Job overview
We are looking for an experienced and innovative clinician, with a track record of quality improvement and staff management to come and join our forward-thinking department as our Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist for St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
St Barts Therapies department strives to contribute to the hospitals mission to be a centre of excellence in cardiac, respiratory and cancer care. We are passionate about innovation in service delivery and promoting a healthy workplace culture where staff feel values and want to come and work. Our Therapies department comprises a diverse team of OT’s, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Speech and language Therapists, Exercise Physiologists and Support workers.
Main duties of the job
This position has a key clinical leadership and management role, championing and driving initiatives within the Speech and Language Therapy profession. Clinically the post holder will support and manage SaLT’s within the Barts Heart and Cancer Centres, as well as building collaborative relationships across the MDT and external agencies. Their clinical work will support SaLT’s to enable them to deliver diagnostic and clinical care to patients, providing expert advice on complex clinical issues within Oncology and Palliative care, critical care and Cardiorespiratory specialties.
The role will support the head and deputy head of Therapies in setting the strategic direction for the department and deliver on key objectives within the field of SaLT. These objectives are co-created with its workforce and other stakeholders, including our service users.
You will benefit from a supportive multi-disciplinary team and be able to access a wide range of education and development opportunities to further develop your potential within the four pillars of clinical practice, research, education and leadership.
St Bart’s Therapies department strives to contribute to the hospitals mission to be a centre of excellence in cardiac, respiratory and cancer care. As a department we are passionate about innovation in service delivery and promoting a healthy workplace culture where staff feel valued and want to come and work.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment.
We are dedicated to being an outstanding place to work and will work with you to get the best experience. We know flexible working is not a one size fits all and will mean something different to everyone. We are inclusive, so if you are interested in flexible working, please speak to the recruiting manager.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
1. Clinical experience of a wide range of acute conditions, including critical care, sub-acute rehabilitation and end of life care
2. Experience working as a senior SaLT. This includes the management of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders (use of instrumental swallowing assessments including Video Fluoroscopy and Fiber optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing)
3. Experienced in use of instrumental swallowing assessments including Video Fluoroscopy and Fiber optic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and developing staff in use of these tools
4. Experience of managing, supervising and appraising senior and junior staff, students and assistants
5. Significant contribution to the development of policies and practice in the area of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders
6. Experience of successfully leading and implementing service improvement or change projects
7. Experience of successfully leading and implementing service improvement and change projects.
8. Ability to understand complex issues, problem solve and propose solutions
Desirable criteria
9. Experience of work/projects which involve and consult with patients and other stakeholders in decisions about service delivery and improvement
10. Experience treating neurological conditions, oncology, cardiac and head and neck pathologies
11. Experience providing training/ lecturing in the field of adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders
12. Experience of managing a budget
13. Experience in quality improvement initiatives
14. Working across and leading Trust wide projects
15. Experience of delivering PPI initiatives
16. Experience in performance reviews, including collecting and analysing relevant data and presenting to members of the leadership team
17. Experience of risk and incident management
Skills
Essential criteria
18. Fluent in the use of MS Office apps
19. Effective problem solving skills
20. Demonstrates strong leadership skills
21. Good analytical ability
22. High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement
23. Decisive, using sound judgement in decision making and delivering in a in a timely and confident manner
24. Ability to develop a culture of openness and partnership
25. Ability to develop staff both operationally and professionally
26. Ensuring continuous development to promote job satisfaction and retention
27. Models, and is able to encourage others in being innovative in finding ways of improving the quality of services
28. Demonstrates flexibility in approach and attitude both operationally and strategically
29. Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession
30. Can identify, assess and manage potential risks in work for self and others and manage any consequence to patients which may be highly distressing, antagonistic, open to aggression and/or unpleasant to self, patients and others
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
31. Recognised Speech and Language Therapy qualification
32. HCPC registration
33. Extensive Post graduate training in a clinical specialism of adults with acquired communication or swallowing disorders
34. Demonstrates a high level of understanding of end of life care
35. Knowledge of national policies, procedures and current research relevant to adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders
36. Knowledge of cultural and linguistic issues in working with a multi-cultural caseload
37. Evidence of application of principles of evidence based practice research
38. Ability to negotiate and influence as an equal at clinical expert level across the multidisciplinary team and other agencies
39. Expert knowledge of current diagnostic and management issues across the multidisciplinary team related to adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders
40. Expert knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools and therapeutic interventions relevant to in adults with acquired communication and swallowing disorders with acquired communication difficulties
Desirable criteria
41. Masters level study in relevant professional area
42. Member of relevant clinical interest group
43. Leadership training
44. Research training/ qualifications
45. QI training
46. Member of RCSLT
47. In depth knowledge and appreciation of NHS strategy, policies and research ethics
Other
Essential criteria
48. Lead by example, promoting the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, integrity and probity.
49. Committed to the continuous development of staff and self
50. Able to prioritise, organise and delegate
51. Acts as a role model for such an approach even where this results in challenges to how things are done
52. High self-awareness, understanding own emotions, strengths and limitations
53. Experienced in giving presentations to diverse audiences.