Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Come and join our adult acute SLT service at Harefield Hospital and grow your skills in managing the communication, swallowing and airway needs of people with complex heart and lung conditions. We have significantly expanded the SLT service over the last few years and in addition to our core clinical work, we are focused on driving service and quality improvements that demonstrate impact and improve functional outcomes. We are 'research aware', translating and aligning our practice with the best currently available evidence, and on a journey to becoming 'research active'.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a member of the multi-professional therapy team and SLT service, working within adult services at Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Group. They will develop advanced skills in the field of dysphagia managing a caseload of acutely ill adults with complex communication and swallowing problems related to complex cardiac and respiratory disease, cardiothoracic surgery and transplantation who may be tracheostomised or ventilator dependent (adult intensive care unit). They will be supported to provide specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and intervention, as well as advice/liaison to patients and those caring for them.
This will be guided by broad local & occupational policies, procedures/protocols from the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists.
The post holder will receive clinical supervision from the Highly Specialist SLT. They will be involved in discharge planning and ensure a seamless transfer to SLT colleagues and services in the community. They will manage their own caseload and liaise closely with SLT colleagues.
About us
The post is embedded within the multi-professional therapy team at Harefield hospital made up of a dynamic group of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, psychologists and therapy assistants. You will work collaboratively with your colleagues to deliver a responsive, patient-centred, high-quality and effective service to inpatients. Continuous professional development will be provided through regular clinical supervision, line management, 121s, appraisal, inservice training and access to study leave funding for external learning opportunities.
Job responsibilities
1. To develop and consolidate specialist SLT skills in managing a caseload of acutely ill adults with complex communication and swallowing problems related to complex cardiac and respiratory disease / cardiothoracic surgery. These patients may present with acute or chronic communication and/or swallowing disorders and may be tracheostomised and or ventilator dependent. This may be in a variety of clinical areas including intensive care, high dependency unit, wards, out-patients and clinics.
2. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and be supported to be an autonomous practitioner. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of clinical work.
3. To demonstrate specialist knowledge in acute dysphagia and to ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under own management.
For further details please see JD/PS
Person Specification
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
* Recognised degree accredited by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
* HCPC registration
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
* Well established knowledge of a range of assessment tools relevant to specific client group with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties
* Ability to formulate independent clinical decisions, reflecting on practice, and ensuring demonstration of evidence based practice
* Knowledge of the role of SLT in critical care
* Experience of effective multidisciplinary and multi-agency working
* Experience of videofluoroscopy and tracheostomy work
SKILLS & ABILITIES
* Well-developed problem-solving skills
* Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner seeking guidance when necessary
* Ability to give clear advice, instruction and training to patients, carers and other professionals relating to communication/swallowing disorders
* Knowledge of issues relating to equality and diversity
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.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
£42,939 to £50,697 a year per annum incl. HCA
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