Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated Band 7 SLT to take on a fixed term Team Lead position within our Neurosciences team at Denmark Hill. This post will include management of the neuro surgery and neuro trauma clinical caseload and working as part of a team of 3 Team Leads within the SLT Neurosciences team.
Your expertise and leadership experience will be pivotal in delivering exceptional patient care and ensuring our services are efficient and effective.
The Neurosciences SLT team consists of 6.6 wte staff working across Neurosurgery, Neuro trauma, inpatient neurology and neuro oncology led by an 8a Clinical Lead for Neurosciences.
The team works closely with the wider multidisciplinary teams with whom they are co-located and SLT colleagues across our DH site including in ITU, Acute and Stroke.
Main duties of the job
To act as a Team Lead in the SLT Neurosciences service focusing on the sub-specialities of Neurosurgery and Neuro Trauma within the Denmark Hill Neurosurgery wards. The post holder will provide a highly specialist inpatient service to adults who have communication and/or swallowing disorders.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL:
- To autonomously manage and provide highly specialist assessment, treatment and management of a neurosurgery and neuro trauma caseload with acquired swallowing and/or communication problems within the Neurosciences wards.
- To provide highly specialist input into policies and protocols regarding the management of neurosurgery and neuro trauma patients seen by the Speech and Language Therapy team.
- To act as a link between SLTs involved in treating neurosurgery and neuro trauma patients to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment and that knowledge and resources are shared across the service.
- To act as a link with the other therapy professions to develop the process for planning rehabilitation goals and programmes for relevant patients with neurosurgery and neuro trauma needs
- To provide accurate appropriate and current information for clients and their carers to enable autonomy and choice where possible.
- To carry out instrumental assessments (VF/FEES) and assist in the training and supervision of other SLT staff in these assessments.
- To liaise effectively and work collaboratively with the relevant multidisciplinary teams to plan and facilitate appropriate management.
- To attend clinical meetings/ward rounds/case conferences where appropriate.
- To maintain an active liaison role, including SLT colleagues in the acute and community sector. To maintain an active liaison role with members of the in-patient and community multidisciplinary teams, GPs, other members of the primary health care team, local authority services and voluntary organisations, ensuring consultation and feedback.
- To carry out joint assessments with other members of the multidisciplinary team where appropriate.
- To instigate referrals, when appropriate, to internal/external agencies
- To assist with clinical cover in neurology and stroke as required.
SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND EDUCATION:
- To provide clinical support and mentoring for junior members of the SLT team
- To take part in the clinical training for SLT students as agreed and appropriate and ensure they receive adequate supervision and support whilst on placement.
- To participate in managerial and clinical supervision, including annual appraisals.
- To be responsible for the training of staff from a range of professional groups, including B6 on neurosciences HDU and students.
- To disseminate and present on the work of the SLT in neuro trauma locally, regionally and nationally.
- To be responsible, with management support, for own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
MANAGERIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE:
- To be responsible for prioritising and managing own caseload. To support the Neurosurgery SLT Clinical Lead in overseeing the caseload, identifying shortfalls and risk.
- To maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records within EPIC/paper notes.
- To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data
- To comply with departmental procedures and policies and contribute to developments in clinical effectiveness, including risk management
- To assist in the ordering and be responsible for the accurate record keeping, safe-keeping and maintenance of therapy equipment, in line with standards and policy, including infection control.
- To assist in the co-ordination of the Neurosurgery team SLT team objectives and projects.
- To attend and participate in Kings SLT and Multiprofessional team meetings as appropriate.
- To actively participate in the development of care protocols and standards relating to the delivery of the SLT in Neurosurgery across all Kings sites
RESEARCH AND AUDIT:
- To lead and develop relevant audit and research activity within the specialty of neuro trauma on the DH site and within the wider Kings SLT team.
- To take part in any clinical research programmes developed by the Neurosciences service and Kings SLT team. To initiate research as appropriate.
- To participate in clinical audit and evaluation exercises as appropriate.
- To contribute to the publication and dissemination of any research or audit initiatives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL:
- To autonomously manage and provide highly specialist assessment, treatment and management of a neurosurgery and neuro trauma caseload with acquired swallowing and/or communication problems within the Neurosciences wards.
- To provide highly specialist input into policies and protocols regarding the management of neurosurgery and neuro trauma patients seen by the Speech and Language Therapy team.
- To act as a link between SLTs involved in treating neurosurgery and neuro trauma patients to ensure patients receive appropriate treatment and that knowledge and resources are shared across the service.
- To act as a link with the other therapy professions to develop the process for planning rehabilitation goals and programmes for relevant patients with neurosurgery and neuro trauma needs
- To provide accurate appropriate and current information for clients and their carers to enable autonomy and choice where possible.
- To carry out instrumental assessments (VF/FEES) and assist in the training and supervision of other SLT staff in these assessments.
- To liaise effectively and work collaboratively with the relevant multidisciplinary teams to plan and facilitate appropriate management.
- To attend clinical meetings/ward rounds/case conferences where appropriate.
