Rotational Speech & Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB TITLE: Speech & Language Therapist

HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

GRADE: Band 5 (Rotational)

REPORTS TO: Band 7 (Team lead) Speech and Language Therapist

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Site Lead Speech & Language Therapist

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Delivery of Speech & Language Therapy service as part of the wider L&G team

JOB PURPOSE

To provide a general speech and language therapy service to adults with communication andswallowing problems across the acute, community and stroke teams, under the supervision of a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.

To be fully involved in the multi-disciplinary process across the respective teams.

To provide training/ supervision for volunteers, assistants and other professions as requestedby the Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Community Lead SLT

Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapists

All L&G Speech and Language Therapy Staff

All Therapists/Leads in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Dietetics

Referring teams

Social Services

Community Services

GPs

Voluntary Services

Academic Institutions

Therapy Specialists external to L&G

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.0 Clinical

1.1 To assess, develop and implement speech and language therapy treatment for patients with communication and swallowing problems.

1.2 To manage and prioritise your caseload and workload independently.

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

1.4 To negotiate therapy goals with patients, their carers and the multidisciplinary team (MDT).

1.5 To provide information, support and training to relatives and patients.

1.6 To employ counselling skills with patients and carers.

1.7 To write therapy programmes to be carried out by the speech and language therapy assistant.

1.8 To demonstrate specialist knowledge in the area of the current rotation, underpinned by current evidenced based practice.

1.9 To attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge required of a specialist therapist working in the respective fields. To maintain HPC and RCSLT registration and ensure it is up to date.

1.10 To keep up to date with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good practice in your clinical area.

1.11 To write reports for other professionals reflecting your knowledge of communication and swallowing.

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

1.13 To attend ward rounds, case conferences, rehabilitation meetings and other multidisciplinary meetings. To ensure a two-way exchange of information with these parties to help decide on the best course of intervention for each individual.

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

1.15 To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.

1.16 To provide advice on speech and language therapy to non-specialists and other specialists/professionals within clinical field.

1.17 To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local trust policies.

1.18 To participate in the development and delivery of training (formal and informal) to others in area of clinical expertise.

1.19 To have due regard for your own personal safety and that of clients and carers, in particular to have regard to moving and handling regulations, restraining policies, lone working and ensure the safe positioning of self and others

1.20 To monitor stock levels in own service area and request new equipment as appropriate

2.0 Organisational

2.1 To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies.

2.2 To use your specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate

2.3 To attend meetings at the request of the service manager.

2.4. To consult with service users regarding service developments wherever possible, within existing resources.

2.5 To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness within Speech and Language Therapy and the Trust in general.

2.6 To develop care protocols/packages informed by the evidence of your clinical specialism in liaison with your supervisor and/or service manager.

2.7 To develop Clinical Governance/audit projects within the speech and language therapy services.

2.8 To develop local clinical guidelines informed by the evidence of your clinical specialism.

2.9 To demonstrate the ability to reflect on your practice with peers and mentors and identify your own strengths and development needs

2.10 To contribute to interagency/multi-disciplinary team building

2.11 To assist with the identification of training needs within the team.

3.0 Professional

3.1 To be accountable for your own professional action and recognise your professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate.

3.2 To attend and contribute to departmental CPD sessions participating in peer review.

3.3 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.

3.4 To demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to professional practice.

3.5 To gather activity data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information promptly within local Trust guidelines.

3.6 To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.

3.7 To collect and provide research data as required.

3.8 To demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.

3.9 To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible and following the Trust complaints procedure.

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

3.11 To demonstrate knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and Local Clinical Guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Degree in Speech and Language Therapy
• Fully registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Registration with HCPC

Desirable

• Successful completion of post-graduate dysphagia training

Experience

Essential

• Undergraduate experience of assessment and treatment of adults in a therapeutic setting

Desirable

• Awareness and interest in alternative and augmentative communication
• Experience of group working with adults with acquired neurological disorders of communication and swallowing

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Evidence of knowledge of own clinical skills and initiative in continuing development
• Knowledge of evidence base for effective treatment for adults with communication and swallowing disorders
• Awareness of particular needs of patients across pathways e.g. acute, community, stroke

Desirable

• Knowledge of recent changes in NHS

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham,

Honor Oak Group Practice, 20 Turnham Road,

Brockley, London

SE13 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)