Are you a speech and language therapist who is committed to delivering quality, person-centered rehabilitation that maximise independence and help people to rebuild their lives following complex illness or injury?

We have an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to join our team at Seddon Specialist Rehabilitation Unit.

As part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network (CMRN), we provide individually tailored intervention programmes to suit the need of patients who have suffered traumatic and life-changing diagnoses. We are a motivated, forward thinking team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, rehabilitation assistants, clinical psychologists, a rehabilitation coordinator, social worker and rehabilitation nurses. The team is lead by a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine.

Main duties of the job

The role involves working with adults with acquired and progressive neurological conditions, and requires an excellent knowledge and understanding of the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders. The role also involves a complex dysphagia caseload therefore the successful candidate will have completed dysphagia competencies and be able to manage dysphagia patients with support. Opportunities to develop skills in videofluoscopy will be provided.

The successful candidate will be an effective communicator and listener with a compassionate nature and commitment to delivering outstanding patient care, be willing to go the extra mile and think outside of the box. A flexible approach to day to day tasks is essential in order to meet the demands of the service. You will be keen to develop your assessment and intervention skills for patients with complex communication and swallowing disorders, and be able to work as an integral part of the interdisciplinary team.

You will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to training and support of students, rotational therapists, rehabilitation assistants and nursing colleagues.

We offer an excellent staff supervision system enabling our team to develop both the service and themselves. Support from a Band 7 Speech and language therapist will be provided as well as opportunities for CPD within STHK and across CMRN.

About us

St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the only acute Trust in Cheshire and Merseyside, and one of the few in the entire country, to achieve the title of OUTSTANDING, rated by the Care Quality Commission.

We provide a full range of acute adult services to our local population of circa 360,000 and provide tertiary services across a much wider area in the North West, North Wales, and Isle of Man. We are a Major Trauma Unit and the Mersey Regional Burns Unit.

Our '5 Star Patient Care' strategy is at the heart of all that we do supporting our vision to provide world class services for all our patients by getting it right for every patient, every time.

Our latest achievements include:

• Acute Trust of the Year - HSJ Awards November 2019
• Trust rates Outstanding by CQC - Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• Best acute Trust in the North West for quality of care (NHS Staff Survey 2021)
• Best place to work in the North West (NHS Staff Survey 2021)

In the NHS Staff Survey 2021 the Trust scored the highest marks in the North West for the following areas.

• Standard of care
• Best place to work
• Care of patients being the Trust's priority
• Staff engagement
• Staff morale
• Compassionate and inclusive
• Providing a safe environment for staff

Benefits of working for us

We provide many benefits for staff. Please see attached Staff Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information. Accessible version available upon request.

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these.
• To work on Seddon Rehabilitation Unit.
• To demonstrate as appropriate to role highly developed physical skills for assessment and treatment of patients eg dexterity, co-ordination, palpatory and other senses.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis, and therapy for clients with complex communication and/or swallowing difficulties.
• To develop a specialist knowledge within a specific clinical area.
• To take individual responsibility for maintaining and developing clinical skills to ensure evidence-based practice is offered at all times
• To work autonomously and independently on a daily basis without immediate access to professional support. To be aware of when support is needed and professional boundaries.
• To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge in complex rehabilitation as well as being meaningful to the recipient.
• To have knowledge and /or experience of using Low and High tech AAC with clients.
• To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
• To plan, set up and monitor treatment programmes carried out by rehabilitation assistants for clients on own caseload.
• To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues.
• To ensure that clients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible.
• To adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences. This may include situations that are difficult or challenging.
• To have current knowledge and skills in dysphagia caseload management.
• To liaise closely with SLTs from referring settings and community teams to provide a seamless management of clients' needs.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up to date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
• To collect appropriate data and statistics for the use in the review of the service delivery.
• To use appropriate information technology skills for communication when required.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

• To deliver relevant, evidence-based training to patients, families, carers, and trust staff.
• To provide specific training as required to the patient, family, carers, and other members of the multidisciplinary team on the clinical and therapeutic management of an individual to support their health and wellbeing.
• To supervise clinical and non-clinical staff (including students) as required to do so, considering the breadth of knowledge, skills and experience held and required.
• To attend and contribute to local and national conferences and special interest groups within sphere of practice.
• To maintain own CPD by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate them as necessary into your work, supporting other staff with their CPD.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Delivering change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.
• Influencing, motivating, supporting, and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the trust.
• To provide advice and guidance in working with colleagues locally to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment and long-term management of patients/ service users within sphere of practice.
• To identify innovations and support implementation of new working practices in conjunction with patients/ service users, health, wellbeing, local authority and third sector partners.
• To take responsibility for their own decision making and the decisions of their team which effect service delivery.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Registered Practitioners are required to evidence maintenance of their registration with the relevant regulatory body and work to their Code of Professional Conduct.
• To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
• To measure and evaluate own work and current practices through the use of evidence-based projects, audit, research, statistical information and outcome measures and lead others in doing so.
• To network with practitioner colleagues within the trust and across the Northwest and Nationally, to learn together and share good practice.
• To interpret and implement quality assurance practices within own work situation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Speech & Language Therapy
• HCPC registration

Desirable

• Clinical Educators Certificate or equivalent experience

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence based practise in relevant health setting
• Substantial experience working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders.
• Experience of working with patients with complex neurological conditions.
• Awareness of own strengths and limitations
• Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
• Evidence of effective working within an MDT
• Experience of Service development
• Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches
• Demonstrates continuous Professional Development

Desirable

• Audit and research in a clinical area

Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of evidence-based assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired speech and language disorders in adults
• Knowledge of evidence-based assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired swallowing disorders in adults
• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
• Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
• Have a flexible approach to working
• Good time management Skills

Other

Essential

• Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver

Employer details

Employer name

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

St Helens Hospital

Marshalls Cross Road

St Helens

WA9 3DA

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

409-4856972-B