Job summary
Adult Speech and Language Therapist Band 7
Part time, 36.5 hours
Would you like to work in a dynamic and transformative team of community health and care professionals caring for patients in West Essex? Are you Caring, Empowering and always looking to learn ? If so this could be the job for you!
We are looking for an experienced speech and language therapist preferably with a speech and language speciality but not essential, to join our small friendly community speech and language therapy team, who provide communication and dysphagia support to adults with acquired difficulties, and their carer's, throughout West Essex. Our varied caseload includes neurological conditions, mental health and end of life and we offer a variety if interventions including LSVT and carer training. The candidate will also have the opportunity to work with voice and head and neck patients and be involved with improving pathways and integration of voice, head and neck clinics and Videofluroscopy clinics with our acute colleagues at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.
We are also looking to introduce an intensive therapy programme for patients with acquired neurological conditions - ICAP.
Patients are provided with a service in a variety of settings ie care homes, patients home, outpatient clinics, community inpatient wards and virtually.
Car driver essential
Main duties of the job
The post holder will deliver community based speech and language therapy services as a member of West Essex Community Health Service Integrated Care Teams, providing specialist speech and language therapy services to patients and carers of those with an acquired disorder of communication and/or swallowing to support those living with long term conditions. The caseload will include community hospital patients, virtual hospital, domiciliary and clinic based activity for patients with mental health conditions, long term conditions including end of life, and neurological conditions.
Patients may be seen face to face or virtually if appropriate. There will also be an opportunity to work with voice and head and neck patients in community and secondary care. Opportunities for transformation include integrating videofluroscopy with secondary care, and introducing intensive therapy programmes ICAP and LSVT for patients with acquired neurological conditions.
The post holder will be based at St Margaret's Hospital, Epping and will be required to provide services across West Essex.
The post holder will assist the Team Lead Speech and Language Therapist and Operational manager in developing the service..
The post holder will provide clinical support to junior colleagues working in the team.
About us
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loans
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
- Day One Flexible Employer
Join our Staff bank
What is Staff Bank?
Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.
All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.
If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This small friendly team comprises of three band 7's, 1 band 6 and a speech and language therapy assistant.
They integrate effectively with their acute hospital colleagues and community integrated teams to improve the care for their patients.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- The post holder will independently manage the caseload of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders, actively initiating and participating in the interdisciplinary decision making around patient care and developing service delivery initiatives.
- The post holder will maintain an overview of the competing demands for speech and language therapy service, managing service delivery and keeping their line manager informed of pressures to self and service, prioritising the caseload and administrative workload to meet capacity demands.
- The post holder will be responsible for organising the speech and language therapy service in accordance with Departmental and Trust policies and procedures
- The post holder will apply evidence-based practice in order to manage a specific caseload of patients with complex needs under supervision.
Patient/Client Care
- To undertake clinical work with adults with a wide range of acquired communication and swallowing difficulties to a high clinical standard.
The clinical work will include:
- Assessing and diagnosing a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders, including diverse and multi-faceted pathologies
- Planning appropriate therapy intervention, making fine judgements about type and timing of treatment negotiated with patients, carers and the MDT
- Recommending and introducing low and high tech communication systems and resources
- Delivering group and individual therapy as required
- Providing advice and therapy programmes to carers and other health professionals
- Managing patients and carers anxieties regarding intervention and prognosis
- Evaluating treatment outcomes
- Transferring and discharging
- To assess, develop and implement specialist person centred programmes of intervention to meet the needs of clients on personal caseload. This requires the development of a high level of clinical competence within the field of acquired communication and swallowing disorders, reflecting on own practice and keeping abreast of significant advances in clinical care through attendance at courses, conferences, SIGs and critical appraisal of journal articles.
- To provide training and support to carers and relatives both individually and through group courses where appropriate, in order to facilitate effective communication with partners using total communication strategies
- To maintain clinical records, and to write timely reports and correspondence for Health, Social Services and other colleagues reflecting specialist knowledge.
- To provide specialist evidenced based advice to more junior speech and language therapists and other professionals working within the field on clinical issues in particular with regard to establishing safe practice in swallow management and developing a supportive communicative environment for those who are unable to meet their communication needs using verbal channels.
- To identify patients requiring assessment from other MDT members and initiate referrals when appropriate.
- To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment programmes where appropriate, participating in MD, as well as speech and language therapy goal setting and negotiate with others around case management in complex cases.
- To work in close collaboration with the other Community Integrated Teams in order to facilitate the delivery of integrated therapy programmes including joint group therapy when appropriate.
