Job summary
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 is 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.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester.
Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
1. Best services for local people
2. Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
3. Best use of resources
4. Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder 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 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 to 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
Essential
* 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.
* Clinical audit experience.
* Supporting the development of others.
Desirable
* Participation in clinical research.
* Experience of managing complaints.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
* 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 speciality 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.
* Excellent computer literacy skills: email, data input, internet, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel.
Planning & Organising Skills
Desirable
* 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
Essential
* 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.
* SVR competencies.
* Evidence of study at a masters 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 speciality.
Desirable
* 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
Essential
* 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
Essential
* Ability to work flexibly to cover service needs.
* Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Personal Qualities
Essential
* Autonomous practitioner.
* 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.
Desirable
* 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.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. #J-18808-Ljbffr