Full Time - 37.5 Hours Per Week

Are you passionate about supporting people with learning disabilities (LD) and committed to improving their quality of life? If so this role could be what you are looking for.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Speech and Language Therapist to join the Horizon inpatient unit on a full-time post 1.0wte / 37.5 hrs per week.

We are a well-established MDT who provide specialist inpatient support. This team consists of a comprehensive multi-disciplinary team including psychiatrists, psychologists, LD nurses, occupational therapists, speech & language therapists, and healthcare support staff. The Team works together deliver therapeutic assessment and treatment and to support adults with LD and their families/carers.

The Trust is committed to staff development and in-house training to enable the applicant to fulfil the requirements of the role.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients

Main duties of the job

You will be a highly motivated and conscientious individual, who has the desire to work creatively with people with learning disabilities within an inpatient setting.

We are looking for a dynamic person to join our current therapy service to provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care to clients to maximise their independence and full potential.

You will be required to use your highly specialist speech and language therapy skills to support the assessment and delivery of high-quality therapeutic interventions to address the holistic needs of service users. This will require effective MDT working skills, close liaison with other agencies and use of excellent communication skills.

The successful applicant will work alongside the MDT and offer specialist SLT support for communication to all service users who are currently staying on the unit. This will be a challenging but extremely rewarding role where you can have a positive impact on how the service is delivered and improve patient care. The post holder will be required to evaluate treatment outcomes and contribute to the wider service development.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be a senior therapist within community multi-disciplinary team, based in the identified locality they will also provide senior support to Speech and Language therapists in other localities providing support and advice and where required direct input into complex and high risk cases.

You will also provide specialist speech and language therapy assessment and treatment for service users in receipt of care from community services. Enabling service users to engage in a range of individual and group community based treatment activities. You will be actively involved in the promotion of Speech and Language therapy within the service area. The post holder will be required to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the client group.

The post holder will contribute to the leadership and development of the Specialist Learning Disability Health Team in accordance within local and national guidance.

The postholder will be a source of expertise around communication and dysphagia and provide support and advice to others.

KEY RESULT AREAS

The post-holder independently assesses, diagnoses and manages the communication and/or swallowing needs of clients, in particular those with the most complex difficulties, to maximise appropriate health and social benefits. It will also include the management of clients for whom English is not the first spoken language.

The post holder will formulate and deliver individual treatment programmes based on specialist knowledge for differential diagnosis for communication and dysphagia, (evidence based practise, national and local guidelines using profession specific clinical skills and techniques. (eg standardised assessments, AAC, group and individual work).

The post-holder provides both direct and indirect intervention, consultation, advice and support informed by evidence based practice working within a multi-disciplinary model in order to ensure that the inter-agency needs of clients are met.

The post-holder undertakes advisory work, second opinions and provides peer review and advice within his/her area of expertise to support and develop the clinical skills of other staff.

In conjunction with other band 7 SLT the post- holder provides clinical supervision for other SLT posts working cross localities and this includes where appropriate providing direct input into complex cases.

For full job description please see attached supporting documents

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or relevant equivalent overseas qualification
• HCPC registration
• Post-basic dysphagia training
• Postgraduate qualification relevant to post or relevant level clinical experience
• Postgraduate qualification to Masters Level or equivalent in a field related to Speech and Language Therapy and Learning Disabilities

Desirable

• Leadership training
• Advanced level dysphagia training (masters level)
• RCSLT License to Practice

Special Knowledge/Skills

Essential

• Evidence of a high standard of performance in a range of clinical skills, promoting clinical excellence
• Good presentation skills
• Commitment to improving the experience of service users and their cares
• Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
• Ability to work under pressure and set priorities
• Specialist knowledge and application of current best practice in speech and language therapy and adults with learning disabilities
• Up to date knowledge of NHS modernisation issues and implications for speech and language therapy and wider services

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues
• Able to demonstrate evidence based practice

Training

Essential

• To be willing to undertake post graduate training to further skills, knowledge and expertise
• Documented evidence of continuing practice and professional development
• Evidence of self-directed learning

Desirable

• Leadership training
• Advanced level dysphagia training (masters level)

Physical Attributes

Essential

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post
• A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy)

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Leadership skills
• Good timekeeper
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times

Desirable

• Show creativity in working to meet the needs of people with a learning disability
• A Current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability)

Experience

Essential

• Management and leadership experience
• Significant experience as a Band 6/7 therapist in a Learning Disabilities or related clinical field
• Significant experience of multidisciplinary working including development of effective networks/partnerships
• Active participation in audit, service evaluation and research in relevant clinical field

Desirable

• Experience of practice in a range of relevant Adult Learning Disabilities settings
• Supervision of clinicians undertaking post-graduation dysphagia training supervised experience
• Experience of supervision, appraisal and development of therapy staff and students

Employer details

Employer name

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Fieldhead Hospital,

Ouchthorpe Lane,

Wakefield,

West Yorkshire,

WF1 3SP

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9378-W0863E