Newborn Hearing Screener

Transformationunitgm; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Stevenage is seeking a Newborn Hearing Screener. The role involves screening newborn babies and working closely with families and healthcare professionals. The ideal candidate will have compassion, relevant qualifications, and the ability to communicate effectively. This fixed-term position requires flexible working hours and a commitment to maintaining high standards of care. Join the team in providing outstanding care to the community.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate empathy for the needs and experience of women’s health.
• Hospital or community experience in patient care.
• Working with families.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise and carry out day-to-day tasks.
• Identify babies requiring screening from wards and clinics.
• Obtain informed consent from parents before screening.
• Maintain confidentiality and dignity of babies and families.

Skills

Ability and confidence to handle newborn babies

Effective communication skills with multidisciplinary teams

Ability to work individually and as part of a team

Intermediate IT skills

Ability to multitask

Demonstrates an adaptable and flexible approach towards work

Education

GCSE A* to C (or equivalent) in English, Maths & IT

Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening

NVQ in a health and social care-related subject at Level 2 or above

Passed an OSCE in Newborn Hearing Screening within the last 3 years

Job description

Main area Surgical Specialities. NHS AfC: Band 3. Contract: Fixed term 12 months. Hours: 37.5 hours per week (7-3 and weekend working). Job ref: 361-7554099.

Employer: East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust. Site: East and North Herts Teaching Trust. Town: Stevenage. Salary: £24,937 - £26,598 per annum. Closing: 21/01/2026 23:59.

Newborn Hearing Screener

NHS AfC: Band 3

Here at East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust

Our mission: Providing high-quality, compassionate care for our communities.

Our vision to 2030: To be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service.

Our values: Include, Respect, Improve. We value the diversity and experience of our community colleagues and partners, creating relationships and climates that provide an opportunity to share, collaborate and grow together; Respect: we create a safe environment where we are curious about the lived experience of others, seek out best practice and are open to listening and hearing new ideas; Improve: we are committed to delivering excellent services and continuously looking to improve through a creative workforce that feels empowered to act in service of our shared purpose.

Job overview

We are recruiting for a Newborn Hearing Screener who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.

The post holder will work as a member of a team that screens the hearing of newborn babies within East and North Hertfordshire. To gather and accurately record clinical and test data relevant to the screening process.

This post involves direct handling of newborn babies, contact with their parents, and ongoing communication with healthcare professionals.

At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job

The Newborn Hearing Screener will plan, organise and carry out day-to-day work tasks or activities.

To identify which baby requires screening on the Postnatal Ward, Special Care Baby Unit and in Community Clinics by communicating and assessing with midwifery, medical staff and child health.

To make judgments involving a range of facts or situations which require analysis or comparison in conjunction with protocols and procedures in place.

To obtain informed consent from parents before any screen is carried out by explaining the process and involving the parents from the start.

To carry out the hearing screening of newborn babies within the maternity unit using specialised equipment (full training will be provided). To accurately record clinical and test data by data input.

To promote a professional, welcoming and caring environment endorsing a family-friendly approach.

You are required to complete the Health Care Level 3 Diploma; for fixed-term posts the Diploma may not need to be completed if the post is 12 months, as the diploma requires 24 months to complete.

Working for our organisation

We are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000+ dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. We aim to be flexible and innovative in how we work and deliver services.

Hospitals we run: The Lister Hospital, Stevenage; New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City; Hertford County, Hertford.

We are committed to becoming an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care. We continue to undergo transformation with staff and patients at the heart of delivering this agenda.

We are committed to a positive work-life balance and flexible working patterns where possible. Such requests must be balanced against service needs, but our starting point is to support making them happen.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

· Work as part of an established hospital-based team that provides newborn hearing screening 7 days a week, 365 days a year to all eligible newborns in our area.

· Undertake training commensurate with the role and complete the Level 3 Diploma for Health Screeners; this is a competence-based qualification assessed in the workplace, including online training. Must be IT competent and undergo face-to-face training with supervision and pass an External Clinical Assessment before working unsupervised.

· Identify which babies require screening using the Smart4Hearing (S4H) database and liaising with ward staff.

· Ensure all parents of eligible babies are offered the newborn hearing screen in a timely fashion.

· Organise workload with colleagues to cover postnatal wards and NICU, ensuring as many babies as possible are screened before discharge.

· Maintain a high-quality service that promotes family-friendly hearing services for children.

· Provide clear and accurate information regarding NHSP to parents and carers.

· Explain the screening tests and possible outcomes to parents to obtain informed consent.

· Offer AOAE and/or AABR screening tests and gain verbal consent.

· Carry out hearing screening in inpatient and outpatient facilities, recording results accurately.

· Maintain up-to-date knowledge of NHSP procedures and protocols relevant to the role.

· Explain results and their significance to parents.

· Refer babies to local audiology services promptly using local processes and procedures.

· Maintain confidentiality of babies and families at all times.

· Work with anxious or distressed parents to maintain babies’ dignity, privacy and individuality.

· Establish and maintain effective communication with parents, primary care teams, NHSP teams, and audiology services where follow-up is indicated.

· Ensure equipment safety and report problems to the NHSP local manager at the earliest opportunity.

· Be aware of safeguarding issues and adhere to local procedures.

Person specification

Qualifications / Training

• GCSE A* to C (or equivalent) in English, Maths & IT
• Level 3 Diploma in Health Screening
• NVQ in a health and social care-related subject at Level 2 or above
• Passed an OSCE in Newborn Hearing Screening within the last 3 years

Experience

• Demonstrate empathy for the needs and experience of women’s health
• Hospital or community experience in patient care
• Working with families

Skills

• Ability and confidence to handle newborn babies
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team
• Ability to carry out clinics independently
• Ability to multitask
• Demonstrates an adaptable and flexible approach towards work
• Effective communication skills with multidisciplinary teams
• Intermediate IT skills

Knowledge

• Understanding of the process and methodology involved in the actual hearing screening test and its application

When you apply...

Please note we do not offer visa sponsorship for roles unless clearly stated in our adverts. This means even if you have the right to work currently but will require a new sponsorship to work for our Trust your application will not be considered.

Vacancies may close earlier than the advertised closing date due to high volumes of applications. Submit your application early to avoid missing out on joining the Trust.

We recognise AI can assist in drafting an application. Please clearly demonstrate your personal skills, experience and behaviours that align with the role in your own words. We reserve the right to review all applications for AI use and may reject if inconsistent with our values and standards of behaviour.

All correspondence relating to vacancies will be via the email address provided on your application. Check junk mail as well as inbox.

Secondments/Fixed term

Where a vacancy is advertised as temporary, duration is specified in the advert. If it becomes permanent, you may be slotted into a permanent role without re-application.

If you are an internal applicant applying for temporary work, please see attached notes on secondments.

Committed to our Community

East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all applicants, staff, patients and the wider community. We encourage applications from everyone, including candidates with disabilities and BAME candidates who are under-represented in various parts of our workforce.

We support flexible working where possible and are a Disability Confident employer. If you need an alternative format or adjustments for the interview process, contact [e-mail].

We support Reservists, Cadet Instructors, Veterans and military spouses/partners into employment and value their contribution.

We are a carer-friendly environment and partner with Carers in Hertfordshire to support working carers.

The King’s Trust Support

If you’re aged 16–30, The King’s Trust offers free employability support. Contact Enquiries.H&[e-mail] for support.

Employer certification / accreditation

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020; a Disclosure submission may be required to the Disclosure and Barring Service.