We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated speech and language therapist to join our Community SLT (Speech and Language Therapy) service within the Ealing borough of London, as a Band 7. We are looking for an enthusiastic SLT with proven experience of working with adults with neurological conditions and within the community. You will join our dynamic & friendly team working with a Band 8a SLT, other B7 SLT's, B5 & B6 SLT's and SLT Assistant's to assess, manage and treat patients in the borough of Ealing who have either swallowing or communication difficulties.

This post offers you the opportunity to develop your leadership and supervision skills. You must have experience in assessment and management of swallowing and communication disorders in adults with acquired neurological conditions including Stroke, Head Injury and progressive neurological conditions frailty & general medical conditions. This must include highly specialist skills in dysphagia management with relevant post graduate qualifications. The Speech and Language Therapy team are part of a larger MDT specialist neurological team including OT, PT, Rehab Assistants, Nursing and Specialist MS/PD Nurses. There are great opportunities for joint working, joint goal setting and regular in-service training.

Main duties of the job

This post is within the Ealing Community Adult SLT Team, based at Clayponds Hospital Ooutpatient service.

In Ealing, the Community Adult SLT offer a service encompassing, Clayponds Rehabilitation Hospital, Enable Long Term Conditions Team, Community Stroke Team, Nursing Home Service and Outpatient SLT.

The caseload covers patients with acquired neurological disorders including, progressive, degenerative, long-term conditions as well as, the frail elderly and dementia populations. There is close working with SLT colleagues across all our teams and with members of the wider MDT and partnership organisations, ensuring the seamless transfer of care for our patients and adherence to excellent care pathways.

The post-holder will be well supported to manage a varied, often complex, caseload and will be clinically supervised and supported by the 8a Community Adult SLT Team Leader.

Whether you are a B7 therapist wishing to consolidate or broaden your skills base or, a B6 therapist looking for their first B7 post you will be nurtured, facilitated and empowered to achieve your full potential in this role.

The successful candidate will have knowledge, skills and experience working with both dysphagia and communication patients, in an outpatients/community clinical setting.

The Ealing Adult SLT Team form part of the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust portfolio of services and we work closely with our colleagues within West London NHS Trust.

About us

We can offer you:

• An opportunity to participate in innovative new work models
• An excellent support and supervision structure, including a Trust, SLT Lead
• Excellent professional development and ongoing training opportunities both internal and external.
• An interesting, manageable, caseload and waiting list
• Access to Talking Mats training
• Access to a department budget for resources and equipment including a specific Communications Aids Budget
• Fast, effective, IT and technology
• Excellent MDT working opportunities
• Good links to the Acute environment and access to VF
• Work from a purpose built location with free staff parking
• The opportunity to negotiate your work hours
• Due to careful planning we aim to keep travelling times, when required, to a minimum.

Follow us on twitter @ECP_AdultSLT

• https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk/ecp-adult-speech-language-therapy

If you meet the person specification criteria and have the appropriate clinical skills, together with commitment, energy and experience, then we would welcome hearing from you.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To demonstrate specialist knowledge within this clinical specialism, underpinned by current evidence based practice.
• To manage a complex and specialist caseload independently demonstrating evidence of sound clinical judgment and outcome measures.
• To reflect on practice with peers and identify strengths and needs.
• To provide specialist second opinions and advice to more junior colleagues and other professionals in the field.
• To write appropriate reports and case notes, reflecting specialist knowledge.
• To communicate verbally and in writing with client/carer, assessment findings, diagnosis and therapy intervention plan reflecting specialist knowledge. This will include breaking bad news in a sensitive manner e.g. explaining to a stroke patient why they may not ever be able to eat or drink again.
• To negotiate with clients/other professionals around case management and to recognise potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and resolve.
• To employ negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
• To employ excellent communication and advocacy skills to enable clients/carers to access statutory agencies and exercise statutory rights eg enabling patient and solicitor to understand each other.
• To attend and contribute to relevant Speech and Language Therapy Team meetings and lead in small team projects.
• To take a proactive role in team-building within multidisciplinary teams.
• To supervise and plan time-table and work for assistants and volunteers.
• To take responsibility for day-to-day operational management of staff groups.
• To take the lead on inter-agency team-working.
• To represent the SLT department in meetings with other agencies e.g. Stroke services, as requested.
• To contribute to the induction and support system for new staff.
• To mentor, supervise and provide leadership to junior Speech and Language Therapists.
• To provide full student Speech and Language Therapy placement.
• To advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures etc.
• To discuss with line manager options for caseload management.
• To monitor stock levels in specialist 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.
• 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 work independently within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.
• To monitor auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness. This may require intense periods of concentration.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Registration with Health Professions Council as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Recognised Speech & Language Therapy Degree qualification or equivalent
• Registered member of RCSLT
• Evidence of successful completion of courses to Master's degree or equivalent.

Desirable

• Evidence of attendance at relevant courses and membership of relevant Special Interest Groups.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Substantial postgraduate SLT experience, to include some NHS experience.
• Extensive dysphagia management skills, some of which should be within the clinical specialism.
• Advanced knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to the clinical specialism.
• Advanced knowledge of trends/best practice within the clinical specialism.

Desirable

• In-depth knowledge of the principles of clinical governance
• In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the clinical specialism.

Skills Abilities and Attributes

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Advanced knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the clinical specialism and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
• Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills.
• Evidence of excellent organisational skills.
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities.
• Advanced negotiation and problem solving skills.

Desirable

• Other advanced training eg advanced dysphagia
• Evidence of reflective practice.
• Access to their own car, with a clean UK driving licence and willingness to use their car for work.

Employer details

Employer name

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Clayponds Hospital

Sterling Place

Ealing

W5 4RN

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

333-G-ECP-0573