Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
- Employer
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
- Location
- Worcester
- Salary
- £35,392 to £42,618 a year
- Closing date
- 8 Oct 2023
View more categoriesView less categories
- Profession
- Mental health
- Grade
- Band 6
- Hours
- Part Time
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An opportunity has arisen to work in our friendly team, to provide specialist SLT input to acute inpatients at Worcester Royal Hospital & Alexandra Hospital, Redditch. This includes the oncology wards working flexibly to ensure adequate cover on both sites. The post will primarily focus on inpatient dysphagia assessment and management. There is access to video-fluoroscopy and FEES Services. This post is part of a fixed term contract for maternity leave cover.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be able to provide specialist swallowing and communication input to acute inpatients across sites with a varying range of aetiologies.
They will independently manage an inpatient caseload, seeking support from peers and supervisor as required.
The individual will be able to efficiently prioritise their workload balancing clinical versus non-clinical demands.
The individual will have excellent interpersonal skills and work as part of the SLT team and wider MDT.
They will have good IT skills and be able to use electronic patient records.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patient/client care:
To assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Treatment
To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge
To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes
To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication, voice and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties
To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible
To demonstrate negotiation skills
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences
To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management
Policy/service development/implementation:
To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building
To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies
To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate
Financial and physical resources:
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate
To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients
Human resources
To supervise the work of assistants and volunteers
To participate in student placements as appropriate
To provide mentoring to more junior Speech and Language Therapists
To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers
To assist in the support of students from other professional groups as appropriate
To participate in specialist training in area of clinical expertise
To assist with the identification of training needs within the team
Information resources:
To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies
To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines
To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines
Research and development:
To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness
To undertake Clinical Governance /audit projects within local service
To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects
To collect and provide research data as required
Freedom to act:
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct
To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals
Knowledge and Skills:
Communication and relationship skills:
To contribute to clinical teams both multi disciplinary and uni disciplinary by discussing own and others input around clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan
To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions
To work closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management
To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist
To develop skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process
To develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties
To employ excellent communication skills
Knowledge, training and experience:
To demonstrate Specialist Knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence based practice
To manage caseload independently
To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework
To participate in Individual Performance Review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical specialism
To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the adult acute inpatients and voice outpatients and maintain up to date HPC and RCSLT registration
To attend Specialist Short Courses appropriate to clinical specialism
To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines
To participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical specialism
To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise with and without support
To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in stroke rehabilitation
To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field
To attend relevant course, meetings and special interest groups
To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding, , Working with Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act and other legal frameworks
To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice
Analytical and judgmental skills:
To develop the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication /voice and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness
To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management
To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve
To use specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management
To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice as appropriate
To develop clear care plans based on best practice
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs
To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants
To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided
To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances
Planning and organisational skills
To manage and prioritise own caseload independently
To manage and prioritise own workload
Physical skills
To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients
To demonstrate skills in handling clients with disabilities
Effort and Environment:
Physical effort:
To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of patients/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
Mental effort:
To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.
To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions
Emotional effort
To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of stroke and other patients and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the communication and swallowing difficulties and implications of the same
To demonstrate the ability to manage patients with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies
Working conditions:
To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis
To employ appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the workplace
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be able to provide specialist swallowing and communication input to acute inpatients across sites with a varying range of aetiologies.
They will independently manage an inpatient caseload, seeking support from peers and supervisor as required.
The individual will be able to efficiently prioritise their workload balancing clinical versus non-clinical demands.
The individual will have excellent interpersonal skills and work as part of the SLT team and wider MDT.
They will have good IT skills and be able to use electronic patient records.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
- Best services for local people
- Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
- Best use of resources
- Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patient/client care:
To assess, develop and implement Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Treatment
To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge
To provide appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes
To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication, voice and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties
To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible
To demonstrate negotiation skills
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures
To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences
To demonstrate skills in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload management
Policy/service development/implementation:
To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building
To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies
To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate
Financial and physical resources:
To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate
To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients
Human resources
To supervise the work of assistants and volunteers
To participate in student placements as appropriate
To provide mentoring to more junior Speech and Language Therapists
To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers
To assist in the support of students from other professional groups as appropriate
To participate in specialist training in area of clinical expertise
To assist with the identification of training needs within the team
Information resources:
To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies
To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines
To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines
Research and development:
To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness
To undertake Clinical Governance /audit projects within local service
To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects
To collect and provide research data as required
Freedom to act:
To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate
To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct
To work independently accessing appraisal within an Individual Performance Framework at pre-determined intervals
Knowledge and Skills:
Communication and relationship skills:
To contribute to clinical teams both multi disciplinary and uni disciplinary by discussing own and others input around clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan
To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions
To work closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management
To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist
To develop skills in motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process
To develop negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible
To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties
To employ excellent communication skills
Knowledge, training and experience:
To demonstrate Specialist Knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence based practice
To manage caseload independently
To identify personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/ Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework
To participate in Individual Performance Review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical specialism
To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the adult acute inpatients and voice outpatients and maintain up to date HPC and RCSLT registration
To attend Specialist Short Courses appropriate to clinical specialism
To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines
To participate in the development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical specialism
To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise with and without support
To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in stroke rehabilitation
To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field
To attend relevant course, meetings and special interest groups
To develop a working knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding, , Working with Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act and other legal frameworks
To develop a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice
Analytical and judgmental skills:
To develop the ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication /voice and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness
To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management
To recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to resolve
To use specialist knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case management
To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice as appropriate
To develop clear care plans based on best practice
To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers and mentors and identify own strengths and development needs
To develop the ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of course participants
To develop the ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided
To adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances
Planning and organisational skills
To manage and prioritise own caseload independently
To manage and prioritise own workload
Physical skills
To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment diagnosis and treatment of patients/clients
To demonstrate skills in handling clients with disabilities
Effort and Environment:
Physical effort:
To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of patients/carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies and ensure the safe positioning of self and others
Mental effort:
To maintain intense concentration in all aspects of patient management for prolonged periods. In particular, to monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication, adapting and facilitating according to perceived client needs including cultural and linguistic differences.
To be flexible to the demands of the environment including unpredictable work patterns, deadlines and frequent interruptions
Emotional effort
To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of stroke and other patients and their carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the communication and swallowing difficulties and implications of the same
To demonstrate the ability to manage patients with challenging behaviours including the application of appropriate management strategies
Working conditions:
To work within infection control and health and safety guidelines in order to deal appropriately with unpleasant conditions related to client contact as they arise: for example exposure to body fluids, infectious conditions, encountered on a regular basis
To employ appropriate strategies to manage aggressive behaviour within the workplace
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent.
- Membership of RCSLT
- Registration with HCPC
- Relevant post-graduate courses/conferences
- Membership of relevant CEN
- Computer literate
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in relevant specialty fields which will have led to:
- the acquisition of sound and well-established theoretical and practical specialist knowledge.
- successful experience of working and learning in multi-professional teams.
- experience of working with complex conditions with an appropriate level of autonomy.
- To include experience/training in the following treatment and assessment techniques:
- - dysphagia assessment and treatment
- - dysarthria assessment and treatment
- - aphasia assessment and treatment
Desirable
- Prior experience in working in an acute hospital setting
- Prior experience of referring to and interpreting instrumental assessments e.g. video-flu
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
C9365-23-0450
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