Highly Specialist SLT – Paediatric & Neonatal Care
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
We are looking for a Band 7 highly specialist speech and language therapist to cover a maternity leave post on our Level 3 Neonatal Care Unit. The post holder will work closely with the band 8 speech and language therapist to provide highly specialist speech and language services within the neonatal unit, transitional care and when required to the paediatric ward. This will involve supporting the babies, their families and the MDT as well as service development and delivering training.
We are a friendly, dynamic and supportive unit where the successful candidate will work closely within the multidisciplinary neonatal therapies team, and support holistic developmental care, FiCare and BFI approaches in NICU. The post holder will be an active member of The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Network and be able to access regular supervision and career development.
Although this is a full time post we are open to flexible working and applicants considering a part time role.
Please contact Gemma Borkowski, Clinical Lead for Speech and Language Therapy (gemma.borkowski3@nhs.net) if you have any questions or would like to visit.
Main duties of the job
1. To provide a high-quality speech and language therapy service to premature and term babies in NICU (level 3), transitional care and paediatric inpatients on Ash ward.
2. To assess and provide evidence-based interventions addressing the feeding and/or communication needs of babies and children with developmental, neurological and medical needs.
3. To be an integral member of the AHP team within the neonatal unit and wider Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT) within St Peter's hospital.
4. To deliver high quality training to parents and the MDT to help manage risk and improve developmental outcomes.
5. To offer mentorship and/or supervision to more junior colleagues and SLT students within the department as agreed with the Clinical Lead.
6. To deputise in the absence of senior colleagues as required in both management and clinical areas.
7. To support the Clinical Lead SLT in the running and development of the speech and language service through audit, development of policies, procedures and guidelines using evidence-based practice.
About us
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond. Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
Job responsibilities
1. To be an autonomous practitioner in managing a complex caseload across both NICU, transitional care and the paediatric ward.
2. To use advanced clinical assessment and reasoning skills and evidence based knowledge to assess patients with highly complex conditions, and to formulate prognoses and recommendations in line with national and trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways.
3. To formulate and deliver individual plans based on advanced clinical knowledge of current practice, evidence-based practice and treatment options.
4. To be able to read babies behavioural cues and handle neonates with complex presentations appropriately.
5. To be able to utilise or refer onto specialist investigations (e.g. VFSS/FEEs) to assist assessment and to plan the most appropriate interventions.
6. To make appropriate referrals to other services and clinicians based on assessment and investigation findings, and by having an in-depth understanding of the role of others in the multidisciplinary team.
7. To ensure effective discharge planning as part of a patients management, liaising with the MDT as appropriate, both locally and network wide and making onward referrals to community services.
8. To deliver high quality training to parents and the wider MDT to increase awareness and skill development to promote developmental outcomes.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
1. Recognised Speech and Language Therapy Degree Qualification or Equivalent State Registration
2. Health and Care Professions Council - Licence to Practice
3. Evidence of successful completion of intermediate or advanced post graduate dysphagia course(s)
4. Completion of neonatal or infant feeding course
5. Member of Clinical Excellence Networks/Special Interest Groups
6. MSc in related area
7. Leadership and managerial training relevant to role
8. Specialist courses relevant to babies/children with dysphagia e.g. Cervical Auscultation, Breast feeding the complex infant, FINE, FICare, SOFFI etc
Experience
1. Experience in a band 6/7 SLT paediatric/neonatal NHS post managing a complex caseload independently
2. Ability to demonstrate highly specialised skills in assessment and treatment of patients in line with current practice and research in paediatrics and neonatal care
3. Experience of developing and delivering training to parents, carers, MDT and peers
4. Experience of supervising junior staff and students
5. Involvement in multidisciplinary working
6. Broad range of acute clinical experience
7. Involvement in research
8. Experience of clinical leadership
9. Band 7 experience in neonates and paediatrics
Knowledge
1. Knowledge of trust vision, values and strategic objectives
2. In-depth knowledge of assessment for the paediatric and neonatal caseload in order to make a clinical diagnosis, treatment and management plan.
3. Knowledge and understanding of a range of treatment approaches in paediatrics and neonates
4. Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to this client group
5. Understanding of the principles of clinical governance/audit
6. Experience in leadership, education and coaching
7. Understanding of specific risks and complexities surrounding service provision in neonates
Skills
1. Advanced clinical reasoning skills in deciding certain interventions (i.e. risk assessment and management of complex disability)
2. Self motivated with an ability to take initiative, set priorities and evaluate progress
3. Excellent communication skills - including observation, listening, empathy, persuasion and conflict resolution
4. Evidence in leading audit and service reviews
5. Evidence of leading and implementing positive change in the delivery of health services
6. Demonstrates passion for excellence
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.
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Lead for Speech and Language Therapy
£48,270 to £54,931 a year per annum inc. HCAS
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