We are recruiting a qualified Speech and Language Therapist to provide high quality specialist assessment and intervention of speech, language and communication needs as part of a MDT to develop effective clinical services to meet the complex needs of people with behaviour that challenges particularly those whose behaviour presents serious risks to the community

Main duties of the job

1. Under the direct or indirect clinical supervision of the highly specialist speech and language therapist you will undertake the following duties:a. To assume responsibility and accountability for a caseload of patients with speech and language therapy needs holding the duty of care and prioritising and managing the caseload independently based on the principles of risk and clinical risk, liaising with and referring to senior clinicians and relevant agencies as appropriate.

b. Be responsible for assessment and management of a clinical caseload of patients with speech and language therapy needs.

c. Undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of patients using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine a diagnosis and to determine a therapy management plan.

d. Provide a comprehensive assessment and management plan of service user's clinical risk.

e. Work with the individual and their care team to develop Communication Treatment and Care plan and integrate these into Positive Behavioural Support plans.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Job description Job responsibilities

a. To assume responsibility and accountability for a caseload of patients with speech and language therapy needs holding the duty of care and prioritising and managing the caseload independently based on the principles of risk and clinical risk, liaising with and referring to senior clinicians and relevant agencies as appropriate.

b. Be responsible for assessment and management of a clinical caseload of patientswith speech and language therapy needs.

c. Undertake comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment of patients using investigative and analytical skills, to formulate an appropriate hypothesis and to determine a diagnosis and to determine a therapy management plan.

d. Provide a comprehensive assessment and management plan of service users clinical risk.

e. Work with the individual and their care team to develop Communication Treatment and Care plan and integrate these into Positive Behavioural Support plans.

f. Develop communication profiles with individuals and their care teams to support them to improve access to therapy.

g. Promote health and reduce inequalities for all patients accessing the speech and language therapy service, so that they may be able to maximise their potential in terms of health education and social well-being.

h. Contribute to training and development programmes as appropriate to the knowledge and skills of the individual, delivering to other professionals and service users.

i. To assess, develop and implement Speech and Language Therapy treatment.

j. To work collaboratively with other agencies and carers for the purpose of differential diagnosis and to ensure that the persons communication needs are appropriately addressed.

k. To provide advice to others regarding the management and care of clients with communication and/or feeding difficulties.

l. To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.

m. To communicate complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.

n. To work closely with clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patient/client management.

o. To demonstrate empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist.

p. To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties

q. To reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of persons communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness.

r. To negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management.

s. To make appropriate clinical decisions following assessment seeking support and advice from supervisor as appropriate.

t. To make a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice as appropriate.

u. To demonstrate highly developed auditory and perceptual skills in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients / clients.

v. Establish effective communication networks as appropriate in the wider multi-disciplinary team, social services, third and private sector agencies.

w. Ensure that up-to-date written and electronic records, and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards, and that sensitive information is held securely.

x. Provide timely professional reports demonstrating an analysis of assessment findings, plans for interventions, clients progress, and recommendations and/or advice for other workers.

y. Research new ideas in order to develop the service with specific reference to working with people with learning disabilities who have complex needs.

z. To be fully involved in training initiatives and be able to plan and implement in specific training to other staff when required.

aa. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to develop specialised packages of care for patients, families and carers incorporating individual treatment plans and goals based upon clinical reasoning skills.

bb. The post holder will be responsible for embedding the quality strategy within the service and specific development projects.

cc. Support the development of patient related outcome measures

dd. To participate in delegated projects as required.

Person Specification Qualifications and experience Essential

• oEvidence of relevant post graduate experience and training.

Desirable

• oExperience of working with social communication difficulties

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

350-SEC5034035