Job summary
We are looking for a suitably qualified and enthusiastic Speech and Language Therapist to join our highly skilled and dynamic stroke team which has had recent expansion of the therapy workforce. This is an exciting time to join the team as stroke services across BNSSG have recently undergone a service transformation with the regional HASU/ASU centralised to North Bristol Trust and community services provided by Sirona care & health. The post is substantive and is part of a rotation with 18 months being spent on the Hyper-acute/Acute Stroke Unit and 9 months with the Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS). Your contract of employment will be with NBT but would involve a secondment to Sirona.
The post holder will be part of a high profile SLT team who seek to provide a high quality, innovative and evidenced based service. We therefore actively encourage personal development of clinical, analytical and research skills.
Applicants will need to have appropriate post qualification experience in working with adults who have communication and swallowing difficulties related to stroke/acquired neurological disorders in inpatient and preferably also community settings. Completion of an accredited post-basic dysphagia course or equivalent is essential. Post-holders should have excellent communication skills and be a collaborative multi-disciplinary team player.
Main duties of the job
- This is a rotation post between the Hyperacute/Acute Stroke Unit (HASU/ASU) at Southmead Hospital and the Integrated Community Stroke Team (ICSS). The ICSS part of the rotation involves a secondment to Sirona Care and Health
- To provide specialist speech and language therapy (SLT) assessment, diagnosis and treatment to adults with communication and swallowing difficulties following stroke on inpatient wards at NBT and in the ICSS hosted by Sirona.
- To work as a key member of the multi-disciplinary HASU/ASU and ICSS teams
- To manage an inpatient and/or community caseload as appropriate
- To pursue and acquire ongoing knowledge and expertise for practice with adults with acquired communication and swallowing difficulties.
- To pursue and develop advanced dysphagia skills through formalised training, for example post graduate advanced dysphagia courses.
- To be a member of the specialist SLT team providing assessment, advice and rehabilitation services to adults with communication and swallowing difficulties as a result of stroke, acquired neurological diseases, neurosurgical procedures, medical decline and other long-term conditions
About us
NBT Cares. It's a very simple statement; one which epitomises how everybody across our organisation goes the extra mile to ensure our patients get the best possible care.
NBT Cares is also an acronym, standing for caring, ambitious, respectful and supportive - our organisational values.
And our NBT Cares values are underpinned by our positive behaviours framework - a framework that provides clear guidance on how colleagues can work with one another in a constructive and supportive way.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- To have responsibility and accountability for the management of own clinical caseload, including referrals, management and discharge decisions, within own level of competence and with appropriate clinical support.
- To assess and analyse type, severity and impact of all conditions of speech, language and communication impairments in a wide range of adult patients, through a variety of formal and informal assessments/information gathering methods.
- To record and interpret personally generated clinical observations and provide feedback for clients/carers/professionals and relevant others.
- To provide differential diagnosis, clinical advice and care plans/therapy to clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties, which includes analysis of facts and a comparison of a range of options for appropriate intervention.
- To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence-based practice, clear care plans and outcome measures
Education, Research and Development
- To seek advice and support when necessary from more senior colleagues, further developing skills in the management of stroke, medical disorders, especially elderly care, neurological diseases and neurosurgical conditions as appropriate
- To attend regular clinical supervision sessions
- To participate in multi/ inter disciplinary and interagency team building where appropriate.
- To participate in the development and delivery of patient/carer education programmes, as needed.
- To participate in local clinical governance/audit/research projects by providing data as required and being part of relevant working groups as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- To have responsibility and accountability for the management of own clinical caseload, including referrals, management and discharge decisions, within own level of competence and with appropriate clinical support.
- To assess and analyse type, severity and impact of all conditions of speech, language and communication impairments in a wide range of adult patients, through a variety of formal and informal assessments/information gathering methods.
- To record and interpret personally generated clinical observations and provide feedback for clients/carers/professionals and relevant others.
- To provide differential diagnosis, clinical advice and care plans/therapy to clients with communication and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties, which includes analysis of facts and a comparison of a range of options for appropriate intervention.
- To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by the use of evidence-based practice, clear care plans and outcome measures
Education, Research and Development
- To seek advice and support when necessary from more senior colleagues, further developing skills in the management of stroke, medical disorders, especially elderly care, neurological diseases and neurosurgical conditions as appropriate
- To attend regular clinical supervision sessions
- To participate in multi/ inter disciplinary and interagency team building where appropriate.
- To participate in the development and delivery of patient/carer education programmes, as needed.
- To participate in local clinical governance/audit/research projects by providing data as required and being part of relevant working groups as appropriate.
Person Specification
Education, training, qualifications
Essential
- Recognised RCSLT degree level qualification
- Health Professions Council (HPC) Licence to Practise
- Completion of post-basic dysphagia training and aphasia training
Knowledge, skills, abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders in stroke, acquired neurology, medical conditions and elderly care underpinned by current evidence-based practice
- Awareness of the role of instrumental swallow assessment in management of acute patients and to make appropriate referrals with support
- Ability to independently manage and prioritise an acute caseload, with appropriate support
- Ability to structure clear care plans based on best practice and integrating psychosocial, physical, emotional and environmental factors within a holistic patient centred approach
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, in order to manage challenging communication difficulties, communicate complex information and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team including setting of MDT goals
- With support, to recognise clinical responsibilities and boundaries when working with clients who may be experiencing loss of employment, relationship breakdown, suicidal thoughts or making palliative care choices
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Able to use initiative and work independently
- Flexible and enthusiastic approach to work and colleagues
- Able to meet the travel requirements of the ICSS part of the post
Work experience
Essential
- Relevant post qualification experience in working with adults who have communication and swallowing difficulties related to stroke, acquired neurological disease and injury, medical disorders and elderly care
Desirable
- Experience of both acute and community settings
Person Specification
Education, training, qualifications
Essential
- Recognised RCSLT degree level qualification
- Health Professions Council (HPC) Licence to Practise
- Completion of post-basic dysphagia training and aphasia training
Knowledge, skills, abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of communication and swallowing disorders in stroke, acquired neurology, medical conditions and elderly care underpinned by current evidence-based practice
- Awareness of the role of instrumental swallow assessment in management of acute patients and to make appropriate referrals with support
- Ability to independently manage and prioritise an acute caseload, with appropriate support
- Ability to structure clear care plans based on best practice and integrating psychosocial, physical, emotional and environmental factors within a holistic patient centred approach
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, in order to manage challenging communication difficulties, communicate complex information and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team including setting of MDT goals
- With support, to recognise clinical responsibilities and boundaries when working with clients who may be experiencing loss of employment, relationship breakdown, suicidal thoughts or making palliative care choices
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Able to use initiative and work independently
- Flexible and enthusiastic approach to work and colleagues
- Able to meet the travel requirements of the ICSS part of the post
Work experience
Essential
- Relevant post qualification experience in working with adults who have communication and swallowing difficulties related to stroke, acquired neurological disease and injury, medical disorders and elderly care
Desirable
- Experience of both acute and community settings
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).
