Do you have a passion for using Augmentative and Alternative Communication to make a difference to the lives of people with communication disabilities?

Are you a team player with the ability to problem solve?

The Assistive Communication Service is made up of Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Engineering, Technician and Administrator. We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)with an interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to join our team three days a week.

The service supports adults and children with complex physical and/or communication disabilities in North East and South East London. We are one of only twelve services in England commissioned by NHS England to provide a specialised AAC service.

As part of this service, we assess people with complex AAC needs, provide AAC equipment and on-going support and maintenance. We also provide support and training to local community teams who are working with AAC.

Previous experience in a specialised AAC service is not essential but a background in either paediatrics, adult neurology, adult learning disabilities or community work would allow you to utilise transferable skills.

Development of knowledge in the clinical processes and equipment used will be well supported by the team as well as access to training, supervision and continuing professional development opportunities.

Main duties of the job

To act as a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for the GSTT ACS. This currently consists of Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Engineering, Therapy Technician and administration.

The post holder will contribute to service development.

The post holder will provide professional input to the team on assessment, training and provision of high-tech communication. The post carries a mixed adult and paediatric caseload.

To provide assessment and follow up recommendations regarding communication aids for clients.

To work within the multi-disciplinary team framework of the GSTT ACS to provide co-ordinated multidisciplinary care for the benefit of our clients.

Please review the attached job description for more duties and responsibilities.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals joined Guy's and St Thomas' in February 2021 and is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. Weprovide treatment for people with heart and lung disease, including rare and complex conditions, offering some of the most sophisticated treatment that is available anywhere in the world.

Job description

Job responsibilities

In collaboration with the Clinical Lead SLT and Highly Specialist SLT to independently provide assessment and follow up recommendations regarding communication aids for clients referred to the service.

To see patients at Bowley Close and on home visits and other settings across 11 boroughs in North East and South East London.

To provide relevant training, information and support to carers / relatives.

In collaboration with the Clinical Lead SLT and Highly Specialist SLT to provide training and advice, particularly on communication aid issues, as appropriate to staff in the 11 London boroughs that we support.

To keep up to date with the developing range of communication aids and with National suppliers.

To participate in the training and supervision of Speech and Language Therapy students.

To monitor and review progress of clients, ensuring the continuance of sound clinical practice and seeking advice from Highly Specialist and/or Clinical Specialist SLT as appropriate. To modify management / care as needed, ensuring any changes in recommendations are communicated effectively.

To document client interventions promptly and in a clear manner in client notes. To provide timely written reports, which are clear and relevant and based on sound and up to date clinical knowledge.

To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures

Communication

To contribute to the assessment and training service offered by the team for the referring boroughs.

To contribute to the specialist advice and assessment given by the team to clients for the referring boroughs.

To participate in GSTT ACS operational and service development meetings.

To refer to the environmental controls service, where appropriate.

To ensure detailed data logs and clinical notes are maintained and completed for auditing

To communicate effectively with patients and carers in order to maximize rehabilitation potential and to improve understanding of the condition. Communication should be tailored to meet the patients / carers levels of comprehension, e.g. using interpreters.

To be able to persuade, motivate and negotiate with patients through effective communication skills.

To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patients condition and rehabilitation progress. This may include the sharing and receiving of complex and / or sensitive information

Develop and maintain close working relationships with Rehab Centre colleagues, referring clinicians, and other appropriate persons or agencies involved in the provision of care to these groups of patients in the community and hospital settings in order to ensure co-coordinated, patient centered service.

Attend relevant local and regional assistive communication specific meetings.

Please review the attached job description for more duties and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or equivalent
• Current registration with Health Professions Council (HPC)

Desirable

• Registered member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapis
• Postgraduate training in the use of AAC with children and or adults
• Active membership of AAC CENs

Experience

Essential

• Able to demonstrate experience of working with children and/or adults with special needs or acquired communication disorders
• Knowledge of factors involved in AAC assessment and set up
• Ability to select and adapt appropriate communication aids from a range of options

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in a multi-ethnic and cultural setting
• Previous experience of delivering training
• Previous clinical supervision of SLT students

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Effective communication and liaison skills,good written and spoken public presentation skills
• Ability to communicate complex and emotive information to clients and parents, where there are barriers to understanding and through augmentative modalities
• Ability to provide specialist advice in AAC to colleagues
• Excellent observation and analytical skills in assessment
• Ability to understand overall assistive communication needs from team perspective and work effectively as part of MDT
• Car driver
• Manual handling skills
• Evidence of good organisational and time management skills
• Able to work flexibly and under pressure

Desirable

• Ability to plan and develop appropriate links in field of assistive communication

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Regional Specialist Rehabilitation Service

Bowley close Farquhar road , Crystal Palace

London

SE19 1SZ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

196-LIS8035