- To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of care plans wherever possible and to facilitate their meaningful involvement in planning their care with other team members. This will involve communicating complex information with skill and sensitivity, employing total communication strategies when required.
- To work closely with patients carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patients management.
- To provide information on support networks, professional and voluntary, to patients and their families.
- To identify the need for second opinions, referring patients to specialist therapists or centres after discussion with the line manager.
- To initiate and take part in regular clinical review and supervision with other therapists both as a peer reviewer and supervisee
- To participate in the staff appraisal scheme including identifying personal/professional development evidenced by CPD Portfolio and planning training needs with line manager
Communication Skills - To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with patients, families, carers using the appropriate communication techniques relating to age, culture, ethnicity and disability to respond to the needs of the patient, family and carers.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with speech and language therapy teams in neighbouring organisations, with Social Services, medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated inter-disciplinary service.
- To promote and develop links with key personnel in other organisations, including in the voluntary sector, involved in providing services to the same patient population in order to facilitate the delivery of appropriate care in a seamless fashion.
- To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues.
- To maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Keep accurate clinical records in accordance with profession and trust standards.
- Use I.T. skills accurately in report writing, treatment planning and communication.
- To develop effective working relationships and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to provide an integrated and coordinated service
Education and Research - To participate in innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.
- To undertake research/Clinical Governance/audit projects within area of expertise, disseminating findings at a local level.
- To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
- To collect and provide research data as required.
- To identify the training needs of volunteers and staff in the areas relating to speech and language therapy and in consultation with the interdisciplinary team assist in the induction and supervision of all newly appointed staff.
- To plan, implement and evaluate training for other professionals and carers working with the same client population.
- To participate in the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy development
- To cascade information to colleagues as appropriate to enhance their development and understanding of the profession.
Managerial Responsibilities
- To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training for professionals, relatives and carers working with the same patient population, as requested by line manager.
- To assist the lead therapists with the identification of training needs of members of the team.
- To provide clinical support to more junior speech and language therapists within the team.
- To supervise the work of assistants and volunteers both with individual clients and in groups.
- To undertake the training of speech and language therapy students in their clinical practicum.
- To assist in the support of students from other professional groups.
- To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
Information Management
- To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.
- To undertake Clinical Governance /audit projects within the team.
- To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
- To collect and provide research data as required
Service Delivery and Policy Implementation
- To advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures, etc.
- To contribute to interagency and multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
- To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies
- To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate.
Financial and physical resources
- To maintain inventories, monitor stock levels in own service area, evaluate equipment and materials in own area and request new equipment as appropriate
- To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients
Freedom To Act
- To manage caseload independently.
- To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate
- To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct
- To work independently accessing appraisal within an IPR framework at pre-determined intervals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This small friendly team comprises of three band 7's, 1 band 6 and a speech and language therapy assistant.
They integrate effectively with their acute hospital colleagues and community integrated teams to improve the care for their patients.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- The post holder will independently manage the caseload of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders, actively initiating and participating in the interdisciplinary decision making around patient care and developing service delivery initiatives.
- The post holder will maintain an overview of the competing demands for speech and language therapy service, managing service delivery and keeping their line manager informed of pressures to self and service, prioritising the caseload and administrative workload to meet capacity demands.
- The post holder will be responsible for organising the speech and language therapy service in accordance with Departmental and Trust policies and procedures
- The post holder will apply evidence-based practice in order to manage a specific caseload of patients with complex needs under supervision.
Patient/Client Care
- To undertake clinical work with adults with a wide range of acquired communication and swallowing difficulties to a high clinical standard.
The clinical work will include:
- Assessing and diagnosing a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders, including diverse and multi-faceted pathologies
- Planning appropriate therapy intervention, making fine judgements about type and timing of treatment negotiated with patients, carers and the MDT
- Recommending and introducing low and high tech communication systems and resources
- Delivering group and individual therapy as required
- Providing advice and therapy programmes to carers and other health professionals
- Managing patients and carers anxieties regarding intervention and prognosis
- Evaluating treatment outcomes
- Transferring and discharging
- To assess, develop and implement specialist person centred programmes of intervention to meet the needs of clients on personal caseload. This requires the development of a high level of clinical competence within the field of acquired communication and swallowing disorders, reflecting on own practice and keeping abreast of significant advances in clinical care through attendance at courses, conferences, SIGs and critical appraisal of journal articles.
