A vacancy has arisen for a skilled, and innovative Speech and Language Therapist to join our friendly multidisciplinary adult Community Team for Learning Disabilities (CTLD) based in the coastal town of Pembroke Dock, in beautiful West Wales. You will be working within a multidisciplinary team offering specialist services to adults who have a learning disability across Pembrokeshire.

The post holder will be supervised by the Highly Specialist SLT and will work closely with our Communication Development Officer within the team, providing specialist communication and dysphagia assessment and intervention across the county. The post holder will have access to regular supervision and monthly meetings with the wider ALD Speech and Language Therapy team.

Main duties of the job

Hold an appropriate specialist caseload for communication and dysphagia.

Undertake specialist assessments, including risk assessments, contribute to care planning and deliver evidence-based interventions in collaboration with people who have a learning disability, their carers and other professionals.

Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team offering evidence-based interventions.

Provide training in communication and dysphagia management relevant to the field of ALD to carers, people who have a learning disability, and others, as part of our preventative/early intervention strategy.

Work across pathways and geographical areas as required, according to need and demand.

Supervise, manage and support Communication Development Officers/Speech and Language Therapy assistants and volunteers.

Ensure clinical effectiveness through the use of evidence-based interventions, goal-based, collaborative practice and routine outcome measures

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire

48 general practices (five of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services

Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This post is advertised as a Band 6, however applicants who do not currently hold all the necessary competencies to a Band 6 level are encouraged to apply and, if successful, will be appointed under Annex 21 rules whereby 75% of the top of Band 6 will be payable during the 12 months. Applicants would be supported to develop their competencies required to fulfil the role within 12 months. Following successful completion and successful attainment of skills and competences for the role, the post holder will then be paid at Band 6 (minimum point on the scale). Failure to achieve the competencies in the designated timeframe could result in re-deployment.

As part of the Annex 21 process, there is no financial penalty to those who apply for this role where the percentage will cause a reduction in pay, subsequently a local protection would be put in place until the pay has caught up.

CommunicationsContribute to clinical teams - multi-disciplinary / agency and uni-disciplinary / agency by discussing own and others input around a patient/service users needs ensuring well-co-ordinated person centred care plans MDT meetings and case conferences.

Service ImprovementBe aware of and adhere to all relevant and Health Board and departmental policies and procedures / guidelines / protocols and use specialist knowledge to contribute to the reviewing and developing of departmental policies / procedures / guidelines / protocols

Assessment, Planning and InterventionAssess, diagnose, develop and implement speech and language therapy care packages and discharge patients / service users on own caseload, demonstrating specialist clinical expertise and evidence based practice.

Finance and ResourcesObserve personal duty of care, including security, care and maintenance, of equipment and resources used during the course of work, ensuring standards of Health and safety, Infection Control and Financial Standing are maintained including equipment loaned to patients/service users.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 19.12.2023

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• HCPC registration
• RCSLT membership
• Member of relevant CEN
• Successful completion of specialist short courses relevant to area of clinical expertise to postgraduate diploma level
• Knowledge and experience of working with patients who have a learning disability and dysphagia to a specialist level
• Knowledge of a wide range of specialist assessment tools and procedures to evaluate communication and eating and drinking skills, particularly relevant to the specialist caseload
• Knowledge of key characteristics leading to a specialist differential diagnosis relevant to adults who have a learning disability
• Knowledge of selecting, setting and evaluating specialist treatment goals
• Knowledge of a specialist range of therapeutic interventions demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary team approaches
• Knowledge and understanding of key documents and legislation relating to specialist area.
• Well established knowledge of legal and professional issues of confidentiality
• Knowledge of record keeping standards, data protection / Caldicott guidelines
• Knowledge of health and safety issues
• Basic understanding of the principals of clinical governance / audit
• Highly developed auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically

Desirable

• Student Supervision training - introductory level
• Basic Counselling
• Well established knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to area of clinical expertise
• Knowledge and experience of working with patients who have a learning disability and dysphagia to a highly specialist level
• Knowledge of approaches to mentoring less experienced SLTs and support staff
• Basic qualitative and quantitative research approaches

Experience

Essential

• Considerable post registration clinical experience relevant to the advertised post/specialist area including: o Supervision of support workers o Meeting patient/service user needs through collaborative working with families, carers other professionals and the wider workforce

Desirable

• Full SLT Student placement, inclusive of assessment
• Support of junior staff
• Delivery of specialist training to a range of audiences
• Working with groups

Language Skills

Desirable

• Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Employer details

Employer name

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Address

Pembrokeshire Community Team Learning Disabilities, Llanion House

Llanion Park

Pembroke Dock

SA72 6DY

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

100-AHP163-1123