Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
We are seeking an experienced and innovative Speech and Language Therapist with a passion for excellence to provide leadership and a clinical service to patients within the Head and Neck pathway.
Your caseload will include patients with altered airways, complex dysphagia, and communication difficulties. You will be working with both inpatients and outpatients.
In addition to the wider SLT team, you will work closely with our friendly and supportive Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Team including CNS's, dietitians, and medical teams.
You will have access to instrumental assessment (both videofluoroscopy and FEES).
Research and innovation are very much supported and encouraged within the team and as part of your role.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will develop and deliver highly specialist SLT services to patients diagnosed with Head and Neck Cancer, working as an integral part of the Head and Neck MDT.
To lead the Head and Neck cancer SLT team, ensuring that principles of good governance are adhered to.
To provide training and line management for more junior SLTs within the Head and Neck service, and support within the wider SLT team as required.
To deputise for the Head of Dietetics and SLT as required.
Job responsibilities
The postholder will provide an integrated in-patient and out-patient service to patients with head and neck cancer.
To maintain a very high level of clinical knowledge in the specialist field of head and neck cancer providing advice, second opinions, and joint management with colleagues in the Trust. Areas of knowledge to include voice rehabilitation following radiotherapy, surgical voice restoration, dysphagia assessment, and rehabilitation.
To lead videofluoroscopy and FEES service for this patient group (support and training can be given as required).
To develop, attend, and contribute to combined clinics (joint oncology, maxillofacial, and ENT).
Surgical voice restoration to manage voice prostheses including measuring, fitting, maintaining, and troubleshooting.
To use FEES (Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) & therapeutic scoping.
To implement training related to the specialist area to colleagues in the department/hospital/other Trusts.
To liaise with and provide support to therapists across the head and neck cancer pathway.
To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of national policies, documents, and trends related to this client group and disseminate this to colleagues.
To review literature and disseminate relevant information.
To take a lead role in research projects relevant to this client group as and when required.
To lead the planning of future management of this client group.
To devise, collate, and disseminate statistical information to demonstrate service performance, illustrate gaps, and give quality assurance.
To provide information for national data collection as required.
To ensure your knowledge and skills are up to date.
Person Specification
Experience
* Extensive experience working within adult SLT, a significant amount of which should be within head and neck.
* Experience of managing and leading staff.
* Experience of working in specialist areas as part of the head and neck SLT team.
* Extensive experience in H&N, which may include tracheostomy, laryngectomy, and SVR.
* Experience of implementing evidence-based practice for continuous service improvement.
* Experience of supervising staff including appraisal.
* Experience of teaching students and healthcare professionals.
* Experience in implementing clinical governance and change management.
* Supporting the development of others.
* Participation in clinical research.
* Experience of managing complaints.
Knowledge and skills
* Knowledge of current issues and research relating to SLT.
* A clear understanding of clinical governance issues and controls assurance standards.
* Knowledge of national drivers underpinning the H and N service.
* High level of clinical expertise within the specialty area of competence.
* Excellent interpersonal skills including written and verbal communication, observation, listening, and empathy skills.
* Evidence of excellent written skills.
* Evidence of clinical reasoning skills relating to working with complexities.
* Evidence of training professionals in formal and informal settings.
* Evidence of delivering a high-quality patient-centred service.
Planning & Organising Skills
* Able to prioritise workload and meet clinical needs of patients.
* Able to demonstrate excellent personal organisational skills.
* Able to work to time schedules to meet deadlines.
* Able to work effectively in a multi-professional team.
Qualifications
* Degree in Speech and Language Therapy or equivalent qualifications in Speech and Language Therapy.
* HCPC Registration.
* Wide range of CPD activities related to Head and Neck SLT.
* Evidence of study at a master's degree level or equivalent short courses/experience.
* Extensive experience working within adult SLT, a significant amount of which should be within the head and neck service.
* Clinical Supervisory Skills training.
* Further training in areas of clinical specialty.
* Member of the RCSLT.
* Attendance on relevant accredited courses.
* Member of appropriate specialist group.
* Recognised management/leadership/coaching qualification obtained or pending.
* Independent use and interpretation of advanced VFS and FEES skills relevant to service area.
Analytical & Judgement Skills
* Ability to assess individuals with complex medical problems and to plan their SLT care.
* Ability to make decisions regarding change of practice based on clinical evidence and disseminate same to other health professionals.
* Ability to set, monitor and evaluate standards of SLT care.
* Ability to interpret clinical statistics data results to plan future service needs.
* Ability to deal with staff capability and disciplinary issues.
Other Job Requirements
* Ability to work flexibly to cover service needs.
* Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Personal Qualities
* Ability to recognise own professional limitations and when to seek advice from senior colleagues.
* Ability to remain calm & in control during busy phases.
* Experience of leading change.
* Ability to identify personal development needs.
* Experience of handling difficult & sensitive situations well.
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.
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