Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

To identify neonates with feeding difficulties, swallow dysfunction, and dysphagia and develop suitable management plans to reduce their risk of stress, aspiration and feeding aversion.

Provide autonomous specialist assessment, treatment and advice to patients on the neonatal unit who present with feeding/swallowing difficulties.

Utilise a range of informal and formal approaches to assess the neonates’ early communication and feeding skills; and to support the MDT in identifying these needs in order to inform optimum care planning and intervention.

Maintain an in-depth, comprehensive knowledge of neonatal clinical needs and presentations resulting from a range of acquired conditions.

To communicate effectively and clearly with clinical colleagues regarding assessments and interventions both in spoken and written reports, as well as in day-to day liaison.

Deliver therapy programmes based on current evidence and clinical knowledge to meet the needs of the infant and family’s profile.

To participate in, practice and support Developmental Care practices and a Family Integrated Care approach as highlighted as good practice for neonates.

To be aware of the boundaries of own practice, and to manage the associated clinical risk effectively at all times

Work closely with members of the MDT to holistically identify the range of needs of the infant and family and how best to support these.

To communicate effectively, empathically and clearly with families and carers regarding issues which will sometimes be complicated or emotionally charged

To work with the MDT to ensure timely community referrals, discharge planning meetings, liaison with other medical specialities and healthcare professionals.

To be able to identify need for further specialist swallowing assessment (i.e. instrumental assessment) and liaise with appropriate teams to arrange this.

To identify own training needs and maintain up to date skills.

To continue to meet clinical competency requirements according to RCSLT and HCPC standards.

To attend meetings and seminars/case conferences as appropriate, and liaise with and advise other disciplines, as appropriate, to achieve comprehensive, effective and confidential patient management through to discharge.

To behave in a professional manner at all times.

To appropriately seek and use supervision to review complex case material, develop skills, plan continuing professional development, set learning targets and address any issues which may be relevant to the fulfilment of your role.

To actively engage with neonatal clinical network via network meetings and externally via relevant Clinical Excellent Networks (CEN’s).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree or equivalent
• RCSLT Registration
• HCPC Registration
• Post qualification training in paediatric dysphagia
• Experience working at Paediatric Dysphagia Competency Level C

Desirable

• Relevant specialist training courses e.g. FINE, NBO, IBCLC, SOFFI D
• Completion of HEE Modules (Introduction to Neonatal Care and Speech
• Language Therapy modules)
• Membership of relevant clinical excellence networks (CENs) e.g.,
• PDCEN, Neonatal CEN
• Experience working at Paediatric Dysphagia Competency Level D
• Experience working at Neonatal Dysphagia Competency Level C

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in paediatric SLT post qualification
• Experience working with neonates and infants and/or children with
• complex needs
• Experience of independently managing feeding and swallowing difficulties
• associated with a neonatal or paediatric caseload
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of processes and policies relating to work in a neonatal setting
• e.g. safeguarding, developmental/educational needs, RCSLT guidelines
• Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to neonates in order to assess,
• diagnose, plan and treat neonates and infants with swallowing difficulties
• Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills
• Ability to recognise own training and supervision needs and use these to
• further enhance clinical skills
• Ability to interpret and apply evidence-based practice in clinical work
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals working on the neonatal
• unit
• Knowledge of standards of record keeping
• Comp

Desirable

• Experience working in a neonatal or acute setting

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

Employer's website

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