Job summary
We have an exciting secondment opportunity for an experienced clinician to be a member of the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) Adults with Learning Disability Service. The post offers excellent opportunities to work jointly with other Speech and Language Therapists who specialise in Adults with Learning Disabilities as well as other members of a multi-disciplinary health team and other multi- agency colleagues.
Main duties of the job
- Responsibility for the assessment, diagnosis, development and delivery of highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy communication assessment and interventions to meet the needs of people within the IST
- Responsibility for the assessment, diagnosis, development and delivery of highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy eating and drinking (dysphagia) assessment and interventions to meet the needs of people within the IST
- To contribute to additional MDT IST documents such as Capable Environment reports and Behaviour Support Plan
- To participate and contribute to network meetings, CPA meetings, CTR meetings and Transition planning meetings for clients on IST clinical caseload
- To work closely with the IST team around the management of complex and high-risk cases, following the IST systems and pathways
- Together with other professionals from the IST service, to take a leading role in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the communication and eating and drinking aspects of family carer workshops
- To demonstrate the use of appropriate caseload management strategies when dealing with complex issues
- To adapt practise in order to meet individual clients' needs, including considerations of cultural and linguistic differences
- To be responsible for the gathering of evidence of clinical effectiveness, using appropriate outcome measures and employing evidence-based practise
About us
Guy's & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
Guy's and St Thomas' is one of the largest hospital trusts in the country, with a staff of almost 12,000, a turnover of over £1 billion and one million patient contacts a year.
The Trust comprises two of London's oldest and best-known teaching hospitals. The hospitals have a long history, dating back almost 900 years, and have been at the forefront of medical progress and innovation since they were founded. Both hospitals have built on these traditions and continue to have a reputation for excellence and innovation.
We are part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts. Our AHSC is one of only five in the UK. It consists of King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts. King's Health Partners includes seven hospitals and over 150 community-based services, is responsible for seeing 2 million patients each year, has 25,000 employees and 19,500 students, and a £2 billion annual turnover. Itbrings togetherthe best of basic and translational research, clinical excellence and world-class teaching to deliver ground breaking advances in physical and mental healthcare. See www.kingshealthpartners.org
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Lead responsibility for the assessment, development and delivery of an effective and highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service to people who access the IST service
- To take lead responsibility for the development of effective AAC use for individuals within the IST service, their support networks and to other professionals within this team
- To support other IST professional team members to develop their awareness and skills around communication support, including high and low technology AAC, social stories and easy read information
- To plan and deliver specialist training to support staff and significant others in the most effective use and development of any communication strategies with people who are receiving an IST service
- To follow, review and continue to develop the 3 communication service pathways (including MHLD pathway) for SLT input as part of the IST service
- Standard pathway for people living in borough with a GP in borough who have an identified service provider and who are not in education
- Consultation pathway for people who are either living out of borough or are in full time education
- MHLD pathway for people who have been previously known to the IST team and who require joint working with MHLD as part of the Positive Behaviour Support Clinic (PBS)
- To work with clients and their networks, providing crisis support and/or service design and transition planning
- To lead for SLT in weekly clinical team meetings with the wider IST team.
- To lead on the role of SLT in the acceptance and management of IST referrals in these weekly clinical meetings.
- To contribute to interagency/multidisciplinary team building and policy development, as part of the IST team
- To develop specialist communication strategies that add to and enhance positive behaviour support (PBS) plans and capable environments documentation and to coordinate and work with multiple agencies in the successful implementation of these strategies
- All specialist SLT interventions are closely coordinated with other professional team members in order to provide an effective person-centred approach
- To be able to undertake complex dysphagia assessments and to support peers within the IST service and support agencies with their awareness and skills around eating and drinking support and swallow safety
- To offer expert second opinions, advice and support to colleagues within the wider AWLD SLT and MDT team on area of clinical specialism: communication and eating and drinking support to people with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge
- To initiate and undertake risk assessment and management procedures for clients within the IST framework and to contribute to wider multi-disciplinary risk assessment and management plans
Management and Leadership
- To manage and lead the speech and language therapy service component of the IST team, with line management support from a clinical specialist SLT from the AWLD team
- To give second opinions to colleagues in areas of specialism
- To contribute to and support leadership role within IST including to deputise for IST Lead when needed
- To participate in IST audit mechanisms established within the team and profession e.g. timing of provision of reports and outcome measures
- To take responsibility for maintaining and developing professional skills, especially with reference to the specialism duties of communication and dysphagia support to people with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge
- To have a working knowledge of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service and a specialist challenging behaviour service.
