Job overview
**New opportunity - Band 6 role specialising in Stroke and Neurorehabilitation**
An opportunity has been created for an experienced band 5 or an existing band 6 speech and language therapist (SLT) to work as a band 6 specialist SLT in Stroke and neurorehabilitation. This post will be based on the Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) at Royal Blackburn Hospital and at Rakehead Rehabilitation Centre on the Burnley General Hospital site as part of the neurorehabilitation service.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of two interdisciplinary therapy teams: an established and consistently high achieving stroke team, and Consultant and ACP led neurorehabilitation team. The successful applicant will also have the opportunity to work with the Lancashire & South Cumbria neurorehabilitation online service (NROL).
A capability and competency development plan will be built in where this is required.
You will be a qualified and HCPC registered SLT with good knowledge and competence in up-to-date assessment and treatment procedures for the stroke and neurorehabilitation caseload (dysphagia and communication, including digital approaches).
Main duties of the job
The key duties are:
To work as part of the staff team delivering specialist Speech and Language Therapy Services to the SLT Stroke pathway (Acute Stroke Unit):
* Adults with acquired disorders of communication and swallowing, predominantly in the hospital settings.
* To lead relevant projects for the SLT service.
* To promote an understanding of clinical disorders and speech and language therapy services.
* To undertake instrumental and objective dysphagia assessment to level of competence and within the existing VFL and FEES workforce structure.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required together with good organizational and time management skills. Flexibility in working patterns to meet the needs of the service is essential – duties may be required to flex across sites at Royal Blackburn Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital. There may be opportunity for the successful applicant to join the B6 established stroke rotation to benefit from experience across the acute and community stroke pathways. You will be able to work under pressure and be self directed, recognising your own limits.
You will be a car driver/owner or be able to travel between community visits in a timely manner.
You will be part of the seven day/bank holiday rota.
Take a look at our services, our team and our vision and values on Twitter @ELHT_SLT
Working for our organisation
Established in 2003 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is a large integrated health care organisation providing high quality acute secondary healthcare for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
Our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 700,000 patients a year from the most serious of emergencies to planned operations and procedures. We employ over 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work and achievements.
The SLT service has an experienced team of clinical leads - Critical Care, Dysphagia, Voice, Head & Neck, Stroke, FEES, Videofluoroscopy, Neurorehabilitation and Community (including progressive disease).
Actively involved in a range of service and workforce initiatives across the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS and research including collaborations with ELHT & UCLan’s AHP Professor in Neurorehabilitation and Stroke.
The service is well equipped and is supported by a team of administrators, SLT Assistants and Therapy Assistant Practitioners. Regular team meetings, an annual SLT Showcase of best practice, SLT, Stroke and Neuro Improvement Showcase and continual improvement is embedded in our daily work and service improvement initiatives. We are committed to continuing professional development and this is underpinned by supervision, regular line management and an annual appraisal system
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See attached documents for details in full and main duties previously outlined.
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Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience treating a variety of patients relevant to the post including independent dysphagia competencies
* Organising and managing everyday clinic routines
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
* Knowledge of a range of communication and swallowing difficulties and their management relevant to the post.
* Knowledge of a range of Alternative and Augumentative systems of communication.
* Knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
* Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the client group.
* Knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions relevant to the client group.
* Awareness of principles of clinical governance/audit.
* Awareness of the roles of other professionals relevant to the client group
* Awareness of confidentiality as relating to the NHS
Desirable criteria
* Use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
* Presentation skills
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Registered with the HCPC