Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapist (XR07)

Job description

Job responsibilities

2. JOB PURPOSE

To assess differentially diagnose and manage complex communication and swallowing breakdown relating to a wide range of conditions. Utilise highly specialist knowledge in line with local policies/protocols and professional guidelines. Provide specialist second opinions on request to other health and social care professionals. Build links with allied agencies across primary and secondary care improving local and regional care pathways across in/outpatient settings.

Diagnose, assess, treat and manage complex communication, swallowing, cognitive and emotional impairments. Ensure all patients have opportunities to improve their swallowing/communication function and decrease reliance on enteral feeds and communication aids.

Develop a rehabilitation care pathway focussing on education, enablement and empowerment of service users and their carers

3. JOB DIMENSIONS

The post holder will:

3.1 Manage Highly Specialist caseloads ensuring their complex communication and swallowing needs are met safely

3.2 Provide seamless pathway of care with locality services ensuring equitable citywide provision.

3.3 Manage local and regional complex caseloads.

3.4 Plan, coordinate and deliver medical education and training programs for health/social staff, patients, care providers, regional SLTs and students

3.5 Act as patient advocate facilitating communication in order to secure compliance with Mental Capacity Act

3.6 Audit caseloads and provision to measure value of input across this care pathway and evaluate alternative models of provision

3.7 Optimise service provision by balancing provision between specialist Acute and Outpatient clinics

4. ORGANISATIONAL CHART

5. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

5.1 BSc (Hons) Clinical Language Sciences or equivalent degree accredited by RCSLT.

5.2 HPC Registered to practice as a SLT.

5.4 Post Graduate Qualification in Dysphagia.

5.5 Substantial experience as a SLT.

5.6 Willing to undergo training as required in this post.

5.7 Awareness of current SLT issues

5.8 Able to work within a team, demonstrate initiative, confidence and excellent time management and organisational skills.

5.9 Good written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.

5.10 Good presentation skills in delivering training to large multidisciplinary groups of staff or members of the public (this may involve groups of more than 50 people).

6. CORE VALUES

6.1 Comply with professional codes of practice, professional guidelines and departmental policies and procedures.

6.2 Maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with Trust policies and HPC standards.

6.3 Be compassionate and ethical in the provision of SLT care.

6.4 Demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional development.

7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

7.1 Demonstrate good office practice in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.

7.2 Be a pro-active team member of the SLT department at LTHT by participating in departmental development projects, attending and participating in departmental meetings and clinical updates.

7.3 Demonstrate the ability to communicate highly complex, specialised and sensitive information with empathy and understanding.

7.4 Demonstrate the ability to provide highly complex Communication and Swallowing counselling to patients requiring cognitive behavioural therapy skills and use of advanced reassurance, motivational and negotiation skills to overcome barriers to change.

7.5 Demonstrate the ability to analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form accurate therapy care plans in specialised areas.

7.6 Demonstrate analytical skills in prioritising the best course of SLT treatment in patients with highly complex clinical conditions, where therapeutic goals may conflict with other ongoing physical, emotional, psychological and medical problems.

7.7 Ability to use a range of specialist equipment with precision and accuracy during communication and swallowing assessments.

8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

8.1 Ability to perform specialised SLT assessments, interpret and plan relevant SLT care programmes for patients with highly complex communication and swallowing needs and multiple medical conditions.

8.2 Advanced knowledge of communication and swallowing problems related to the specialism and associated surgery/treatments.

8.3 Demonstrate advanced knowledge in interpretation of complex clinical information to develop, monitor and perform highly specialist swallowing and communication care plans.

8.4 Responsible for liaison at local and regional level to secure safe transfer of care for these complex client groups.

8.5 Demonstrate the ability to evaluate practice using evidence based practice and critical appraisal.

8.6 Ability to advise and suggest suitable dietary and fluid modifications to facilitate safe swallowing.

8.7 Knowledge of clinical governance, quality of care and evidence based practice in specialist areas.

8.8 Awareness of national guidance and driving factors in specialist areas.

9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

9.1 Clinical

9.1.1 Be an autonomous practitioner, clinically, legally and professionally responsible for own caseload.

9.1.2 Work as a key member of the MDT

9.1.3 Assess, diagnose and treat patients for swallowing and communication breakdown providing highly specialist advice and support regarding potential short and long term effects of treatment.

9.1.4 Treat and manage highly caseloads with a wide variety of swallowing and communication impairments.

9.1.5 Provide ongoing psychosocial support to patient and/or carers and facilitate communication with other members of the MDT in meetings which they attend

9.1.6 Advise on the risk of aspiration with reference to the need for enteral feeding ie NG, PEJ or PEG as appropriate if at high risk of aspiration on oral intake.

9.1.7 Refer and participate in specialist assessment of swallowing ie Video fluoroscopy/FEES.

9.1.9 Facilitate effective communication via therapy or aided/unaided augmentative communication aids in conjunction with the AAC service and Mental Capacity Act/Safeguarding Teams as appropriate.

9.1.10 Liaise with SLTs in the acute setting re patient management, transfer of care pathways etc. Triage patients into appropriate treatment streams.

9.1.11. Develop clear care plans based on best practice.

9.1.12 Negotiate with carers, clients and others around individual case management and to adapt practice to meet individual patient/client circumstances.

9.1.13 Treat, manage and support patients and carers of patients with highly

complex communication and swallowing disorders

9.1.14 Provide ongoing support for patients with palliative care needs liaising fully with palliative care services.

9.2 Education and training

9.2.1 Provide education, advice, information and support for patients, carers and allied health/social care teams at local and regional level across a range of settings.