- To adhere to and to ensure that relevant organisational policies are implemented.
- To contribute to inter-agency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
- To reflect on clinical practice, identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements.
- To ensure that standards of clinical care and administration are established, agreed and maintained, and audited within the sector of the service.
- To provide statistical information as required by the Manager of the Services.
- Contributes to inter-agency team building e.g. social services integration, education and not for profit.
- Contributes using specialist knowledge to the development of local policy and service initiatives.
Information management
- To provide relevant information as requested by Speech and Language Therapy Manager for use in service development and strategic planning.
- To ensure maintenance of up to date case notes and timely provision of reports on clients as per RCSLT department and local team procedures.
- To be an active member within Speech and Language Therapy team for Adults with Learning Disabilities Services.
- To participate in the community teams clinical meetings and to present cases for planned reviews.
- To act as a representative of the Speech Language Therapy profession at business meetings and any other relevant meetings.
- To be responsible for the management and prioritisation of own workload and to delegate work to a SaLTA as appropriate
- Keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment accordance with standards set and to input data into the electronic patient care notes system.
- Record and return timely and accurate statistical data as required by the department, community directorate and the Trust.
- Follow and adhere to our trust policy on Information Governance.
Education & Professional Development
- To participate in the formal training events scheduled on an annual basis, in terms of being both presenter and group tutor and to evaluate the effectiveness of training provided and develop practise according
- To undertake research in areas of clinical specialism (SLT support to adults with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge) and to present this research to the multidisciplinary team, within Lambeth and Lewisham and at regional forums and national conferences.
- To collect and provide research data as required
- To respond to identified training needs of various staff teams, such as multidisciplinary team members, other service providers etc, in the planning and development of suitable training packages to meet staff/client needs and to implement and evaluate training
- To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists/professionals
- To take lead responsibility for the identification of training needs in areas of clinical specialism
- To present talks on clinical work to other staff, members of Clinical Excellence Groups, or other professional groups
- To provide relevant information to the professional body, The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, regarding initiatives and work within SLT provision to adults with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge services
- To offer placement education to student speech and language therapist in line with the Royal College of Speech Therapists and GSTT fair share policy.
- To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in areas of clinical specialism
- To identify personal/professional development and provide evidence in personal development plan, developed within an appraisal framework that includes specific objectives relating to areas of clinical specialism
- To participate in an Individual Performance Review, ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating to areas of clinical specialism
- To participate in events arranged by Clinical Excellence Groups (e.g. AWLD, PBS etc.) in order to offer support to others and receive support
- To take responsibility for reporting back to colleagues from Lambeth, Lambeth and Lewisham and Lewisham on all courses attended
- To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist working with adults with learning disabilities
- To attend all statutory training on an annual basis
- To maintain up-to-date HCPC and RCSLT registration
- To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practise in specialist clinical area
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Lead responsibility for the assessment, development and delivery of an effective and highly specialist Speech and Language Therapy service to people who access the IST service
- To take lead responsibility for the development of effective AAC use for individuals within the IST service, their support networks and to other professionals within this team
- To support other IST professional team members to develop their awareness and skills around communication support, including high and low technology AAC, social stories and easy read information
- To plan and deliver specialist training to support staff and significant others in the most effective use and development of any communication strategies with people who are receiving an IST service
- To follow, review and continue to develop the 3 communication service pathways (including MHLD pathway) for SLT input as part of the IST service
- Standard pathway for people living in borough with a GP in borough who have an identified service provider and who are not in education
- Consultation pathway for people who are either living out of borough or are in full time education
- MHLD pathway for people who have been previously known to the IST team and who require joint working with MHLD as part of the Positive Behaviour Support Clinic (PBS)
- To work with clients and their networks, providing crisis support and/or service design and transition planning
- To lead for SLT in weekly clinical team meetings with the wider IST team.
