Job responsibilities
Key Duties:
Patient/client care:
To assess, develop
and implement specialist Speech and Language Therapy treatment.
To write reports
reflecting specialist knowledge.
To provide
appropriate specialist intervention and evaluate outcomes.
To provide advice to
others regarding the management and care of patients/clients with communication
and/or feeding and swallowing difficulties.
To ensure that
patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans
wherever possible.
To demonstrate
negotiation skills.
To demonstrate
clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice and outcome measures.
To adapt practice to
meet individual patients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and
linguistic differences.
To demonstrate skills
in dealing with complex issues to generate appropriate strategies for caseload
management.
Policy/service
development/implementation:
To contribute to
interagency/multi-disciplinary team building.
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 monitor stock
levels in own service 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.
Human resources
To supervise the work
of assistants and volunteers
To participate in
student placements as appropriate.
To provide mentoring
and supervision to more junior Speech and Language Therapists.
To explain the role
of Speech and Language Therapists to visitors, students and volunteers.
To assist in the
support of students from other professional groups as appropriate.
To participate in
specialist training in area of clinical expertise.
To assist with the
identification of training needs within the team.
Information resources:
To maintain up to
date and accurate case notes in line with RCSLT professional standards and
local trust policies.
To share information
with others, observing data protection guidelines.
To gather activity
data accurately and regularly, ensuring the provision of such information
promptly within local Trust guidelines.
Research and development:
To participate in and
develop innovations in areas of risk management, quality standards setting and
clinical effectiveness.
To undertake Clinical
Governance /audit projects within local service.
To participate in
departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects.
To collect and
provide research data as required.
Freedom to act:
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 Individual Performance Framework at
pre-determined intervals.
Knowledge and Skills:
Communication and relationship skills:
To contribute to
clinical teams both multi disciplinary and uni disciplinary by discussing own
and others input around clients needs ensuring a well co-ordinated care plan.
To communicate
complex condition related information from assessment to clients, carers,
families and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.
To work closely with
clients, carers and families, agreeing decision making relevant to the
patient/client management.
To demonstrate
empathy with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that
effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to
understanding exist.
To develop skills in
motivating clients and /or carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
To develop
negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
To deal with initial
complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
To form productive
relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging
communication difficulties.
To employ excellent
communication skills.
Training and Experience:
To demonstrate specialist
knowledge in clinical specialism underpinned by current evidence based practice.
To manage caseload
independently.
To identify
personal/professional development evidenced by Personal Development Plan/
Professional Portfolio developed within an appraisal framework.
To participate in
Individual Performance Review ensuring that the objectives set reflect the
Service and Trust plans, including specific objectives relating the clinical
specialism.
To attend relevant
training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge
required of a specialist therapist working in the field of stroke and maintain
up to date HPCP and RCSLT registration
To attend Specialist
Short Courses appropriate to clinical specialism.
To demonstrate
knowledge of, and adhere to RCSLT Professional and Clinical and National and
Local Clinical Guidelines.
To participate in the
development of local clinical guidelines informed by evidence of clinical
specialism.
To participate in the
development and delivery of specialist training (formal and informal) to others
in area of clinical expertise with and without support.
To keep up to date
with new techniques and developments for the promotion and maintenance of good
practice in stroke rehabilitation.
To provide advice to
non-specialists and other specialists/ professionals within clinical field.
To attend relevant
course, meetings and special interest groups.
To develop a working
knowledge of relevant procedures including: Safeguarding Children, SEN
procedures, Working Vulnerable Adults and other legal frameworks.
To develop a working
knowledge of the principles of Clinical Governance and their application to
professional practice.
Analytical and judgmental skills:
To develop the
ability to reflect on auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients
communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance
communicative effectiveness.
To negotiate with
cares, clients and others around individual case management.
To recognise
potential breakdown and conflict when it occurs and seek advice and support to
resolve.
To use specialist
knowledge to inform sound clinical judgements/decision making for case
management.
To make a
differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessment seeking advice
as appropriate.
To develop clear care
plans based on best practice.
To demonstrate the
ability to reflect on practice with peers and mentors and identify own
strengths and development needs.
To develop the
ability to target training (formal and informal) appropriately to the needs of
course participants.
To develop the
ability to reflect on and evaluate training provided.
To adapt practice to
meet individual patient/client circumstances.
Planning and organisational skills
To manage and
prioritise own caseload independently.
To manage and
prioritise own workload.