9.2.2 Develop pathways across Leeds, building links with relevant Health and Social Care staff, third sector agencies, carers, nursing homes, GP's etc and improving transfer of care (seamless service) between acute and community settings.

9.2.3 Provide communication and swallowing training to relevant MDT's, , qualified/non-qualified staff, GP surgeries, District/Specialist Nurses and local/regional health care professionals as appropriate.

9.2.4 Support carers and patients with acquired complex communication/ swallowing disorders. Train families, and carers to enable effective communication with this client group and facilitate safe feeding.

9.2.5 Provide treatment, advice and education for Leeds patients in Outpatient settings.

9.3 Managerial

9.3.1 Provide clinical leadership for the specialism across Leeds providing training, advice and second opinions as appropriate

9.3.2 Work closely with Acute SLTs to facilitate effective transfer of care across a seamless pathway

9.3.3 Collate relevant audit data and compile service reports as appropriate.

9.3.4 Works with and manages direct reports, establishing and maintaining ongoing contact and regular meetings to set and monitor objectives, performance and discuss personal development.

9.3.5 Effectively leads staff in order to deliver results; inspiring others to be positive in their support of continuous improvement.

9.3.6 Ensures cover for the team at all times and all coordinates as appropriate, engaging temporary support staff as required in accordance with LTHT Policies and Procedures ensuring induction, supervision and delegation of workload.

9.3.7 Provides a leadership style which is underpinned by values around equality, diversity and openness; effectively builds and maintains relationships with direct report(s) and other key individuals across the organisation.

9.3.8 Ensures that individual objectives are clearly defined within the wider Workforce Directorate framework and in line with LTHT objectives, using the appraisal and KSF processes as vehicles for this.

9.3.9 Promotes diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example.

9.4 Organisational

9.4.1 Promote safe and effective transfer of care between acute and community settings.

9.4.2 Act as a key link between patients, and other professionals both inside and outside the MDT promoting access to appropriate agencies.

9.4.4 Liaise with, SLTs and Specialist MDT regarding shared patient management.

9.4.5 Promote continuous service development utilising the latest evidence based practice to maximise clinical effectiveness.

9.4.6 Liaise with SLT line manager and keep them informed of fluctuations in workload, and other significant factors which affect the delivery of service.

Person Specification

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Must be willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills required to carry out duties

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills. Active and empathetic listening/ counselling skills
• Sensitive to the needs of others and has an awareness and responsiveness to other peoples feelings and needs
• Values differences; regards people as individuals and appreciates value of diversity in the workplace
• Able to work as part of a team, co-operating to work together and in conjunction with others and willing to help and assist wherever possible and appropriate.
• Able to develop, establish and maintain positive relationships with others both internal and external to the organisation.
• Able to work under pressure, dealing with peaks and troughs in workload.
• Positive attitude to dealing with change; flexible and adaptable, willing to change and accept change and to explore new ways of doing things and approaches
• Highly motivated and reliable
• Has a strong degree of personal integrity; able to adhere to standards of conduct based on a sense of right and wrong and be dependable and reliable
• Ability to formulate independent clinical decisions following assessment.
• Able to negotiate with client / carer and medical / AHP teams around individual case management
• Able to communicate complex, sensitive condition-related information from assessment to patients and carers
• Ability to give clear advice, instruction and training to patients, carers and other professionals relating to complex communication/ swallowing disorders
• Good time management, organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Well developed analytical, reflective, negotiation and problem solving skills.

Desirable

• Excellent organizational and prioritisation skills
• Good auditory discrimination skills and ability to transcribe speech phonetically
• Highly developed Negotiation and Problem solving skills
• Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of successful completion of specialist post graduate short courses related to the specialism
• Post Graduate training in and maintenance of: RCSLT Level C Dysphagia Training & Competency Framework
• An extensive portfolio and evidence of advanced personal and advanced/highly specialist professional development with skills, experience and achieved outcomes.
• Specialist Knowledge of relevant client groups
• In-depth knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions and evidence of highly specialist clinical expertise relevant to the specialism.
• Well established knowledge of RCSLT Professional and Clinical Guidelines/ policies both locally and nationally in the specialism as well as relevant national strategy and drivers.
• Assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of neonates and older children presenting with communication and/or feeding difficulties.
• Assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of communication and feeding disorders associated with tracheostomy including ventilator assisted patients in a paediatric setting
• Substantial SLT experience post qualification with significant experience working in the LTV / critical care specialism.
• Experience working at advanced level in the assessment, differential diagnosis and management of the specialism .
• Experience in teaching competencies to less experienced Speech and Language Therapists.
• Experience in the provision of second opinions and advice to internal and external professional colleagues.
• Experience in delivering Communication and Swallowing training to SLT colleagues and other members of the MDT
• Experience of conducting clinical audit.
• Able to manage the emotional consequences of managing patients with a range of feeding and communication disorders.

Desirable

• Experience in student clinical supervision
• FEES competencies
• Has attended Clinical Supervisory Skills Course, or equivalent
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, including audit cycle, continuous quality improvement and user involvement. Experience in research/audit
• Line Management experience Experience in conducting appraisals
• Experience of working in Specialist MDTs and acting as a specialist SLT resource.
• Competence and experience in conducting, interpreting and analysing VFSS to support diagnosis and management of patients presenting with complex paediatric dysphagia.

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree accredited by RCSLT
• Health Professions Council license to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist.
• Registered Member of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Advanced level dysphagia training
• Post graduate training in tracheostomy

Desirable

• EKSF / Appraisal training
• Advanced communication skills
• Post graduate training in VFSS

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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS13EX

Employer's website

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