Chime: Training Audiologists of the future

Audiology is an ever expanding area of clinical health and care with new technologies and methods constantly being developed in order to prevent, diagnose and treat varying levels of hearing loss and related conditions.

There is a wealth of hearing aid options on the market, ensuring that there is something for every unique need, enabling people with hearing loss to experience life to its fullest potential.

With the rapid development of knowledge and technology and the increasing awareness of the difficulties of hearing loss, as well as the recent decline in qualified audiology graduates, it is more important than ever that audiologists receive the best possible training.

Moreover the profession must seek new ways to evolve and futureproof its expert and specialist healthcare professionals as we look to treat more people with hearing difficulties due to the ageing population.

1 in 6 of people ( 11 million ) live in the UK with hearing loss, and 70% of people over 70 years of age having hearing loss that can be improved with expert hearing care from specialists such as Chime.

In light of this, Chime are proud to have pioneered this initiative and partnered with our local education provider University Centre South Devon on the training and development of those wishing to forge a career as specialists in hearing.

Audiology trainees study towards obtaining a Foundation Degree in Healthcare Practice (Assistant Practitioner). This is currently a generic healthcare foundation degree program, which includes Audiology modules, with the first Audiology modules starting in 2018. This is a unique practice based degree which been designed to ensure that the next generation of audiology healthcare specialists continues to flourish.

The innovative programme runs over two years and is designed and delivered by Chime. Interested graduates can then apply for posts within Chime.

Chime Managing Director Jonathan Parsons, comments “starting with a small cohort of 3 students in 2017 and taking another 4 students in 2018 this is a unique programme designed to ensure that the skill mix of our workforce across the healthcare landscape continues to grow in both diversity and value for money for our commissioners and maintain our quality standards and excellence in hearing care”.

Students work alongside our staff, enabling them to get first hand on-the-job experience as part of their studies, ensuring a multi-dimensional learning experience. The programme presents a really exciting opportunity for successful applicants to learn specialist skills whilst being in a professional role, with the option to progress on to further following completion of the qualification.

For applications for the Assistant Practitioner role and to learn more about the programme, please visit the University Centre South Devon Website or email university@southdevon.ac.uk