Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Band 6 Adult Acquired Neurology Permanent Contract , Full Time 37.5 Hours per week

This post offers an exciting opportunity to work with patients with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties in a range of settings, including hospital, Acute Stroke/Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, outpatient and in clients' homes. The successful candidate will be dysphagia trained and have experience working independently in this field. Experience/training in videofluoroscopy would be an advantage.

We are a very friendly department offering regular staff meetings, clinical supervision and support from more senior therapists. You will also be actively encouraged to continue your professional development.

We are looking for an enthusiastic therapist, eager to develop your professional skills with an acquired neurology client group.

For further information please contact Karen Gymer/Jane Morgan on 0161 922 4888

Wherever possible, the department will give serious consideration to requests for changes to the standard working pattern associated with the contracted hours for any post.

Main duties of the job

• Carries a personal caseload of adult clients and delivers a Specialist SLT service to clients individually referred.
• Assesses, diagnoses and treats, on a daily basis, patients with communication/swallowing difficulties resulting from acquired neurological conditions including patients with degenerative disease, strokes, and communication impairment.
• With support from senior specialist, advise and coordinate Speech therapy provision across the acute stroke/rehabilitation unit.
• Provides supervision and advice in own specialist area to other therapists, assistants and students.
• Has completed RCSLT new starter competency schedule, has professional specialist knowledge and skills in adult neurology acquired through postgraduate SLT training, experience and increased depth and breadth of clinical competence

About us

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves a community of 250,000 people across Tameside & Glossop. We provide a range of services both within the hospital and across our community for both adults and children.Our vision is to improve health outcomes for our population and influence wider determinants of health through collaboration with our health & care partners.

We have a clear set of values & behaviours which we expect all of our staff to demonstrate:

• Safety
• Care
• Respect
• Communication
• Learning

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian & minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+& Disabled people.

Benefits include; flexible working, 27-33 days annual leave plus bank holidays, sick pay, NHS Pension Scheme, free eye tests and health checks, gym discount, free bicycle loan scheme, salary sacrifice car scheme, support with stress, bereavement, relationships, finance, and much more.

Job description Job responsibilities

SECTION 1- MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

PROFESSIONAL / CLINICAL:

• To manage a specialist caseload of adult clients including patients with communication, swallow and voice difficulties
• With support from senior specialist, advise and coordinate Speech therapy provision across the acute stroke/rehabilitation unit.

• Carry full responsibility for assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge.

• To assess and diagnose all in and out patients in general and own specialist caseloads.

• To work collaboratively with the clients families/carers and other professionals, during assessment and all subsequent management, including decision making.
• To communicate complex condition-related information from assessment to clients and their families/carers; this may include giving unwelcome or difficult to accept information e.g. around the seriousness, implications or long-term nature of the difficulty
• To provide specialist advice to patients, carers, nursing staff, Allied Health Professional (AHPs), medical staff and others regarding the management/treatment of patients with communication and/or swallowing difficulties.

• To work in conjunction with team leaders but demonstrating skills to identify and deliver care plans for highly complex cases and generate and implement appropriate strategies for caseload management.

• To provide written reports, presenting complex information in a clear and accessible way; reports may be provided to carers, GPs, medical consultants and other allied health professionals.

• To direct clients/carers to appropriate voluntary agencies and external services for support and information, e.g. The Stroke Association and other charitable groups

• To work as an autonomous SLT independently, observing professional and departmental policies and guidelines and remaining accountable for own professional actions.

• To reflect on own clinical practice, identifying areas of strength and need; to be aware of the value of formal clinical supervision and to participate in formal and/or informal supervision

• To organise own workload effectively, prioritising tasks and planning ahead by setting both long- and short-term goals.
• To maintain comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date case notes for own clients, adhering to professional and Trust standard

ADMINISTRATIVE/MANAGERIAL

• To monitor and maintain equipment and stock kept for own use; this will include test materials and disposables (recording and analysis sheets), therapy materials, audio and video recording equipment.

• To ensure any equipment or material that is loaned to clients or families is safe, well maintained and appropriately used.

• To be familiar with and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures, including requirements for mandatory training

• To develop and implement policies and procedures in adult acquired neurological disorders.

