Job summary
Be an active member of the clinical team, providing a comprehensive Highly Specialist Speech & Language Therapy service to children with complex communication needs (Early Years) and eating and drinking difficulties (0-19 years).
Work within professional standards and clinical guidelines, promote best practice and to undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner including assessing and treating own caseload of patients/clients and maintaining professional documentation.
Build up and maintain key relationships with referring services (including within the MDTs, primary and secondary care services, voluntary and third sector organisations) to facilitate appropriate referrals and an understanding of the role of the Speech & Language Therapist and the Multi-professional team.
Be responsible for the supervision of junior staff; Speech & Language Therapists, Assistants and Speech & Language Therapy students.
Work in a variety of settings in the community to deliver appropriate treatment including community clinics, client's own home, schools and nurseries.
Support self and service development through active participation in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and by participating in any audit or research being undertaken by the service.
Main duties of the job
Support the members of the team in the day-to-day operation of the service. This may include answering queries, fielding referrals, contributing to team discussions, responding to client needs, delegating and supervising appropriate tasks to administrative staff, communicating with other team members and outside agencies and other operational activities.
Participate in the multi professional team meetings and actively contribute and chair as required, ensuring all Speech & Language Therapists support integrated working.
Respond to inconsistent work patterns and to be able to manage a diary and re-prioritise as required.
Be responsible for the supervision of Speech & Language Therapists, Assistants and Speech & Language Therapy students.
To be compliant with the Trusts complaints procedure and take appropriate action as necessary in accordance with the procedure.
Initiate and participate in change management processes as needed. Suggest required service development in line with national or local policies and guidelines. Exhibit behaviour which enables and promotes service development.
About us
Just as we care about our patients' wellbeing, we care about yours!
We can offer you:
1. A comprehensive induction into the community service followed by a local induction to introduce you to the role
2. Flexible working options
3. Training, support and development in your career
To have a full look at our benefits and what it's like working for us please go here:
Job description
Job responsibilities
Work closely with other members of the multi-professional team Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Physiotherapists, Nurses, Support Workers, SLTS from other services, to provide a comprehensive, seamless service aiming to improve and maintain functional communication and eating drinks skills
Work as a lone practitioner, within the guidelines of the Lone Working Policy, when performing home visits.
Identify clients who need support from other agencies, using clinical reasoning and analysis skills. To liaise with, and to refer clients to these services which include other Healthcare Services and Healthcare Professionals as appropriate.
To analyse auditory, visual and kinaesthetic aspects of clients communication and to identify appropriate strategies to facilitate and enhance communicative effectiveness and safe eating and drinking.
To carry out specialist physical examination of the orofacial process including the mechanism of eating and swallowing.
To make appropriate clinical decisions following highly specialist assessment, using evidence-based practice and outcome measurement to provide the most effective treatment to clients and their families within clearly defined care plans.
To adapt practice to meet individual clients and families circumstances, including due regard for specific clinical conditions affecting their speech and language and/or cognitive, cultural, religious and linguistic differences.
To ensure that clients, families and carers are involved in the planning and prioritisation of their care plans wherever possible.
To motivate clients and families/ carers to engage in the therapeutic process.
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures relevant to the field, in particular in the field(s) of specialisation.
To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
To work flexibly as the service may require across all required teams and sites.
To produce reports regarding clients needs, reflecting highly specialist knowledge, summarising proposed care plans and ensuring that these are integrated into the clients care as appropriate.
To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
4. Recognised SLT degree or equivalent.
5. Current AHP with UK HCPC registration
6. Member of a relevant Clinical Excellence Network
7. Evidence of competence in managing complex dysphagic patients including those requiring enteral feeding
Desirable
8. Evidence of relevant post-registration education and training SCERTS, VERVE, Intensive Interaction, Attention Autism, Hanen, Gestalt Language Processing, AAC, Dysphagia, Infant Feeding, Breastfeeding, Tracheostomy
Experience
Essential
9. Able to communicate with families and young people in an empathetic manner regarding their treatment and procedures.
10. Experience working with families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
11. Experience of working and liaising with other MDT professionals
Desirable
12. Experience of working within a community paediatric SLT service.
13. Experience of working through the RCSLT NQP and dysphagia frameworks with junior SLTs
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
14. Excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy skills.
15. Independence in managing dysphagia within a paediatric population.
16. Experience in using a range of assessment techniques for managing patients with dysphagia and complex needs.
17. Good analytical & organisational ability
18. Ability to listen effectively and provide constructive feedback to families and colleagues.
19. Ability to identify and assess the potential risks involved in work activities and processes for self and others.
Desirable
20. Postgraduate research in a relevant area.
21. Completion of CPD related to dysphagia management