- To lead on the role of SLT in the acceptance and management of IST referrals in these weekly clinical meetings.
- To contribute to interagency/multidisciplinary team building and policy development, as part of the IST team
- To develop specialist communication strategies that add to and enhance positive behaviour support (PBS) plans and capable environments documentation and to coordinate and work with multiple agencies in the successful implementation of these strategies
- All specialist SLT interventions are closely coordinated with other professional team members in order to provide an effective person-centred approach
- To be able to undertake complex dysphagia assessments and to support peers within the IST service and support agencies with their awareness and skills around eating and drinking support and swallow safety
- To offer expert second opinions, advice and support to colleagues within the wider AWLD SLT and MDT team on area of clinical specialism: communication and eating and drinking support to people with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge
- To initiate and undertake risk assessment and management procedures for clients within the IST framework and to contribute to wider multi-disciplinary risk assessment and management plans
Management and Leadership
- To manage and lead the speech and language therapy service component of the IST team, with line management support from a clinical specialist SLT from the AWLD team
- To give second opinions to colleagues in areas of specialism
- To contribute to and support leadership role within IST including to deputise for IST Lead when needed
- To participate in IST audit mechanisms established within the team and profession e.g. timing of provision of reports and outcome measures
- To take responsibility for maintaining and developing professional skills, especially with reference to the specialism duties of communication and dysphagia support to people with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge
- To have a working knowledge of legal requirements relating to the provision of a speech and language therapy service and a specialist challenging behaviour service.
- To adhere to and to ensure that relevant organisational policies are implemented.
- To contribute to inter-agency/multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
- To reflect on clinical practice, identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements.
- To ensure that standards of clinical care and administration are established, agreed and maintained, and audited within the sector of the service.
- To provide statistical information as required by the Manager of the Services.
- Contributes to inter-agency team building e.g. social services integration, education and not for profit.
- Contributes using specialist knowledge to the development of local policy and service initiatives.
Information management
- To provide relevant information as requested by Speech and Language Therapy Manager for use in service development and strategic planning.
- To ensure maintenance of up to date case notes and timely provision of reports on clients as per RCSLT department and local team procedures.
- To be an active member within Speech and Language Therapy team for Adults with Learning Disabilities Services.
- To participate in the community teams clinical meetings and to present cases for planned reviews.
- To act as a representative of the Speech Language Therapy profession at business meetings and any other relevant meetings.
- To be responsible for the management and prioritisation of own workload and to delegate work to a SaLTA as appropriate
- Keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment accordance with standards set and to input data into the electronic patient care notes system.
- Record and return timely and accurate statistical data as required by the department, community directorate and the Trust.
- Follow and adhere to our trust policy on Information Governance.
Education & Professional Development
- To participate in the formal training events scheduled on an annual basis, in terms of being both presenter and group tutor and to evaluate the effectiveness of training provided and develop practise according
- To undertake research in areas of clinical specialism (SLT support to adults with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge) and to present this research to the multidisciplinary team, within Lambeth and Lewisham and at regional forums and national conferences.
- To collect and provide research data as required
- To respond to identified training needs of various staff teams, such as multidisciplinary team members, other service providers etc, in the planning and development of suitable training packages to meet staff/client needs and to implement and evaluate training
- To provide advice to non-specialists and other specialists/professionals
- To take lead responsibility for the identification of training needs in areas of clinical specialism
- To present talks on clinical work to other staff, members of Clinical Excellence Groups, or other professional groups
- To provide relevant information to the professional body, The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, regarding initiatives and work within SLT provision to adults with a learning disability and behaviours that significantly challenge services
- To offer placement education to student speech and language therapist in line with the Royal College of Speech Therapists and GSTT fair share policy.