- To provide training and support to carers and relatives both individually and through group courses where appropriate, in order to facilitate effective communication with partners using total communication strategies
- To maintain clinical records, and to write timely reports and correspondence for Health, Social Services and other colleagues reflecting specialist knowledge.
- To provide specialist evidenced based advice to more junior speech and language therapists and other professionals working within the field on clinical issues in particular with regard to establishing safe practice in swallow management and developing a supportive communicative environment for those who are unable to meet their communication needs using verbal channels.
- To identify patients requiring assessment from other MDT members and initiate referrals when appropriate.
- To contribute to multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment programmes where appropriate, participating in MD, as well as speech and language therapy goal setting and negotiate with others around case management in complex cases.
- To work in close collaboration with the other Community Integrated Teams in order to facilitate the delivery of integrated therapy programmes including joint group therapy when appropriate.
- To ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of care plans wherever possible and to facilitate their meaningful involvement in planning their care with other team members. This will involve communicating complex information with skill and sensitivity, employing total communication strategies when required.
- To work closely with patients carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the patients management.
- To provide information on support networks, professional and voluntary, to patients and their families.
- To identify the need for second opinions, referring patients to specialist therapists or centres after discussion with the line manager.
- To initiate and take part in regular clinical review and supervision with other therapists both as a peer reviewer and supervisee
- To participate in the staff appraisal scheme including identifying personal/professional development evidenced by CPD Portfolio and planning training needs with line manager
Communication Skills - To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with patients, families, carers using the appropriate communication techniques relating to age, culture, ethnicity and disability to respond to the needs of the patient, family and carers.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with speech and language therapy teams in neighbouring organisations, with Social Services, medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated inter-disciplinary service.
- To promote and develop links with key personnel in other organisations, including in the voluntary sector, involved in providing services to the same patient population in order to facilitate the delivery of appropriate care in a seamless fashion.
- To demonstrate good negotiation skills across a range of issues.
- To maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Keep accurate clinical records in accordance with profession and trust standards.
- Use I.T. skills accurately in report writing, treatment planning and communication.
- To develop effective working relationships and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to provide an integrated and coordinated service
Education and Research - To participate in innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.
- To undertake research/Clinical Governance/audit projects within area of expertise, disseminating findings at a local level.
- To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
- To collect and provide research data as required.
- To identify the training needs of volunteers and staff in the areas relating to speech and language therapy and in consultation with the interdisciplinary team assist in the induction and supervision of all newly appointed staff.
- To plan, implement and evaluate training for other professionals and carers working with the same client population.
- To participate in the delivery of Speech and Language Therapy development
- To cascade information to colleagues as appropriate to enhance their development and understanding of the profession.
Managerial Responsibilities
- To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training for professionals, relatives and carers working with the same patient population, as requested by line manager.
- To assist the lead therapists with the identification of training needs of members of the team.
- To provide clinical support to more junior speech and language therapists within the team.
- To supervise the work of assistants and volunteers both with individual clients and in groups.
- To undertake the training of speech and language therapy students in their clinical practicum.
- To assist in the support of students from other professional groups.
- To explain the role of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
Information Management
- To participate in and develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness.
- To undertake Clinical Governance /audit projects within the team.
- To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
- To collect and provide research data as required
Service Delivery and Policy Implementation
- To advise line manager on issues of service delivery including shortfall, service pressures, etc.
- To contribute to interagency and multi-disciplinary team building and policy development.
- To be aware of, adhere to and implement service and team plans and policies
- To use specialist knowledge to inform service/policy developments as appropriate.
Financial and physical resources
- To maintain inventories, monitor stock levels in own service area, evaluate equipment and materials in own area and request new equipment as appropriate
- To be responsible for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and safety are maintained including equipment loaned to clients
Freedom To Act
- To manage caseload independently.
- To be accountable for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as appropriate
- To work within defined departmental and national protocols/policies and professional code of conduct
- To work independently accessing appraisal within an IPR framework at pre-determined intervals.
Person Specification
essential
Essential
- degree or equivalent in speech and language therapy
- minimum 5 years experience
- post graduate experience in dysphasia
- evidence of relevant CPD
- Evidence of experience in aphasia, progressive neurological and mental health disorders.
Desirable
desirable
Essential
- educated to masters degree level or equivalent experience
Person Specification
essential
Essential
- degree or equivalent in speech and language therapy
- minimum 5 years experience
- post graduate experience in dysphasia
- evidence of relevant CPD
- Evidence of experience in aphasia, progressive neurological and mental health disorders.
Desirable
desirable
Essential
- educated to masters degree level or equivalent experience
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).
