Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Adult Acute Inpatients

Band 6 Full time

Fixed term contract until 30th August 2024

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join the acute in-patient service at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. This post will join our existing team of 24.2 WTE SLTs and 1.4 WTE SLT assistants. You will be based at St Thomas' Hospital and will be responsible for delivering high-quality care to adult inpatients with communication and/or swallowing disorders on the acute medical and surgical wards.

Main duties of the job

To take clinical responsibility as an autonomous specialist for the provision of a high-quality Speech and Language Therapy service to adult inpatients on the acute medical and surgical wards.

To provide independent clinical management of acute inpatients requiring assessment and rehabilitation of complex communication and swallowing disorders, with the aim of restoring optimum function or offering compensatory strategies. This will include assessing the patients' needs for alternative/augmentative communication where appropriate.

To regularly participate in videofluoroscopic examinations of swallow, analyse and report findings to the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) regarding implications for management and design specialised therapeutic programmes of care.

To be a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy resource for members of the MDT in the management of communication/swallowing disorders.

As a core member of the MDT, to participate in team meetings, ward rounds and family meetings. Where appropriate to propose and assist in the implementation of policy/service development.

About us

There is a strong ethos of clinical support, supervision and development within the team. The service is able to offer you excellent supervision and peer support, with an emphasis on team working. Quality improvement projects and research ideas are strongly encouraged, both within SLT and in the multi-professional teams. We have regular team meetings, plus opportunities for continuing professional development through in-house training, clinical excellence networks and external courses.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To autonomously assess, analyse, make a clinical diagnosis and develop specialised rehabilitative programmes of care for patients on the acute medical/surgical and older persons wards with complex disorders of communication and swallowing.

To develop the use of computer software systems and Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) in rehabilitative programmes as appropriate.

To liaise closely with all members of the MDT, other professional staff, and speech and language therapy colleagues to provide a coordinated therapy programme for each patient.

To attend relevant MDT meetings, case conferences and ward rounds.

To work closely with staff and carers to promote the communication and swallowing skills of patients and to offer guidance and training to those staff and carers. To utilise a high level of inter personal skills to support patients and families in adapting to changed circumstances / impact of disorder.

To communicate complex, condition-related information and results from assessment to patients, families and colleagues in a clear and accessible manner.

To use strong negotiation skills in order to support and advocate for patients and carers, contributing to best interests discussions and decisions.

To refer patients where appropriate to outside agencies and/or speech and language therapy in the Community on discharge. To write discharge reports to ensure continuity of care as per departmental quality standards.

*see full job description for further detail

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice and registered member of HCPC
• Evidence of CPD to Specialist level

Desirable

• Membership/regular attendance of CEN

Previous Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with adults with acquired disorders in an acute hospital and/or rehabilitation/community setting including independent management of dysphagia
• Significant experience of working as an integrated member of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

• Experience of working on Acute inpatient wards
• Experience of working with assistants, junior colleagues and/or volunteers

Skills

Essential

• Evidence of development and delivery of training to other professionals
• Experience of performing and evaluating videofluoroscopy
• Supervision and teaching of SLT students
• Good, reliable team worker and also able to work effectively on own initiative

Desirable

• Exposure to/experience with FEES

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

St Thomas' Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH

London

SE1 7EH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

196-LIS7879