- To maintain an active liaison role, including SLT colleagues in the acute and community sector. To maintain an active liaison role with members of the in-patient and community multidisciplinary teams, GPs, other members of the primary health care team, local authority services and voluntary organisations, ensuring consultation and feedback.
- To carry out joint assessments with other members of the multidisciplinary team where appropriate.
- To instigate referrals, when appropriate, to internal/external agencies
- To assist with clinical cover in neurology and stroke as required.
SUPERVISION, TRAINING AND EDUCATION:
- To provide clinical support and mentoring for junior members of the SLT team
- To take part in the clinical training for SLT students as agreed and appropriate and ensure they receive adequate supervision and support whilst on placement.
- To participate in managerial and clinical supervision, including annual appraisals.
- To be responsible for the training of staff from a range of professional groups, including B6 on neurosciences HDU and students.
- To disseminate and present on the work of the SLT in neuro trauma locally, regionally and nationally.
- To be responsible, with management support, for own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
MANAGERIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE:
- To be responsible for prioritising and managing own caseload. To support the Neurosurgery SLT Clinical Lead in overseeing the caseload, identifying shortfalls and risk.
- To maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records within EPIC/paper notes.
- To provide full, accurate and timely statistical data
- To comply with departmental procedures and policies and contribute to developments in clinical effectiveness, including risk management
- To assist in the ordering and be responsible for the accurate record keeping, safe-keeping and maintenance of therapy equipment, in line with standards and policy, including infection control.
- To assist in the co-ordination of the Neurosurgery team SLT team objectives and projects.
- To attend and participate in Kings SLT and Multiprofessional team meetings as appropriate.
- To actively participate in the development of care protocols and standards relating to the delivery of the SLT in Neurosurgery across all Kings sites
RESEARCH AND AUDIT:
- To lead and develop relevant audit and research activity within the specialty of neuro trauma on the DH site and within the wider Kings SLT team.
- To take part in any clinical research programmes developed by the Neurosciences service and Kings SLT team. To initiate research as appropriate.
- To participate in clinical audit and evaluation exercises as appropriate.
- To contribute to the publication and dissemination of any research or audit initiatives.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Portfolio and evidence of continuing professional development
- Postgraduate training and experience in the clinical specialities of neurosciences or rehabilitation
Desirable
- MSc or specialist postgraduate training/ experience to masters level equivalent
- Postgraduate training in management of dysphagia, including training and experience in instrumental assessment of swallowing skills (Videofluoroscopy and / or FEES)
- Member of Professional Body
- Member of Specialist Section or special interest group
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with patients in an acute medical and/or rehabilitation setting at a senior level including the management of patients with tracheostomies in situ - as well as acute adult acquired neurological and medical disorders including the management of a busy swallowing and communication caseload and the use of a range of assessment and therapy techniques
- The management of patients presenting with disorders which impact on communication, cognition / behavioural feeding
- Experience of specialist assessment and differential diagnosis with a complex caseload
- Experience of risk identification and management including MD liaison and decision making.
- Experience of audit procedures
- Application of standardised assessments and outcome measures
- Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application
Desirable
- Experience of presenting to small and large audiences
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to build effective working relationships and work as part of an MDT
- Ability to work autonomously, planning and prioritising own workload
- Ability to communicate complex and emotive information, including where there are barriers to understanding
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication
- Ability to plan and implement appropriate highly specialist treatment packages
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and guidelines
- Excellent IT and record keeping skills
- Previous experience of clinical supervision of others
- Highly motivated and able to demonstrate ability to lead designated clinical area
Desirable
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- BSc or recognised postgraduate MSc or diploma in Speech & Language Therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Portfolio and evidence of continuing professional development
- Postgraduate training and experience in the clinical specialities of neurosciences or rehabilitation
Desirable
- MSc or specialist postgraduate training/ experience to masters level equivalent
- Postgraduate training in management of dysphagia, including training and experience in instrumental assessment of swallowing skills (Videofluoroscopy and / or FEES)
- Member of Professional Body
- Member of Specialist Section or special interest group
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with patients in an acute medical and/or rehabilitation setting at a senior level including the management of patients with tracheostomies in situ - as well as acute adult acquired neurological and medical disorders including the management of a busy swallowing and communication caseload and the use of a range of assessment and therapy techniques
- The management of patients presenting with disorders which impact on communication, cognition / behavioural feeding
- Experience of specialist assessment and differential diagnosis with a complex caseload
- Experience of risk identification and management including MD liaison and decision making.
- Experience of audit procedures
- Application of standardised assessments and outcome measures
- Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application
Desirable
- Experience of presenting to small and large audiences
Skills and Competencies
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to build effective working relationships and work as part of an MDT
- Ability to work autonomously, planning and prioritising own workload
- Ability to communicate complex and emotive information, including where there are barriers to understanding
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, adapting to barriers to communication
- Ability to plan and implement appropriate highly specialist treatment packages
- Knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and guidelines
- Excellent IT and record keeping skills
- Previous experience of clinical supervision of others
- Highly motivated and able to demonstrate ability to lead designated clinical area
Desirable
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).
