Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist; Community
NHS AfC: Band 7
Main area Adult Community Speech and Language Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours
* Part time
* Flexible working
* Compressed hours
22.5 hours per week Job ref 327-25-237
Site Southgate Moorings Town Gloucester Salary £46,148 - £52,809 per annum (pro rata) Salary period Yearly Closing 28/03/2025 23:59
We love what we do and we think you will, too!
At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), we provide joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We run community hospitals and provide care and support in people’s own homes and in a range of other locations across the county.
We are on a mission to enable people to live the best life they can and we have a vision to work together to provide outstanding care. We put people at the heart of our services, focusing on personalised care by asking ‘what matters to you’.
We’re passionate about making sure that everyone can contribute to achieving our mission and we are continually working to support healthy and happy high-quality teams in all areas of the Trust.
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for a speech and language therapist who loves community work with people with acquired communication and/or swallowing difficulties, as well as enjoying supporting newly qualified therapists and therapy students. Working closely with the community lead you will be getting the best of both worlds, continuing your clinical development whilst gaining leadership experience.
We are an acute and community SLT team with drive and enthusiasm to make a difference to the people we serve, always striving to improve.
Coming to join us you will have support from SLT colleagues with regular supervisions and good training opportunities.
Main duties of the job
To deliver Speech and Language Therapy to patients in the community living with complex needs, relating to communication and/or swallowing. To work with the community lead SLT in the delivery of a dynamic, evidence-based service proactively responding to service pressures. To provide support to the wider SLT team with their in-depth knowledge and experience of the presenting patient group both in the community and acute setting.
* Supporting the Leadership for the community Speech and Language Therapy team
* Input into Speech and Language Therapy strategy development and implementation supporting the clinical lead in the area of community care
* Input into Speech and Language Therapy practice development and quality improvement supporting the clinical lead in the area of community care
* Input into Speech and Language Therapy workforce development, education, students
* Participation in the development of Speech and Language Therapy research, audit and evaluation
* Health promotion, Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
Working for our organisation
We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people’s homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.
Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was great to hear that:
* 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.
* 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.
* 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust’s priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%
This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* To contribute to and take a lead in multidisciplinary projects/initiatives appropriate to the role
* To undertake other relevant duties appropriate to clinical role as requested by the Head of Service for Adult PH SLT, Deputy Service Director Therapies and Equipment or Head of Profession following discussion around capacity.
* To provide leadership, supervision and training for newly qualified SLT’s in particular, assisting them through the newly qualified practitioner competencies and working with the team to achieve dysphagia competencies
* To provide leadership, supervision and training for SLT’s and SLTA’s within your areas of expertise
* To actively participate in professional development of the speech and language therapy team.
* To contribute highly specialist clinical knowledge and skills in the development of the adult SLT service plan taking delegated lead on the development of team objectives or projects with peers.
* To advise the Community Lead and Head of Service about needs and/or gaps in service provision within the specialist area
* To assist the Community Lead, Head of Service for PH SLT, Deputy Service Director for Therapies and Specialist Equipment and Head of Profession in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist in the implementation of necessary changes.
* To contribute to the recruitment and selection of team members to meet organisational needs consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
* To be responsible for the organisation of and contribute to the In-service Training of Speech and Language Therapists, professionals, and students on topics related to communication and/or swallowing difficulties and therapy, targeting this training to the needs of the participants/Service.
* To be responsible for the delivery of core and specialist training on a range of subjects relating to clinical specialism.
* To plan and participate in the provision of clinical observational and experiential placements for student Speech and Language Therapists including exam placements.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Recognised Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT) degree level qualification
* Member of Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
* Registered with the RCSLT
* Post graduate qualification in dysphagia management at Masters level or equivalent
Length and/or Nature of Experience
* Well established experience working as a Speech and Language Therapist in a community setting
* Experience and evidence of training speech and language therapists and other professionals
* Experience and evidence of supervising staff and students e.g. supervision, appraisals, performance management
* Skills in differential diagnosis and ability to offer second opinions
* Experience in either videofluoroscopy, FEES or tracheostomy.
* Experience of quality improvement
Professional/Managerial/Specialist Knowledge
* Demonstrate experience in the assessment treatment and evaluation of swallowing and communication disorders of various aetiologies, including those with complex presentations.
* Demonstration of specialist knowledge in clinical specialism, underpinned by current evidence-based practice.
* Knowledge of a broad range of specialist formal and informal assessment methods and their interpretation
* Skill in selection of appropriate strategies for prioritisation and management of a complex caseload independently
* Awareness of national policies and procedures relevant to health care and this specialist SLT caseload
* Highly motivated and able to evidence effective leadership and team work skills
* Commitment to ongoing training, education and mentoring to develop clinical skills
* Experience of providing evidence based support to newly qualified therapists
Attributes
* Approachable and flexible
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including skilled and professional recognition of communication barriers/facilitation
* Be able to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively
* Active and empathetic listening and counselling skills
* Negotiation skills for management of conflict across a range of situations
* Ability to work effectively as a team member
* Ability to effectively manage own caseload
* Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
* Experience of recruiting and inducting staff
Other requirements
* Able to attend and participate in all mandatory and statutory training events
* Ability to travel around the locality as requested, independently and efficiently.
When joining us, as well as becoming part of a team that makes a difference, we also offer:
* Free car parking at many of our sites
* 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
* A broad range of training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships up to Level 7 qualification.
* A multi-professional preceptorship programme for all Newly Qualified; Nurses, Nursing Associates, Internationally Educated Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals and Return to Practice Practitioners.
* Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when if you work unsocial hours
* Flexible, family friendly and agile working opportunities
* Recognition and long service awards
* Fast Track physiotherapy
* Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes; including Cycle to Work, Car scheme and discounts on travel, leisure and retailers.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.
For more information please see the attached 'Additional Information for Applicants' document.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Helen Spear Job title Head of Service for Adult Physical Health SLT Email address helen.spear@ghc.nhs.uk Telephone number 07929385487 Additional information
Sarah Cartwright
Community Lead SLT
07799340573
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