• To be familiar with and adhere to national and local clinical guidelines

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

• To act as mentor for newly qualified staff; to provide advice and support to assistants and volunteers
• To provide training for staff within the department, e.g. dysphagia training newly qualified therapists in dysphagia management and for other audiences; this may include ward staff and voluntary groups about communication/swallowing difficulties after stroke. To provide clinical training and supervision in own specialist areas to SLT students and junior SLTs, other professionals, SLT Assistants and other students, e.g. student nurses.

• To participate in the delivery and development of specialist training in many settings (e.g. hospital ward, Nursing Home, SLT department, Intermediate Care Units) to nursing staff, AHPs, carers. Training will cover communication, dysphagia or both.

• To develop/participate in clinical placements and supervision of SLT students and others e.g. student nurses.

• To develop/participate in the training and induction of SLTs, assistants and volunteers.

• To undertake data collection as required by the Trust and submit timely and accurate data as required; this will include information about patient contacts, caseload figures and activity levels.

• To contribute to and participate in surveys or audits as required by the SLT co-ordinator or manager.

• To undertake clinical audit in own specialist area and implement results as appropriate.

• To participate in and submit data for research being carried out by others, e.g. university research projects; this is unlikely to be a regular or frequent requirement of the post.

SECTION 2- KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• SLT qualification (degree level or equivalent, recognised by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists) and licence to practice as a SLT evidenced by registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

• Evidence of a commitment to continuing postgraduate professional development (CPD) through a range of activities (individual study, attendance at short courses etc.). Post holder to collect evidence of CPD by use of a professional portfolio and participation in the Trusts personal development review process.

• To demonstrate Specialist Knowledge in clinical specialism, e.g. working knowledge of cognitive neuropsychology in language disorders, underpinned by current evidence based practice.

• To attend relevant Specialist Short Courses, special interest groups, training and development in clinical specialism, in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the field of adult acquired neurology.

• To work closely and often for extended periods with clients referred for SLT and with their families/carers; these clients will have specific difficulties with speech, language and communication. Some clients will also have hearing impairment, learning difficulties, psychological or emotional difficulties; clients may not have English as their first language and interpreter services will be required.

• To communicate to clients and their families/carers specialist information about complex speech, communication and swallowing difficulties, to ensure they understand and consent to assessment procedures and can participate fully in decision making regarding management.

• To use tact and empathy when dealing with sensitive issues surrounding patient care, e.g. when helping patient come to terms with the fact that his/her communication will be permanently impaired.

• To contribute to clinical teams both multi-disciplinary and uni-disciplinary by discussion of own and others input around clients needs and management, e.g. at MDT meeting on Stroke Unit and liaison between professions involved in patient care in the community.

• To identify assessment needs and carry out appropriate and detailed assessments of the speech, language, communication and swallowing skills of clients and make differential diagnosis on basis of evidence from assessment; to assess the wider communication environment for clients e.g. social settings, family dynamics, communication needs and opportunities. The postholder will work in a range of settings, including clients homes and hospital including wards.

• To develop and implement specialist care plans, using specialist knowledge and understanding of best practice.

• To demonstrate reflective practice, reflecting on practice both independently and with peers; to demonstrate problem-solving skills in a peer-review/ support context and identify own areas of developmental needs.

• To organise own workload effectively, prioritising tasks and planning ahead by setting both long- and short-term goals. To plan and oversee work carried out by newly qualified SLTs, SLTAs and students.

• To negotiate with clients, families and other professionals around setting up appointments and meetings, ensuring flexibility.
• To ensure attendance at all mandatory training and to attend regular staff meetings with at least 75% attendance.

• To apply highly developed listening and visual observation skills with clients and others in a range of settings, e.g. during structured one-to-one sessions, home visits, working both with direct observation and using audio and video recordings. This will include tasks such as making phonetic and linguistic transcriptions, analysing speech and voice patterns, observations of social dynamics and non-verbal communication. Assessment of swallowing will require fine motor skills for palpation (feeling of laryngeal activity during swallowing).

• To participate in VFS and FEES clinics as required (subject to appropriate training)

Person Specification Education and Qualifications Essential

• Recognised SLT degree qualification or equivalent
• Registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Registered membership of RCSLT (Practice Register)
• Full driving licence and use of vehicle for work
• Fully trained in the assessment and management of adult dysphagia

Knowledge Essential

• Knowledge of a range of therapeutic interventions appropriate to the client group/s
• Knowledge of a range of assessment tools and approaches appropriate to the client group/s
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  245-AHP6ALT-03-23