Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To be the clinical lead within CICC and ESD for people with stroke and other medical conditions within the frailty remit that result in a disorder of communication or swallow.

• To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and management of people with communication and swallowing disorders following stroke.

• To provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and management of people with communication and swallowing disorders related to a wide range of other medical conditions under the frailty remit.

• To support and supervise rehabilitation assistants treating people in CICC.

To provide clinical supervision in this specialism for less experienced speech and language therapists and rehabilitation assistants in both CICC and ESD.

To keep up to date with developments in the management of specialist caseloads and to lead and support the team in the development and use of innovative assessment and treatment methods.

To support Lead Speech and Language Therapist in the development of a Dysphagia Trained Nurse programme for the registered nurses within CICC and deliver this training programme.

To keep Lead Speech and Language Therapist and CICC Matron advised of any changes or developments that may affect planning and policy within the specialism.

To advise speech and language therapy colleagues on clinical issues relating to people with stroke and frailty, offering a second opinion when requested.

• To work with the Principal SLT to develop and monitor clinical policies, guidelines and procedures for the speech and language therapy service in CICC and ESD.

• To build good working relationships with community and hospital professionals working with people with stroke and frailty

• To be responsible and accountable for the independent prioritisation and management of own clinical caseload.

To make a differential diagnosis of communication and swallowing difficulties on the basis of specialist formal and informal clinical assessments; to ensure that all interventions are based on accurate, appropriate and sufficient assessment.

To support and facilitate all patients in expressing their own views and needs, to enable them to take an active part in the planning of treatment.

To use clinical assessment of patients communication skills to support decision making about a patients capacity to consent to interventions and make decisions affecting future management.

To develop clear individual care plans based on clinical guidelines and established best practice.

To use appropriate outcome measures, such as Care Aims, to evaluate personal clinical effectiveness.

To provide programmes of therapy activities and demonstrations of those activities to those concerned (family, staff, visitors) to enable carry over and generalisation of new skills into the wider communicative environment.

To consider the need to adapt clinical practice to meet the needs of patients and carers including issues relating to disability, culture and educational attainment e.g. the format of written advice, wheelchair access and interpreters.

To ensure smooth and appropriate handover of care from one agency to another; to provide reports, reflecting specialist knowledge and interpretation of specialist assessments, to other health professionals, including GPs and Hospital consultants as requested; to make and/or recommend onward referrals to other professionals or agencies, as appropriate.

To maintain up to date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and local guidelines and policies.

To submit activity data, using SystmOne and SSNAP, accurately, regularly and promptly in accordance with agreed guidelines and policies.

To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines.

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 and portable I.T. equipment.

To take responsibility for ensuring that equipment and assessment tools and other essential supplies are requested in a timely manner.

To participate in development of CICC SLT Service risk management, quality standards setting and Clinical Governance/audit projects, advising clinical lead of any changes or developments that may affect service planning and policy.

To participate in undergraduate clinical and observational placements for all relevant disciplines.

To supervise the work of less experienced SLTs, students and assistants and ensure that those to whom tasks are delegated, e.g. unqualified Speech and Language Therapy staff, have the appropriate level of competence.

To have regard for your own personal safety and that of the people, carers and any staff or colleagues under your direction, in particular with regard to moving and handling of people or equipment in order to ensure the safe positioning of self and others.

To maintain a high standard of professional practice as set out by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) in the professional code of conduct, the Health Professions Council (HPC) and service standards, including maintaining continuing professional development (CPD).

• To work within the CICC and ESD Operational Policy and Clinical Guidelines

Person Specification

Education/qualification

Essential

• Speech and language degree with HCPC registration
• Completion of dysphagia training/competencies

Desirable

• Member of RCSLT

Knowledge

Essential

• Specialist knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired and progressive neurological speech and language disorders in adults
• Specialist knowledge of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to acquired and progressive neurological swallowing disorders in adults
• Knowledge of national policies, procedures and current research relevant to all specialist caseloads.

Desirable

• Knowledge of cultural and linguistic issues in working with a multi-cultural caseload

Skills/Experience

Essential

• Extensive experience working with specialist adult caseload, managing swallowing disorders and communication issues.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent interpersonal skills - including sensitivity, observation, listening and empathy skills
• Good time management skills and ability to support others in this
• Good presentation skills both written and verbal
• Experience of working as a SLT within the NHS and Uk health provision

Desirable

• Experience of using systm1
• Problem solving skills
• Full driving licence and access to vehicle for work purposes

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cumberlege Intermediate Care Centre

Rochford Hospital, Union Lane

Rochford

SS4 1RB

Employer's website

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