.
As a graduate you can enter via the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) This programme gives the opportunity to be employed in a fixed-term, salaried training post, while studying a Master’s degree qualification in clinical science (respiratory and sleep sciences).
You will need a degree – BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science – Audiology or BSc (Hons) Audiology). Applications via this route would be submitted online through UCAS. The British Academy of Audiology provides a list of accredited degree programmes. This is also known as the Practitioner Training Programme (or PTP) route.
Entry requirements will vary dependant on the degree or degree apprenticeship programme route and the University. It is important that you check specific University requirements.
Requirements usually include:
Apprenticeship and NHS Trust funded routes
Opportunities and applications via this route are available online through multiple websites, such as NHS Jobs and GOV.UK’s “find an apprenticeship” service.
Entry requirements will vary dependant on the degree or degree apprenticeship programme route and the University. It is important that you check specific University requirements.
Requirements usually include:
