Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Key Areas of Responsibility

Clinical

1. To provide specialist assessment, differential diagnosis and appropriate and clearly planned Speech and Language Therapy intervention and discharge planning for clients with a wide range of complex disorders referred to the Service. This must be in line with Communicating Quality Live, RCSLT Clinical Guidelines, evidence based research, national frameworks relevant to the patient group and standards set by the Principal SLT and team lead. This may include assessment, intervention and management of patients with complex communication disorder, complex dysphagia management, tracheostomy management, vocational rehabilitation and assistive technology incorporating low and high tech alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) input.
2. To provide specialist assessment, advice, prescription, submission of funding requests and reviews for assistive technology users (including augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)).
3. To hold, manage and prioritise an individual caseload independently and to be legally accountable for all clinical decisions and professional actions
4. To provide specialist management of complex clients in the areas of acquired communication, disorders of consciousness and swallowing disorders underpinned by current evidence based practice and research alongside any pre-existing co-morbid disorders.
5. To develop, plan and/or deliver group interventions.
6. To adapt assessment and intervention techniques to meet the complex and unique needs of individual clients on an ongoing basis. To identify the need for resources and to generate or delegate other colleagues to devise these. Intervention may include direct input with families and carers.
7. To work closely with all appropriate agencies (including Social Services, Disability Development Workers and Psychologists) and MDT colleagues to ensure comprehensive management of the clients SLT needs. This involves providing written and verbal reports as appropriate to ensure that all parties fully understand the nature of the patients communication/swallowing disorders e.g. for medical reviews, case conferences and progress review meetings.
8. To identify need for second opinions, referring to specialist colleagues/Principal SLTs as appropriate
9. To provide specialist assessment of patients mental capacity, working jointly with senior SLTs, the psychology service, other MDT colleagues and multi-professional agencies where appropriate. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, and to support other staff likewise.
10. To identify need, initiate referral process and participate in investigative assessments as client need dictates (e.g. participation in Modified Barium Swallow/ videofluoroscopy, Fibre Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallow (FEES) and Cough Reflex Testing (CRT) )
11. To participate in multidisciplinary team meetings working to enhance patients functional abilities.
12. To act as a key-worker for selected, individual patients, taking responsibility for organising and chairing meetings, leading multi-disciplinary and family meetings case discussions and being key contact for family members and fulfilling a clinical co-ordinating role for these patients.
13. To negotiate clients goals with employers and support return to work/leisure/education, working to agreed communication goals.
14. To devise, monitor, supervise and evaluate the implementation of communication, AAC and swallowing intervention programmes carried out by others, e.g. Rehabilitation Assistants, SLT students, other health professionals, volunteers and carers.
15. To provide information that may be complex to patients, carers and families in a manner that enables and ensures their understanding (patients will frequently have communication and/or cognitive difficulties as well as emotional difficulty accepting the information being provided).
16. To enable patients who have communication disorders to access information and services in order for them to make informed decisions about their care, including utilisation of interpreters and advocates where appropriate. This also involves devising appropriate aphasia friendly materials for the client group and making it available to the MDT.
17. To sensitively negotiate patient-led goals with patients, families, carers and the multidisciplinary team in situations where there is potential for conflict, in order to enable patients to engage in treatment, and to ensure that patients are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their goals where possible.
18. To demonstrate empathy with patients, carers, families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved, particularly where barriers to understanding exist and support colleagues in doing the same.
19. To monitor the clinical effectiveness of interventions specific to own caseload, applying the principles of Evidenced Based Practice and outcome measures.
20. To work closely and flexibly with SLT colleagues in order to provide a seamless service to clients.
21. To work frequently with patients and families in complex situations that are emotionally distressing and may cause hostility or be antagonistic. This may include delivering and receiving complex, sensitive or contentious information such as bad news about prognosis, safe guarding issues and completing suicide risk assessments, all of which may require use of alternative means of communication due to barriers in comprehension and expression, with the support of more experienced and more knowledgeable colleagues such as the highly specialist .SLTs and Principal SLT as appropriate.
22. To recognise the possible emotional consequences of working with patients and families in distressing circumstances, such as delivering bad news about prognosis, and to know where and when to seek appropriate assistance.
23. To work within the Royal College of Physicians National Clinical Guidelines and agreed MDT framework, with highly complex patients with disorders of consciousness, providing assessment, advice to family and carers and the health care team to support differential diagnosis and treatment interventions as clinically appropriate. This may include further postgraduate specialist training courses such as the SMART course or other evidence based approach.
24. To recognise and respond to clinical and non-clinical risks in compliance with the Trusts policies and procedures, including the identification and raising of risks.
25. To work closely and flexibly with colleagues across the patient pathway in order to provide a seamless service to patients.
26. To develop resources to meet patient requirements and for departmental use.

Service Development

1. To contribute to interagency/multidisciplinary team building.
2. To represent the CCSRS in meetings as requested by the Principal SLT, and to report back as appropriate.
3. To participate in working groups and action groups within areas of clinical expertise
4. To audit the clinical effectiveness of interventions within the team, applying the principles of evidenced based practice and outcome measures. These are to be discussed with line manager/principal SLT as appropriate.
5. To support the Principal SLT by using specialist skills to identify and carry out innovative practice, as well as contribute to clinical standards, care protocols, service developments, policies, projects and activities designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service provision (under the guidance of Senior Specialists/principal SLT)

Teaching and Training

1. To provide observation opportunities for prospective SLT career candidates, students from other health professions and non-health related individuals as requested by Principal SLT.
2. To support the work and contribute to the development of Rehabilitation Assistants and Volunteers as relevant, when working in own clinical area.
3. To contribute to the clinical training of Speech and Language Therapy students on placements in agreement with Principal SLT and Student Placement Co-ordinator and to take the lead on organising student timetables within CCSRS when appropriate.
4. To support the Principal SLT in planning, delivering and evaluating the ongoing training programme within the CCSRS.
5. To provide teaching and training of colleagues, carers, family members and other professionals, as relevant to the needs of individual patients and patient groups, as negotiated with principal Speech & Language Therapists.
6. To participate in in-service training as requested by the Principal and Team Leaders and as required by the RCSLT.

Professional Development

1. To keep up-to date with current clinical and technological advances (including AAC) in liaison with senior colleagues.
2. To participate in a regular, formal clinical supervision programme to assist in development of reflective practice and maintain quality of service provision.
3. To act as a clinical supervisor to students and speech and language therapy assistants.
4. To participate in in-service training as requested by the Principal and Team Leaders and as required by the RCSLT.

The post holder must maintain registered certified membership of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and HCPC.

Organisational

1. To collect, input and monitor own caseload data and report to the Principal SLT as required by the CCSRS, Trust and National Targets.
2. To inform the line manager of any variations to service delivery, changing priorities and needs, and their likely impact to the provision of service within CCSRS.
3. To monitor stock levels and request new equipment where necessary, and to carry out yearly stock-take of equipment.
4. To keep assessment, treatment materials and equipment up-to-date, safe (following infection control procedures) and in good order, informing the line manager of needs and opportunities identified.
5. To maintain an up to date record of communication equipment loaned to patients

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oAttainment of relevant qualifications in Speech and Language Therapy as recognised by RCSLT and HCPC.
• oRegistered certified member of RCSLT and HCPC.
• oCompletion of post graduate dysphagia training.

Desirable

• oPost-qualification courses in therapeutic assessment and intervention in communication disorders, AAC and dysphagia

Experience

Essential

• oPost graduate clinical experience of working with adult patients with communication and swallowing disorders.

Desirable

• oExperience in working within a multidisciplinary team.
• oExperience in the rehabilitation of patients with communication and swallowing difficulties in both inpatient and community settings.
• oExperience of audit and research activities

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• oAbility to independently manage a caseload of patients with communication and swallowing disorders.
• oAbility to combine attention to detail with a holistic approach in therapeutic intervention.
• oAbility to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both individually and in groups.
• oAbility to organise workload and manage time effectively.
• oGood presentation skills, both written and spoken.
• oModerate level of computer and technology skills, including use of Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.

Desirable

• oAbility to support junior MDT colleagues.
• oSpecial interest in acquired brain injury rehabilitation, including cognitive communication, tracheostomy management and disorders of consciousness.
• oKnowledge of devices used for alternative and augmentative communication
• oWell-developed negotiation skills.
• oKnowledge of national ABI guidelines, and national commissioning service specification for specialist rehabilitation for patients with highly complex needs.

Personal Attributes / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)

Essential

• oAbility to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people & vulnerable adults.
• oAbility to empathise with and manage patients and families who have life-changing conditions.
• oAbility to work independently with initiative and flexibility.
• oAbility to ask for help appropriately.
• oAbility to work well as part of a multi-disciplinary team and show good interpersonal skills

Other

Essential

• oAbility to make accurate auditory and visual observations
• oAbility to make own travelling arrangements in urban and rural areas

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

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Jubilee House, Colman Hospital

Unthank Road,

Norwich

NR2 2PJ

Employer's website

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