- To attend specialist short courses and advanced training in areas of clinical specialism
- To identify personal/professional development and provide evidence in personal development plan, developed within an appraisal framework that includes specific objectives relating to areas of clinical specialism
- To participate in an Individual Performance Review, ensuring that the objectives set reflect the Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating to areas of clinical specialism
- To participate in events arranged by Clinical Excellence Groups (e.g. AWLD, PBS etc.) in order to offer support to others and receive support
- To take responsibility for reporting back to colleagues from Lambeth, Lambeth and Lewisham and Lewisham on all courses attended
- To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a highly specialist therapist working with adults with learning disabilities
- To attend all statutory training on an annual basis
- To maintain up-to-date HCPC and RCSLT registration
- To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practise in specialist clinical area
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification in dysphagia.
- Membership of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Experience of working with people with a learning disability, behaviours that challenge and a possible diagnosis of Autism.
- Masters level qualification in Speech and Language Therapy/Science or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Key word signing qualification and skills
- AWLD dysphagia qualification
- Clinical Audit Training
- PBS training
Essential Experience
Essential
- Experience of training carers, volunteers and health care professionals and support staff.
- Experience of supporting AAC users, who use light-tech communication devices, such as symbols, photos, objects etc
- Experience undertaking own clinical risk assessments and joint risk assessment with wider team.
- Experience with the use of audit.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
- Experience of MDT working within a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework.
- Experience of liaison with Mental health in LD, health, social services, adult education and voluntary organisations
- Demonstrate ability to provide second opinion to colleagues in area of clinical specialism
- Ability to understand and interpret specialist Psychological / Psychiatric / medical information from other professionals and make these accessible to carers and people with learning disabilities
Essentials Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential
- Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for people with learning disabilities who have behaviours that challenge and may have Autism.
- Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for AWLD and behaviours that challenge in a range of settings
- Demonstrate skills in dysphagia assessment and management
- Demonstrate skills in the use of AAC. e.g. Talking Mats, Makaton (keyword signing), visual timetables, symbols and photos, Light tech switches, objects etc
- Ability and enthusiasm to work with those from diverse backgrounds including Global Majority populations
- Awareness of equal opportunities and the ability to apply these within work environments
- Has a positive approach to disability
Desirable
- Ability to assess and train clients and carers in the use of appropriate communication aids (low and high tech AAC)
- Knowledge of appropriate strategies and skills required by others to manage extreme behaviours safely.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification in dysphagia.
- Membership of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Experience of working with people with a learning disability, behaviours that challenge and a possible diagnosis of Autism.
- Masters level qualification in Speech and Language Therapy/Science or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Key word signing qualification and skills
- AWLD dysphagia qualification
- Clinical Audit Training
- PBS training
Essential Experience
Essential
- Experience of training carers, volunteers and health care professionals and support staff.
- Experience of supporting AAC users, who use light-tech communication devices, such as symbols, photos, objects etc
- Experience undertaking own clinical risk assessments and joint risk assessment with wider team.
- Experience with the use of audit.
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
- Experience of MDT working within a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) framework.
- Experience of liaison with Mental health in LD, health, social services, adult education and voluntary organisations
- Demonstrate ability to provide second opinion to colleagues in area of clinical specialism
- Ability to understand and interpret specialist Psychological / Psychiatric / medical information from other professionals and make these accessible to carers and people with learning disabilities
Essentials Skills/Knowledge/Ability
Essential
- Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for people with learning disabilities who have behaviours that challenge and may have Autism.
- Demonstrate skills in assessing and providing intervention for AWLD and behaviours that challenge in a range of settings
- Demonstrate skills in dysphagia assessment and management
- Demonstrate skills in the use of AAC. e.g. Talking Mats, Makaton (keyword signing), visual timetables, symbols and photos, Light tech switches, objects etc
- Ability and enthusiasm to work with those from diverse backgrounds including Global Majority populations
- Awareness of equal opportunities and the ability to apply these within work environments
- Has a positive approach to disability
Desirable
- Ability to assess and train clients and carers in the use of appropriate communication aids (low and high tech AAC)
- Knowledge of appropriate strategies and skills required by others to manage extreme behaviours safely.
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).
