Job summary
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist - Adult Acute Inpatients
Band 6 Full time
Fixed term contract until 30th August 2024
We are looking for a dynamic and experienced Speech and Language Therapist to join the acute in-patient service at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. This post will join our existing team of 24.2 WTE SLTs and 1.4 WTE SLT assistants. You will be based at St Thomas' Hospital and will be responsible for delivering high-quality care to adult inpatients with communication and/or swallowing disorders on the acute medical and surgical wards.
Main duties of the job
To take clinical responsibility as an autonomous specialist for the provision of a high-quality Speech and Language Therapy service to adult inpatients on the acute medical and surgical wards.
- To provide independent clinical management of acute inpatients requiring assessment and rehabilitation of complex communication and swallowing disorders, with the aim of restoring optimum function or offering compensatory strategies. This will include assessing the patients' needs for alternative/augmentative communication where appropriate.
- To regularly participate in videofluoroscopic examinations of swallow, analyse and report findings to the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) regarding implications for management and design specialised therapeutic programmes of care.
- To be a Specialist Speech and Language Therapy resource for members of the MDT in the management of communication/swallowing disorders.
- As a core member of the MDT, to participate in team meetings, ward rounds and family meetings. Where appropriate to propose and assist in the implementation of policy/service development.
About us
There is a strong ethos of clinical support, supervision and development within the team. The service is able to offer you excellent supervision and peer support, with an emphasis on team working. Quality improvement projects and research ideas are strongly encouraged, both within SLT and in the multi-professional teams. We have regular team meetings, plus opportunities for continuing professional development through in-house training, clinical excellence networks and external courses.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To autonomously assess, analyse, make a clinical diagnosis and develop specialised rehabilitative programmes of care for patients on the acute medical/surgical and older persons wards with complex disorders of communication and swallowing.
- To develop the use of computer software systems and Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) in rehabilitative programmes as appropriate.
- To liaise closely with all members of the MDT, other professional staff, and speech and language therapy colleagues to provide a coordinated therapy programme for each patient.
- To attend relevant MDT meetings, case conferences and ward rounds.
- To work closely with staff and carers to promote the communication and swallowing skills of patients and to offer guidance and training to those staff and carers. To utilise a high level of inter personal skills to support patients and families in adapting to changed circumstances / impact of disorder.
- To communicate complex, condition-related information and results from assessment to patients, families and colleagues in a clear and accessible manner.
- To use strong negotiation skills in order to support and advocate for patients and carers, contributing to best interests discussions and decisions.
- To refer patients where appropriate to outside agencies and/or speech and language therapy in the Community on discharge. To write discharge reports to ensure continuity of care as per departmental quality standards.
*see full job description for further detail
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To autonomously assess, analyse, make a clinical diagnosis and develop specialised rehabilitative programmes of care for patients on the acute medical/surgical and older persons wards with complex disorders of communication and swallowing.
- To develop the use of computer software systems and Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) in rehabilitative programmes as appropriate.
- To liaise closely with all members of the MDT, other professional staff, and speech and language therapy colleagues to provide a coordinated therapy programme for each patient.
- To attend relevant MDT meetings, case conferences and ward rounds.
- To work closely with staff and carers to promote the communication and swallowing skills of patients and to offer guidance and training to those staff and carers. To utilise a high level of inter personal skills to support patients and families in adapting to changed circumstances / impact of disorder.
- To communicate complex, condition-related information and results from assessment to patients, families and colleagues in a clear and accessible manner.
- To use strong negotiation skills in order to support and advocate for patients and carers, contributing to best interests discussions and decisions.
- To refer patients where appropriate to outside agencies and/or speech and language therapy in the Community on discharge. To write discharge reports to ensure continuity of care as per departmental quality standards.
*see full job description for further detail
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice and registered member of HCPC
- Evidence of CPD to Specialist level
Desirable
- Membership/regular attendance of CEN
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with adults with acquired disorders in an acute hospital and/or rehabilitation/community setting including independent management of dysphagia
- Significant experience of working as an integrated member of a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working on Acute inpatient wards
- Experience of working with assistants, junior colleagues and/or volunteers
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of development and delivery of training to other professionals
- Experience of performing and evaluating videofluoroscopy
- Supervision and teaching of SLT students
- Good, reliable team worker and also able to work effectively on own initiative
Desirable
- Exposure to/experience with FEES
Person Specification
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree leading to RCSLT licence to practice and registered member of HCPC
- Evidence of CPD to Specialist level
Desirable
- Membership/regular attendance of CEN
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with adults with acquired disorders in an acute hospital and/or rehabilitation/community setting including independent management of dysphagia
- Significant experience of working as an integrated member of a multidisciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working on Acute inpatient wards
- Experience of working with assistants, junior colleagues and/or volunteers
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of development and delivery of training to other professionals
- Experience of performing and evaluating videofluoroscopy
- Supervision and teaching of SLT students
- Good, reliable team worker and also able to work effectively on own initiative
Desirable
- Exposure to/experience with FEES
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
