Job summary
We would like to hear from you if you are a well-motivated and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist, who wants to work with adults in a dynamic and thoughtful inpatient acute hospital setting. You will have experience in working with adults with acquired swallowing and communication disorders, and preferably, you will have previous acute hospital experience.
The post is based within the Adult Acute Team at University College London Hospital (UCH). The successful applicant will be responsible for delivering a Specialist SLT service across under many different specialties, including Medicine for the Elderly, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Acute Medicine, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases, Oncology, and Haematology. You will work flexibility across the various specialities, as assigned by a senior SLT or the Team Lead. The SLT service offers an established supervision system and a range of opportunities for learning and participation in self and service development.
UCH is a national tertiary referral centre for a range of specialties, including haematological disorders. We have strong links with our Paediatric and Head and Neck SLT teams, as well as the teams at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and The Royal National Ear Nose and Throat Hospital.
Main duties of the job
Responsible for delivering a comprehensive and specialist service to patients presenting with speech, language, swallow, and voice disorders due a variety of aetiologies. Primary duties include:
o Assessment and management of patients with dysphagia.o Assessment and management of patients with communication impairments.o Development of rehabilitation plans for speech, language, swallow, and voice.o Use of instrumental assessment to guide dysphagia management, including videofluoroscopy competencies highly desired.o Delivering a high quality specialist SLT service with adult acute inpatients.o Supervising junior staff, as required and designated by the Team Lead. o Participating in CPD and helping to organise as required.
o Developing and carrying out service development projects as agreed with their line manager.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy (or equivalent)
- HCPC License to Practice in the area of Speech and Language Therapy
- Demonstration of knowledge of assessing communication (e.g., aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria) and swallowing disorders at a specialist level
- Basic counselling skills or courses
- Evidence of working within the NHS
Desirable
- Successful completion of specialist training in tracheostomy assessment and management (including use of speaking valves for patients on ventilators)
- Training in SLT student clinical supervision
- Level 2 competencies in videofluoroscopy
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years experience of working with acquired dysphagia in adults
- Proven experience of assessing swallowing and speech & language skills in an adult population
- Proven experience of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to adults with acute and chronic dysphagia, and demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches
- Detailed knowledge of multi-disciplinary team approaches
- Good understanding of the clinical governance principles (e.g. audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management, patient and public involvement)
Desirable
- Of delivering and evaluating training to a range of audiences
- Of supervising junior staff
Values
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrates knowledge of RCSLT and HPCs code of ethics and professional conduct
- Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to national and local clinical guidelines with reference to adult acute caseload e.g. National Service Frameworks/ NICE Guidelines
- Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate legislation affecting working practice e.g. Working with Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act, Safeguarding Children
- Effective time management and the ability to prioritise own workload
- Demonstration of effective management of change skills including the flexibility in approach to changes in patient and service needs
Communication
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Advanced approaches to support clients & carers with challenging behaviour, mental health needs or those in high levels of distress
- Competent IT skills
Personal and People Development
Essential
- Experience of approaches to mentoring, advising, supporting and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
- The ability to reflect on practice and implement feedback given by senior colleagues
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Demonstrates understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties
Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:
Essential
- Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
- Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control. Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
- Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Speech and Language Therapy (or equivalent)
- HCPC License to Practice in the area of Speech and Language Therapy
- Demonstration of knowledge of assessing communication (e.g., aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria) and swallowing disorders at a specialist level
- Basic counselling skills or courses
- Evidence of working within the NHS
Desirable
- Successful completion of specialist training in tracheostomy assessment and management (including use of speaking valves for patients on ventilators)
- Training in SLT student clinical supervision
- Level 2 competencies in videofluoroscopy
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years experience of working with acquired dysphagia in adults
- Proven experience of assessing swallowing and speech & language skills in an adult population
- Proven experience of a range of therapeutic interventions relevant to adults with acute and chronic dysphagia, and demonstrating the evidence base for these approaches
- Detailed knowledge of multi-disciplinary team approaches
- Good understanding of the clinical governance principles (e.g. audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management, patient and public involvement)
Desirable
- Of delivering and evaluating training to a range of audiences
- Of supervising junior staff
Values
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrates knowledge of RCSLT and HPCs code of ethics and professional conduct
- Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to national and local clinical guidelines with reference to adult acute caseload e.g. National Service Frameworks/ NICE Guidelines
- Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate legislation affecting working practice e.g. Working with Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act, Safeguarding Children
- Effective time management and the ability to prioritise own workload
- Demonstration of effective management of change skills including the flexibility in approach to changes in patient and service needs
Communication
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Advanced approaches to support clients & carers with challenging behaviour, mental health needs or those in high levels of distress
- Competent IT skills
Personal and People Development
Essential
- Experience of approaches to mentoring, advising, supporting and clinically supervising less experienced SLTs and support staff
- The ability to reflect on practice and implement feedback given by senior colleagues
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential
- Demonstrates understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties
Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:
Essential
- Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control.
- Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control. Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal
- Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
University College London Hospital
250 Euston Road
London
NW1 2PG
Employer's website
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
