Board Lead for Service Quality
The Service Quality Committee (SQC) Board Lead provides strategic leadership for quality standards, working with the BAA President and the Service Quality Committee. The role involves overseeing the development, implementation, and review of clinical standards and protocols, as well as promoting continuous improvement through audit, QA, IQIPS, and benchmarking initiatives. The SQC Lead advises quality assurance and accreditation bodies on audiology service provision and supports departments and members in delivering high-quality care. They also chair the SQC, develop its annual workplan in line with BAA’s strategic objectives, and represent the BAA Board on external groups as needed.
BAA Service Quality Lead Objectives for 2025
Objective 1: Maintain and strengthen service quality documentation
Supporting Actions
- Review, update and maintain SQC documents across the BAA portfolio.
- Ensure documents reflect current practice and standards.
Objective 2: Respond to national guidance and support implementation
Supporting Actions
- Review recent NICE guidance and respond appropriately.
- Evaluate implications of NICE stroke‑related audiology guidance for service development.
- Support services through the ACAG interpretation document and associated webinar.
Objective 3: Strengthen National Quality Resources
Supporting Actions
- Work with the ASG Committee on hearing aid specification for the next tender.
- Contribute to alignment with Starting from Zero and BAA Quality Improvement resources.
General Objectives for SQC Lead
- To provide overall leadership for service quality standards with the support of the BAA President and the Service Quality Committee
- To provide overall leadership for quality standards and matters pertaining to the production, implementation and monitoring of quality standards within Audiology in the United Kingdom.
- On behalf of the profession, to liaise with and advise Quality Assurance and accreditation bodies on principles and processes for Audiology service provision.
- To set standards and write/approve protocols
- To encourage evaluation and audit of service quality; to support and encourage local/national quality initiatives (audit, QA, IQIPS, benchmarking, etc)
- To support departments and members in improving quality in a variety of ways
- To advise BAA and other stakeholders on associated quality issues regarding provision of paediatric and adult assessment, diagnostic and rehabilitative services
- Chairs the Service Quality Committee
- Leads the development of a workplan for the committee supporting the BAA annual and strategic objectives
- Represent BAA Board on external groups as appointed
BAA Service Quality Committee
Working to support Jane are: Linor Jones, Tracy Pinkerton, Kerry Barker, Sam Riding, Gordon Harrison, Lauren Parry, Lesley Peplow, Alan Bryant, Alison Syms, Marie Lay, Vanessa Sharp and Rashmi Singh.
About Jane
My career in Audiology began as a student Physiological Measurement Technician in 1987 at Southend Hospital in Essex, where I completed the BTEC in MPPM and the BAAT parts 1&2. I gained an Audiology MSc from University College London in 2001. From Southend, I worked at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon. I am currently employed as the Head of Audiology Services for Hywel Dda University Health Board in South West Wales.
Over the years, I have worked in all aspects of clinical Audiology, and also student mentoring and quality assurance/accreditation. My clinical interests are now focused on tinnitus and hyperacusis.
I am a firm believer that education and training is key to building a strong Audiology workforce. Throughout my career, I have been involved in various educational, training and development issues. This has included the development and implementation of the N.V.Q Level III in Audiology, and eight years as an assessor for the practical component of the British Academy of Audiology examinations. I have worked with Bristol University as a Senior Assessor for the BSc final clinical examinations, and later as an external examination verifier for Aston University’s Audiology Foundation degree course.
Since 2013, I have been a peer assessor for the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) IQIPS accreditation scheme. After gaining UKAS accreditation in Swindon, I moved to a full time position within UKAS in 2016 as an Assessment Manager. Supporting services through their accreditation journey was an amazing experience and privilege.
In addition to my Head of Service role, I continue to act as a peer assessor for UKAS, and I am the current chair of the Audiology Speciality Advisory Group, which reports to the Welsh Government.
Throughout my career, I have strived to consistently provide best practice within my work and drive the quality of Audiology services forward for both clinicians and our service users.
Away from work, I often find myself in cold Scottish rivers fly fishing – emphasis on the fishing rather than the catching!